norcal flintlocks are like women, once ya figure out just what the heck they want they are a dream come true n you will be hooked for life, but if ya don't give em what they want n the waythey want it they CAN be a pain in the patoot. one hint I ususally give guys is when ya load the flash pan don't shake the powder towards the barrel, if ya do you create a fuze out of the powder and it can slow down its going off quickly, its more the fire from the flash going into the touch hole that ignites the powder in the barrel, leave the pwder loose and only fill the pan with a pinch ya don't need to fill it to the brim. Most people who doxn rocklocks have never really played with them and are passing on info they have "heard" n nothing from personal experence. About all I shoot anymore are flinters n my guns go off just as quick as anything out there, its all n knowing and learning yur gun.Your gonna get frustrated at times but take a deep breath n relax enjoy. welcome to the club. YMHS Birdman ps all that manure ya hear about flinters being so slow is from hollyweird stuff made for the movies to have more effect so the movie watchers can get a thrill, nothing more.