jaydee4570
32 Cal.
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2004
- Messages
- 9
- Reaction score
- 0
Well, I fired my flintlock for the first time this weekend (I'm a long time percussion shooter.) It is a beautiful 45 cal Hatfield rifle, that was unfired until now. First 3 shots were great fun, and everything seemed to work great. After the third shot though, the main charge (50 grains of FFg) refused to go off, though the primer charge of 4F fired every time (Which made me quite happy.). When I got home I pulled the touch hole liner, and the powder looked rather damp. I did wipe between shots, and I tried to squeeze all the excess solvent off the patch before wiping, then used two dry patches to dry the bore. This rifle has a powder chamber that is smaller than bore diameter just in front of the touch hole liner. Obviously solvent or moist fouling was being pushed back into the powder chamber, where the patches couldn't reach, and this dampened the main charge preventing it from firing.
The question now is what to do. Do I not wipe between shots? Do I wipe between shots and then wrap a patch around a 22 caliber bore brush to clean and dry out the powder chamber? One friend suggested simply dry-brushing between shots. Any suggestions would greatly be appreciated!!!!
The rifle is one of Ted Hatfields flintlocks with a beautiful maple stock, and is a beautiful rifle over all. Fitting and finishing is relatively good. The lock seems to work quite reliably. The bore is a bit rough (This is one of the early rifles where the parts were made in Italy and then sent to Missouri for fitting and finishing.) but it doesn't cause any problems. I just want to figure out what I need to do to keep it firing reliably.
Thanks!!!
The question now is what to do. Do I not wipe between shots? Do I wipe between shots and then wrap a patch around a 22 caliber bore brush to clean and dry out the powder chamber? One friend suggested simply dry-brushing between shots. Any suggestions would greatly be appreciated!!!!
The rifle is one of Ted Hatfields flintlocks with a beautiful maple stock, and is a beautiful rifle over all. Fitting and finishing is relatively good. The lock seems to work quite reliably. The bore is a bit rough (This is one of the early rifles where the parts were made in Italy and then sent to Missouri for fitting and finishing.) but it doesn't cause any problems. I just want to figure out what I need to do to keep it firing reliably.
Thanks!!!