First Flintlock Tom

[Nuthatch]

Congratulations!! Great Tom!!

What Gauge is your fowler?

It's a Pedersoli trade gun. So .62.

 

[Nuthatch]

You did really well.

Say, have you ever just tried a few over shot cards for a wad instead of the thick wad you are using?

Yep. Works okay for lead but lead free is a whole different beast. I know some people say that bismuth shot shoots the same as lead but it doesn't ever pattern as well for me. The best patterns came from using a thick felt OP wad, 1.5 oz #6 Bi shot, cornmeal buffer settled into the shot, thin card OS. Tried the Skychief method a few times & didn't find that particularly better either.

My theory is that because the Bi shot is brittle, it is deforming & even shattering some when it is blasted out. So anything that can slow that acceleration down reduces the deformation and, therefore, tightens the pattern. Slower powder, thicker wads, buffers, etc. -- all aimed at slowing the acceleration. It's just a theory though. But that's my guess as to why the the thick wad helps a little.

 

[Nuthatch]

I'm hoping to drop a bird with my flintlock. I've killed deer with my flintlock rifles, but so far have not taken a turkey with my smoothbore flintlock. Have had the hammer (cock) back on a few but never got the chance to pull the trigger. Hoping this year is different.

I had the cock back on a bird last year & failed to ignite the prime.

 

[TTT]

Awesome !!!! Congrats!!!!!