First time flintlock shooting with my Woodsrunner

[OKWilliam]

Man that flintlock flinch is no joke, from fifty yards I only hit my poster board 5/10times and somewhat close to my 6in shoot N&C target about 5-6” low and right with one flyer 12” left.
I realize how much range time I’ll need to try and correct my issue. I plan on having my shooting partner, my girlfriend to either prime or not prime my pan and start there.
Also going into shooting after doing some reading here I knew French flints can be more brittle than English but I was not expecting half of my flint to break off. I did bring additional french&english flints but I forgot my screwdriver at home

Besides that I love my kibler Woodsrunner it’s exactly what I was looking for in my first flintlock, I cannot recommend it enough. I know the term balances perfectly is a stretch since everyone is different but at 5’10 it fits me perfectly and the slightly shorter barrel is perfect for me since I don’t wanna be starting a ball and ramming right in my face. Additionally the reduced weigh is a nice comfort, even my grandmother can shoulder it without trouble and is surprised with how light it is.

I’ll stop rambling now, but any further advice on dealing with flinch or any general flintlock advice is well appreciated.

 

[Campbell]

Very nice rifle.
Carve you a hardwood “flint” and dry-fire a lot.

 

[Freedom]

When it comes to French Ambers, my Colonial is a bit of a Rock-Crusher too.
When we were being rationed flints, I ordered as many as Jim would sell me with my rifle kits.. Crushed 5 right in a row!

They all broke the same place (or worse) as the one you pictured, within three strikes.
This one broke exactly the same way as yours did,... while shooting a bull elk!.. but I got him

 

[teflonhunter]

Flints on both rifles look like they could have made contact with barrel ? Or were not square with frizzen when set up ?

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

Just so you know, the rifle will go off with out prime in the pan.
Follow through is your friend. Don't think, just do.

 

[OKWilliam]

Flints on both rifles look like they could have made contact with barrel ? Or were not square with frizzen when set up ?

Barrel clearance is good and my flint has to be slightly turned to the left in the jaws to make square contact with the frizzen

 

[rafterob]

A little getting used to. Concentrate on sight picture and slowly squeeze the trigger. You will not even realize there is a fireball going off inches from your eyes!

 

[Freedom]

Barrel clearance is good and my flint has to be slightly turned to the left in the jaws to make square contact with the frizzen

Flints on both rifles look like they could have made contact with barrel ? Or were not square with frizzen when set up ?

At the time , there was a Covid purchase limit of 3 flints max, per kit, from Kibler. And at $4 a flint, I felt like I seriously applied myself to to do everything correctly... especially after shattering so many in a row.

Black English and the old white Rich Pierce chert seem to last forever.

30 years of a Flintlock shooting isn't a lot compared to some of you boys... but I have installed a few rocks.
Here's another wasted $4 French Amber... one strike

 

[Zutt-man]

With my two Kibler’s, I started out by sighting them in at 25 yards. This will take care of your left and right. Once you get comfortable and build some confidence in shooting, extend it to 50 yards to get your sights fine tuned.

 

[planefixer da50]

concentrate, concentrate on front site will never see the flash to flinch. wood flint sub. will help n hold, follow thru hold after trigger release

 

[akroguy]

I struggle with flinching as well. An eye injury as a kid made me very protective of my facial region. Safety glasses are A MUST. Then, with that protection in place, it’s about hard focus on the front sight. It is your everything for that brief moment in time.

 

[French Colonial]

As Campbell said Dry Fire Dry Fire Dry Fire Dry Fire Dry Fire Dry Fire Dry Fire Dry Fire Dry Fire Dry Fire.

As with all firearms, if you can have the hammer/striker etc. fall and the sights do not move for at least a second after, you are on the way to being a better offhand shot.

It is really that easy, but you must have the discipline to actually do it.

 

[hanshi]

I've had a few flints chip or break due to flaws in the the stone itself. But I've been doing flint for over 53 years. Sometimes flint breakage boils down to it just not scraping the frizzen but smashing into it instead. I agree doing work with a wooden "flint" will help you deal with the flash.

 

[Barry Strickland]

It looks like the flint is sticking out of your jaws too far. The flint should strike the frizzen on a arc downwards. If the flint is sticking out too far it is like slamming into a steel wall. The flint breaks.
Barry

 

[Bill Bryan]

Looks like the flint is too far forward and not square with the frizzen. English, French or American flints should all last for dozens of shots with little wear. Bill

 

[OKWilliam]

It looks like the flint is sticking out of your jaws too far. The flint should strike the frizzen on a arc downwards. If the flint is sticking out too far it is like slamming into a steel wall. The flint breaks.
Barry

Looks like the flint is too far forward and not square with the frizzen. English, French or American flints should all last for dozens of shots with little wear. Bill

I just installed a new English. I cut a square slot on my flint leather to pull it back slightly and this is as square of contact I can get but it has to have a slight turn. 2nd photo is the overall length after cutting the slot. And the video doesn’t seem to be slamming the frizzen, and barrel clearance is good.
Thoughts? TIA

 

[TDM]

That should work.

 

[skwerleater]

it’s hard to tell, but in one of your pics it looks like the flint is bevel side down. Try securing the flint in the cock bevel side up. Some locks are very hard on a flint if it’s bevel down, which might be what you are experiencing.

 

[OKWilliam]

it’s hard to tell, but in one of your pics it looks like the flint is bevel side down. Try securing the flint in the cock bevel side up. Some locks are very hard on a flint if it’s bevel down, which might be what you are experiencing.

Good to know, the original amber flint had bevel down, I installed the English With bevel up since if it was down it would hit near the top of frizzen. I faintly recall hearing you want it to ideally hit somewhere close to the middle of the top 1/3 of the frizzen.

 

[skwerleater]

Give it a try. Hopefully it works and you get lots of shots out of your flints!!