Flintlock vs Percussion #'s

[bangfxr]

I shoot both flint and cap lock and at the shoots I've gone to it was about 50-50.

 

[Critter Getter]

I just looked up an article written in 2010 that states that PA flintlock deer numbers harvested is in the 20,000-25,000 per year range. I don't know what the total number of hunters in that season is but maybe a guess of 40,000-50,000 could be close. I find that amazing as I personally know so few here in Iowa shooting flint. I know there are some but they don't walk in my neck of the woods. I guess my arsenal would be 25/75 ratio percussion but enjoy my flinters most. Greg.

 

[faste350]

I WISH the Pa Game Commission would allow flintlock season to run concurrently with bow season. Instead, we get a couple of weeks of rotten weather ...

We will never get a chance at bucks during the archery/crossbow season, the lobby for those two groups in this state are too powerful! We used to stand a fighting chance at a buck during the rifle season, but with a 6-7 week archery AND crossbow season, your chances are limited! You can't add a weapon like a crossbow and NOT shorten the season. Our flintlock only season is in danger every year, so we need to enjoy it while we can.

 

[don hepler]

I belong to a large shooting club. Within that club we have a group that shoot's flintlocks. But, after seeing all the fun, that we were having, a few cap lock guys wanted to join in. As long as they are traditional firearms, we are okay with that. Sometimes we even allow a Sharps or Trapdoor, just for show and tell, as long as they shoot Black Powder.

I rarely see a flintlock, outside of our club. Except for antique rifles, it's rare to see a flintlock, in any local gun shops. Most of the antiques, are just for display, and not for sale.

Our club is pretty much in to the flintlocks, and I started the whole thing, with a Tip Curtis, flintlock rifle. We now have more than 20 flintlock rifles and growing.

The flintlock group, draws more shooters, than any other club shooting group.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Well I wouldn't say "never". I think what one needs is a small start, here in Maryland too, that says that on private property, the landowner may allow early flintlock hunting of deer. Perhaps on October 1st, which still would give the archers all of September (at least we start archery down here in September). The landowner really should have more say in what's going on. I mean in Maryland we can hunt squirrel in September and dove....so how does that not bother the deer for the archers but a flintlock or sidelock gun does? True, PA has a lot more public game lands, but a small start is what's needed.

LD

 

[azmntman]

ff I dunno bout back there but out here the deer n elk KNOW when yer after THEM Shoot treet rats all day and see deer n elk. Day one deer season at 8:00 AM one sees all manner of elk n tree rat, no deer. Then elk season....day one of elk season (deer now over) one sees multiple bucks n does n tree rats and NO ELK (either sex). They do know yer after em.

My pop used to take his ol Mcullogh chain saw hunting and dress as a wood cutter (which he was) on deer season opener. He said the deer assumed he was cuttin wood and walked right by browsin and twiching ears. Elk too. He would come back with load of oak n elk

These critters are instictivly trying to not abide in our freezers and they KNOW.

Now if one takes a flintlock perhaps the game thinks they are seein a ghost from days past and either panic (if they are superstitious) and flee or just ignore ya and git shot?? They do know if yer after THEM though. Do others see game acting similar? I would think, as per above posts, that once the shooting for whatever started in the fall they would all be hard to find but it appears only whats in season goes nocturnal here :youcrazy: :hmm:

 

[okawbow]

If a special flintlock only season became wide spread; I'm afraid the manufacturers would come up with a "modern" flintlock of some kind that would shoot 1" groups at 200 yards.

The unmentionable "muzzleloaders", compound bows, and modern crossbows are all a result of "special" seasons. They probably wouldn't exist is there was simply a hunting season where any weapon could be used.

Round ball, side lock flintlocks, and iron sights only rules would have to be written so they could not be changed.

 

[mooman76]

Years ago I hunted UT during the muzzle loading season. It was right after the very pressured rifle season and deer were very scarce. It didn't help the fact that the season was also changing rapidly and deer were on the move out of the higher elevations. Eventually they got smart and moved it ahead of the rifle season but I haven't been there to hunt then.

 

[Mean Gene]

I think or it is in my opinion that the unmentionables, crossbows and compound bows are all the result of people stacking the deck in there favor, or just being lazy.
At my gun club many shooters are interested in watching me shoot my traditional cap lock but they shy away because of as they say how messy it is.
I then ask if when they go fishing if they buy there fish at the store so they don't have to clean the messy fish?

 

[Zonie]

That reminds me of the time I was loading my longrifle at the shooting range.

A couple of guys stood there watching me and as I finished, one guy turned to the other and said, "That's too damn much work. Anyone who would want to shoot something like that would like fly fishing."

I answered, "I like fly fishing too."

They turned and walked away with a disgusted look on their faces. :shake: :shake:

 

[dodger]

:

Now if one takes a flintlock perhaps the game thinks they are seein a ghost from days past :hmm:

:rotf:

Maybe not just the game thinks that way , might be useful to keep two legged critters out of the woods . :thumbsup:

 

[hanshi]

I've only seen two other flint shooters at our range but there are several percussion shooters. As for hunting, other than my hunting partner, I've NEVER seen another flint hunter in the woods.

I own, and occasionally shoot, a couple of great percussion rifles but hunt exclusively with flint. I'd guess caplocks are in the overwhelming majority.

 

[hanshi]

I'll go even further and say that deer and other critters know the caliber and range of your smoke pole. Maybe they can read our minds; I don't know.

I attract a lot of attention at the range with my flinters; about half just want to watch but about half take me up on my offer to have them shoot.

 

[Mean Gene]

I've never had anyone accept my offer yet to shoot my rifle, one guy said it looked like it kicked to hard for his liking.

 

[AZbpBurner]

I've never had anyone accept my offer yet to shoot my rifle, one guy said it looked like it kicked to hard for his liking.

I've got flint for all occasions - some lefthand & some righthanded. Seems like all the highschool age girls at my range like to wander over & watch. The lefthanded ones almost universally want to shoot one. One to the extent that she told daddy she wanted one for her birthday - he was trying to get her interested in a pink camo AR with suppressor that he had "built just for her".

I've never had any of the girls complain about too much recoil(.54 cal.) - they always want to shoot it again.

 

[biliff]

If an offer to shoot my flintlock gets refused, I usually follow up with a "Deep down inside you really do." Amazing how many people go, "yeah, I really do" and end up trying it.

 

[azmntman]

I'll go even further and say that deer and other critters know the caliber and range of your smoke pole. Maybe they can read our minds; I don't know.

I attract a lot of attention at the range with my flinters; about half just want to watch but about half take me up on my offer to have them shoot.

This deer season I had but one legal buck in vision. Only 15 yds. I raise gun, he steps behind bush. I step two steps and get him in open, he steps again and behind bush. etc etc. He finally tired of our game and did the mule deer shuffle. Sucks? Not as much as the fact he had a buddy even closer (bout 10yds, I never seen him) watching the whole thing in the open. He shuffled too. Gotta love em, they KNOW :surrender:

 

[excess650]

Round ball, side lock flintlocks, and iron sights only rules would have to be written so they could not be changed.

Pennsylvania's flintlock season was started as " flintlock longrifles, .44 caliber and larger, iron sights (no peep sights), and patched roundballs.

It has since morphed into allowing peep sights, and any projectile. I don't recall longrifleever being enforced.

We've wandered off topic, so back ON: a friend called me last evening with info on a possible MLer shoot at a local club. Hopefully it will come to fruition and be of the "woods walk" variety vs paper punching. I'll carry a flintlock.

 

[Kansas Jake]

If an offer to shoot my flintlock gets refused, I usually follow up with a "Deep down inside you really do." Amazing how many people go, "yeah, I really do" and end up trying it.

I used essentially the same line with a young man at the range a couple of weeks ago when I was shooting my .36 flint. He had a big smile after shooting it and then his dad shot it too. They were shooting an unmentionable BP gun. Talk about watching a difficult to load contraption. It also seemed to have a long hang fire that was much slower than my flintlock.

 

[Col. Batguano]

At our club shoots it seems we're about 7:2 percussion / flint, and most of the percussion guns are factory guns. Most of the flint guns are custom guns.

When I'm at the range with a flinter, most people are quite amazed how fast the locks are. I think most of them are expecting something about as fast as a firecracker fuse. sssssssssssss----boom