Flintlock prime size?

[mark_fare]

I wanted to know what amount in grains that others on this forum use for priming their flintlock pans. I have a small priming flask from Treso that throws approx 3 grns of 4F. Now, this actually seems like alot of powder as it fills my pan from end to end and I have to level it off to close the pan lid. I was just curious what others use, and if the pan on my gun is small or not. My gun is a Pedersoli Kentucky Pistol in .54. The pan is formed from the factory with an approx .250 ball end mill with a pan depth of 1/32". I have doubled the depth to 1/16" with a .250 ball end mill and the 3 grns charge is what fills it to over-flowing.

 

[graybeard]

I'm no expert but I've been suprised at how few grains of 4f or 3f it takes in my pan to fire my flintlock. The pan certainly doesn't need to be cram full. I have a spring-loaded gadget that puts a few grains of 4f in the pan. It takes about three pushes to fill the pan. Usually I just trickle in a bit of 3f. Only a few grains, at the outside edge of the pan, are enough, I've found. graybeard

 

[renovato]

1/3 to 1/2 pan full, away from the vent, is what I see recommended most often. I only have 1 flintlock so far and it's a rifle, but their advice sure works well for me. 2 grains is all it takes to fill my pan 1/2 full and less actually worked better.

 

[Coot]

I am no expert either but normally pistols have smaller locks (& pans) than rifles. A primer valve made for a rifle may throw too much for a pistol. The vent should be at the top of the pan & the prime should not cover the vent (it just slows ignition as the prime has to burn down untill the vent is exposed to flame). You should not have to scrape off or level out the prime. It is not impossible that your pan was made a bit too shallow or small but the question is whether you get good ignition. If you get good ignition, leave the pan alone & work on your primer to throw less (or just prime from your main horn & forget the primer horn completely). You do not need a lot of powder to prime.

 

[mark_fare]

The vent hole on my pistol is on the centerline of the pan. The prime trough, I don't know what else to call it, is 1/16" deep. The vent hole is 1/16" in dia, so the bottom of the vent hole is only 1/32" above the bottom of the trough. When I really fill the trough w/ 4Fg, I can sense the fuse effect. Can anybody make some suggestions on what an ideal prime trough depth should be?

 

[Coot]

I am shooting a pistol made from Jim Chambers kit. It shoots well & has a coned vent with a 1/16" hole. The vent hole is centered on the pan & centered on the top of the pan. There is about 1/16 of pan depth below the hole, making the pan depth about 3/32". The pan is about 1/4" or just over in width. I barely cover the bottom of the pan when I prime. Are the above dimensions ideal? I don't know but the pistol is a very reliable shooter. Some of the builders on the board may be able to offer more definative dimensions.

 

[mark_fare]

Thank you for the detail you have provided. It would seem that I might could deepen the pan about another 1/32". Thanks.