Disappointment

[jim gray]

I had to go to work this morning, but only for an a short meeting. When I left the weather was a little chilly, and there was a slight drizzle. With the forecast calling for a light snow, I grabbed my new .58 cal Renegade, powder horn, and possibles bag. I fully intended to go straight from the meeting to the range. I have no qualms about shooting a flinter while it's snowing, and the rain wasn't heavy enough to discourage me if it didn't turn to snow.

When I left the meeting I wasn't greeted by rain or snow, but a nasty mix of sleet and freezing rain. :no: This is the worst weather that I can imagine for shooting a flinter. The weather wouldn't have been conducive to accuracy for me either. Disappointed I drove home having given up on the idea of shooting my brand spankin' new flinter for another day, and since I am working this weekend it looks like I'll be putting it off for at least a week.
:curse: :cry: :curse: :cry: :shake:

 

[scott k]

since I am working this weekend it looks like I'll be putting it off for at least a week.

Arghhhhh. I hear ya.
Lehigh..

 

Waugh, that sucks. I'll tell you what, though, I've shot my flinters plenty in lousy weather...no better time to find out how your gun works in foul weather. I have also, though I don't recommend it, dropped two of my trade guns in snow banks and they still managed to fire after 5 or 6 poofs....of course, that was after some really frantic wiping, swiping, and picking.

My advice, learn to load quickly, and dang the weather!!! :thumbsup::results:

Stumblin...

 

[rusty]

well go out and give it a couple shot's anyway ,your not likely to sleep well until you do.LOL..I know what you mean it suck's when you want to shot and can't.Best of luck.rusty

 

[jim gray]

Not worried so much about the gun in crappy weather as the effect that weather would have on my shooting. I think it would have been a waste of time to try to develop a load. I know I dont shoot my best with freezing cold water running into my eyes or freezing on my shooting glasses.

This last flintlock season I carried a Lyman Trade Rifle around all day in a steady rain and touched it off just fine at the end of the day. My son's Traditions Deerhunter went off just as quickly that day.

I still want to burn some powder soon; so I guess tomorrow, I'll shoot it no matter what. At least if I shoot poorly I'll have an excuse. How convenient is that?

 

[Leonredbeard]

Go for it, flash in the pan! :redthumb:
That is how I earned my online name: volatpluvia, it is latin and it means literally - one who shoots in the rain. :shake: It is surprizing how much one can shoot a flinter in the rain. ::
God bless.
volatpluvia

 

[roundball]

Not worried so much about the gun in crappy weather as the effect that weather would have on my shooting. I think it would have been a waste of time to try to develop a load. I know I dont shoot my best with freezing cold water running into my eyes or freezing on my shooting glasses.

This last flintlock season I carried a Lyman Trade Rifle around all day in a steady rain and touched it off just fine at the end of the day. My son's Traditions Deerhunter went off just as quickly that day.

I still want to burn some powder soon; so I guess tomorrow, I'll shoot it no matter what. At least if I shoot poorly I'll have an excuse. How convenient is that?

FWIW, :agree: ...when I'm trying to concentrate on something new, I want reasonably perfect conditions so there's no distractions, no take-aways from the task at hand.

The good news is I'm off the next 4 days, have decent weather forecast, and plan to shoot Flintlocks every day as a mini spring vacation!
:redthumb:

 

[jim gray]

Thanks Volatpluvia, I think if the weather is like this again tomorrow I may shoot another flinter, one that I'm already aquainted with, one that won't need so much attention.

I agree with ya, Roundball. I want to break this one in right. I expect a lot from her. You're vacation sounds like my idea of a good time. Have fun. I'll be working twelve hour shifts this weekend. I'm jealous. :boohoo:

 

[Wes/Tex]

I'm with ole Stumblin! Nothing like a little snorkle weather to separate the men from the boys in rocklockland! Good time to try out the cow's-knee and pan grease. Better to know if your technique will pass muster before you try it for real in the dripping blind!! eace:

 

[graybeard]

Right. Earlier this winter I went out for a walk in the woods with a flintlock rifle and it started to snow. Just for the hell of it, I kept loading and firing, ignoring the snow. Despite a very heavy snow flurry, the flinter never missed a pop. I was very surprised, to tell the truth. :results: I was priming with 3F. graybeard

 

Right. Earlier this winter I went out for a walk in the woods with a flintlock rifle and it started to snow. Just for the hell of it, I kept loading and firing, ignoring the snow. Despite a very heavy snow flurry, the flinter never missed a pop. I was very surprised, to tell the truth. :results: I was priming with 3F. graybeard

long ago I switched to priming with 3Fg, especially in damp or humid weather. 4Fg always clumped up really badly, performed poorly and was generally a pain in the butt to have since it meant a second horn that inevitably lost its plug or disappeared entirely, and FORGET using one of those brass primers with 4F in damp weather...I spent most of my time unscrewing the top and tapping in the powder. Not a big time saver there. Now I just stick to 3f, except in my 16ga which shoots and primes with 2Fg.

:results:

 

[smokeblower]

This subject and others is why I am not a urban deweller kind of feller. If I can not shoot my flintlock, in my underware, off the back porch, then I have too many neighbors. I feel for you folks who pay city taxes and live under restrictions. But I understand the need for rules, restrictions, laws and such. It is to keep people like me out of the neighborhood. I watched a group of turkey feeding this morning, sipping my coffee, before I fed the animals and prostituted eight hours of my life to carry insurance for the family and pay a few bills. Oh well I have three days before I must reenter the rat race.
Tennessee backwoods are heaven.

 

[Rles221]

I feel for you ive had a new GPR flinter for 3 weeks and havent put a ball though it yet
cant wiat to
Rick