I got the urge several years ago to build my own flintlock. I decided on a .40cal because here in Arkansas I can hunt anything from squirrel to black bear with that caliber. I ordered a York rifle kit from Chambers and the journey began. It took me a few years to actually finish the rifle because of life happening but I finally did 2 years ago. Last year I got a shot opportunity but I got a bit excited and jerked the trigger. I was literally laughing, and mentally kicking myself as the doe ran out of the field unscathed. Fast forward to this year's muzzleloader season. I had hunted hard all week with no luck. Finally on Friday evening I returned to the same field that I missed the doe in last year. I sat up in the exact same place and about 20 minutes later I looked up and a doe was crossing the field in the exact same place as the one the year before. No way to know but it could have been the same deer. I posiitioned myself for the shot and kept repeating in my head "focus on the spot, squeeze, and follow through." The trigger broke and I knew instantly the shot was good. She was slightly quarted to me at about 50 yards. The ball hit just in front of the shoulder joint and exited in the crease on the opposite side. She ran in a big half circle about 60 yards and I saw her fall just inside the woods. Im so thankful to have gotten this deer with a rifle that I built and a ball that I cast. It was an amazing experience.
First flintlock deer
- Thread starter T Gregory
- Start date
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Nicely done. I got my first deer with a fainter this year too. How was the kit to build difficulty wise?
nchawkeye
58 Cal.
Nice job!!! Congrats!!
Fantastic story 
Congratulations. Well done. Beautiful rifle too!
Congratulations, well done!
Congrats.
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Very good story. Congratulations on your success
Well done...,
IF you were not "hooked" before, you're doomed now, like most of us....,
Ah well, keep yer powder dry!
LD
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Congratulations, sounds like a perfect evening! Nice looking rifle.
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Great hunting story, and picture. Well done sir!
Twowithone
40 Cal.
Good job.
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Congrats....... 
........Still remember my first , w/a flintlock rifle , like it was yesterday. Many more to ya!
........Still remember my first , w/a flintlock rifle , like it was yesterday. Many more to ya!
Congratulations! Fantastic progression from idea to build to harvest.
Thanks. The kit is not a snap together and finish, it requires a lot of work. The barrel channel and lock are "partially "inletted but there is plenty of wood to remove. I made and inletted the patch box from scratch. I didn't do any carving on the wood or engraving on the metal because I got tired of not getting to hunt with it after working on it off and on for about 5 years. I ended up with well over 100 hours in it anyway. If I had a place to set up and work on it that i could leave (not the kitchen table) and do another one, I could do it in half that time.
New bp shooter
40 Cal
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Congratulations on your dear and what a beautiful rifle you built... I hope this is the first of me to come
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Not a hunter, but I enjoy shooting my .40 Poor boy from T.O.W. components.
Congratulations! It's very rewarding to take game with traditional equipment and icing on the cake when you made that equipment with your own hands.
