First flintlock deer! So hooked!

[user 61297]

Yesterday was first day of early antlerless season in VA. Weatherman sain low 50s for the first couple hours so I decided to give it a try. I built first flinter out of a parts package I got in a local sale paper. A gentleman had assembled all the parts for a build over the last 20ish years. But never assembled them. I got it together this spring and after lots of range time and help from the wisdom on these pages got the 42" 50 cal 1:66 green mountain barrel with L&R lock dialed in.

Cast .490 balls from a lee mold, .015 patches, lubed with TOW mink oil, touched off with Grafs 3f at 75gr = 5 shots into 1 to 2 inches at 50 yards from field rested positions.

About 0900 yesterday the parade of young bucks started, of course during antlerless season. Last deer in the March was a nice doe, last years most likely, with no spotted followers. Took my shot at 45 yards. Excellent hit, double lung archery like placement. Deer scattered, watched my target run with the group and break off after 25 yards or so.

Also Thanks to the wise folks here that advise prb hits be treated like bowhunting. Let the woods calm down, put jag on rod, stabbed barrel, calmly reloaded and sat down for 20 min.

Speed to end, a 50 yard track led to great first deer,, not much blood first 20 yards, but got steadily heavier to the fallRhanks to all of you for the great posts. so helpful. Now I have added flintlock to my list of centerfire, classic cartridge, traing wheel bow, traditional bow, percussion and the dreaded incline MZ. I have to say the homemade flinyer, with my cast balls, cleaned with a Russell knife I made is full circle. I am hooked!

With cast .490

 

[user 61297]

Sorry for typos. 52 year old eyes and fingers typing before morning coffee!

Pic attached I hope.

 

[sb 54 cal.]

It only gets more addictive. Next step smoothbore.

 

[user 61297]

There is a 62cal octagon-to-round barrel waiting in the basement for the rest of the parts!

 

[jdw276]

Sorry for typos. 52 year old eyes and fingers typing before morning coffee!

Pic attached I hope.

Congratulatons on the winter food.

 

[Dutch7]

Making meat so early in the year, I miss Virginia.
Nice going on the build, shot and recovery.
Where in Va?

 

[user 61297]

Northern most, in Frederick County, can smell WV when the wind blows.

 

[Stykbow]

Congrats!

 

[Patocazador]

Nice slick doe and a beautiful rifle make your hunt one to remember.

 

[leadhoarder]

Northern most, in Frederick County, can smell WV when the wind blows.

Hopefully you do not get a strong east wind very often. PeeYou!

 

[nhmoose]

Nothing better!!! You are addicted now; I was over 30 years ago. Welcome to the club. That meat will be delicious as only a flint kill can be.

I, at 71 years old, am Still amazed the flintlock goes off every time I pull the trigger and hope it never changes.

 

[Splitear]

Yesterday was first day of early antlerless season in VA. Weatherman sain low 50s for the first couple hours so I decided to give it a try. I built first flinter out of a parts package I got in a local sale paper. A gentleman had assembled all the parts for a build over the last 20ish years. But never assembled them. I got it together this spring and after lots of range time and help from the wisdom on these pages got the 42" 50 cal 1:66 green mountain barrel with L&R lock dialed in.

Cast .490 balls from a lee mold, .015 patches, lubed with TOW mink oil, touched off with Grafs 3f at 75gr = 5 shots into 1 to 2 inches at 50 yards from field rested positions.

About 0900 yesterday the parade of young bucks started, of course during antlerless season. Last deer in the March was a nice doe, last years most likely, with no spotted followers. Took my shot at 45 yards. Excellent hit, double lung archery like placement. Deer scattered, watched my target run with the group and break off after 25 yards or so.

Also Thanks to the wise folks here that advise prb hits be treated like bowhunting. Let the woods calm down, put jag on rod, stabbed barrel, calmly reloaded and sat down for 20 min.

Speed to end, a 50 yard track led to great first deer,, not much blood first 20 yards, but got steadily heavier to the fallRhanks to all of you for the great posts. so helpful. Now I have added flintlock to my list of centerfire, classic cartridge, traing wheel bow, traditional bow, percussion and the dreaded incline MZ. I have to say the homemade flinyer, with my cast balls, cleaned with a Russell knife I made is full circle. I am hooked!

With cast .490

Congratulations!

 

[bronko220002]

beautiful rifle and congrats on the doe. That's one of the problems with PRB. They are good killers but don't show much blood until the chest cavity starts filling up. Next time try to aim a little lower. Again congrats.

 

[Bushfire]

Congratulations, it is very addictive. I picked up a flint for the first time a few years ago and never put them down.

I've taken 5 or 6 deer and a few other game with flinters now, they kill very well.

Wait till the smoothbore bug bites you!

 

[Mule333]

Congrats, Thanks for story. Helps us old timers relive past memories.

 

[tenngun]

There is a 62cal octagon-to-round barrel waiting in the basement for the rest of the parts!

For me Ml was a step by step getting deeper in to the rabbit hole
Percussion to flint to smooth bore. 1850 to 1820 to 1770 now I got me a dog lock 1710.
Each more addicting than the last.

 

[Thingamajiggy]

Great gun and a nice deer! Congrats!

 

[Va Hunter]

What county are you hunting in? I’m guessing NOVA somewhere. Our muzzle loader season in my county doesn’t start until November 4

 

[Old Sparky]

It only gets more addictive. Next step smoothbore.

Yes you'll eventually be wanting to get rid of the training wheels of the rifling LOL

 

[Crockford]

Congratulations Curdog1, great story and hunt. Nice looking flintlock you built there. Hopefully the Bucks will show up during buck season and we will get to see a pic of a successful buck hunt. Always exciting to take a deer with a self poured PRB.