Firing my flintlock without a main charge before taking a hunt

[R Ellis]

How much powder are we talking?

20 or 30 grains maybe I dont really measure it just dump some into a measure and pour it down

 

[morehops52]

While I do a variation of what's been mentioned to the barrel, I'm surprised that the pan hasn't been focused on more. When I'm hunting I dump the pan charge and clean the pan out every 20 minutes or so. It's incredible how much moisture that powder draws. also, I've seen mentioned that 4f powder does not have a coating whereas 2f & 3f have a water resistant coating. If you're out in damp weather consider using 3f in the pan.

 

[kyron4]

In hunting weather conditions I dump the prime about every 30 mins. to 45 mins and re-prime. I also use 3F while hunting as 4F is unglazed and draws more moisture; at least in my experience.

 

[Nuthatch]

I have one gun that benefits from snapping a couple caps before loading up for a hunt. Two others don't seem to need it at all. One of those can be converted to flint in just a few minutes and needs a good fouling shot before ignition gets consistent. But in percussion, no problem. Yet one more is a pain in the rear & seems to need a dozen or more caps to go off before it will ever ignite the main charge -- even if I snap a couple caps before loading. That one is a double barrel shotgun so it has to be done for both barrels. And once I get one shot to go off, then the rest are very reliable. But that first shot... Somebody out in the duck marsh heard me snapping caps before daylight and yelled, "Stop shooting!" Darned right barrel just wouldn't go off.