Flintlock vs Percussion

[Smokey Plainsman]

That's often mentioned as some kind of advantage to the flint guns but truth be known unless you're in very specific geographical regions of the U.S. you are going to have a tough time finding anything that will spark well, AND THEN you have to know how to knap them.

I'll bet 95% of those repeating "you can find flint just laying on the ground to keep the rifle going!" A) would not be able to identify let alone locate appropriate rock to make flints and B) know how to knap them properly to make said flint.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I agree.

When you're cold, wet and hungry, or just need to bring home some food for the family, a flintlock is not what you want. Percussion guns are much more moisture resistant, fire instantaneously, and are simpler to maintain in the field. These are reasons why it made flintlock weapons all but obsolete and why it replaced them in near entirety.

Come 'on dude!.......

How ever did man survive when flintlocks where all that there were?....Which was about 200 years...The percussion cap era lasted only 3 decades before it was fazed out.... :hmm:

Remember, our Revolution was fought with flintlocks as well as the Napoleonic wars....
Heck! even the Alamo was fought primarily with flintlocks.

 

[Zonie]

I don't know why people keep on saying the flintlock lasted 200 years but the percussion only lasted for 30 years as if that was somehow degrading the percussion idea.

Before saying this, they should sit down and give this a real hard thought. :hmm:

The percussion system is still with us today.

It is the system that is used by almost all of the firearms that followed the muzzleloader and use those metal thing-a-ma-jigs with the exception of some that have tried using electricity.

Just saying. :grin:

 

[coloradoclyde]

I was speaking strictly about muzzleloaders, not modern guns...the flintlocks entered the scene in the early 17th century...By 1840 percussion was beginning to dominate....By 1870 the major militaries of the world abandoned muzzleloaders all together....

That is why I say flintlocks reigned supreme....Because in the timeline adopted by this forum....They did..

 

[Gene L]

Yes, but they were supplanted by caplocks. While historically, you see many flints converted to caps, you don't see many caps converted to flints. Our ancestors seem to have known something. Nostalgia and history are two separate things.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Exactly.

Funny how percussion guns all but replaced nearly all flintlocks in world military service in those short few decades. Why, pray tell, would that be?

Because they're better.

 

[coloradoclyde]

"Better" is subjective....

The percussion muzzleloader began to be obsolete almost as soon as it was invented...Because it opened the door to the self contained cartridge....

There's no question that the percussion ignition system was an evolutionary leap forward.

One thing to consider is the quality of caps today vs. the caps of yesteryear. The percussion ignition we have today is the result of more than 150 years of refinement.

Better is subjective,...one can always have or invent a better mouse trap, but it won't necessarily make you a better mouse catcher. :v

 

[dsayer]

Shooting a flintlock will make you a better shooter. You will shoot a cap lock better.

I only have hands on experience with cap locks because that's what my dad used and what he bought me on my 12th birthday. I have considered buying a flintlock for exactly this reason though. But, finances are tight...

 

[FishDFly]

Shooting a flintlock will make you a better shooter. You will shoot a cap lock better.

Not necessarily at all.

There are some folks who really struggle with shooting a flintlock because of the sparks very close to their eye and the smoke from the pan.

Some develop a very profound flinch which they have a very difficult time eliminating.

Some folks have asked here numerous times on how to get rid of the flinch while shooing a flintlock.

Flinching is not conducive to better shooting.

Some people refer to flintlocks as "flinch" locks.

 

[mooman76]

You are correct that doesn't necessarily make you a better shooter but it can. I believe and tell people shooting a caplock has made me a better shooter because of the small split second delay when firing, I have to concentrate more to hold when firing to keep from pulling the shot. So in other words any bad habit you have when shooting a ML as compared to CF is magnified.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Shooting a flintlock will make you a better shooter. You will shoot a cap lock better.

Not necessarily at all.

There are some folks who really struggle with shooting a flintlock because of the sparks very close to their eye and the smoke from the pan.

Some develop a very profound flinch which they have a very difficult time eliminating.

Some folks have asked here numerous times on how to get rid of the flinch while shooing a flintlock.

Flinching is not conducive to better shooting.

Some people refer to flintlocks as "flinch" locks.

A flintlock doesn't "magically" make you a better shooter......You still have to put in the effort and training.....It is overcoming the flinch or delay in shooting that makes you a better shooter overall....

 

[MSW]

well, which is better, my AR-15 with a .22LR sub cal insert, or my Holland and Holland in .505 nitro?

Obviously, it depends on what you want to do ”¦ if you're going out after BIG game, the AR isn't a very good choice, but if you want to go bust on some otherwise perfectly innocent soda cans, the .505 might be too much gun.

when I go out to make good smoke, I do so for the fill-the-idle hour fun of it, and for me, a flintlock does this best. having said that, it would be the height of hubris (almost governmental arrogance) to tell someone else what to shoot. when asked, my response has been "Try both and go with what works for you."

if, however, I was not doing this for fun, I would want the tool which achieves the best outcome with the minimum cost or risk... really, would you rather slaughter the enemies of our nation with sharpened sticks, or achieve the same result with the press of a button?

"Hey, somebody please reset the death ray! By the way, the game is on - i'm gonna get a brew... anyone else want one?"


just one guy's opinion ”¦ free and no doubt well worth the cost.

 

[Rifleman1776]

which is better,

Obviously, it depends on what you want to do

Sez it all. :applause: Fini on this discussion. :surrender:

 

[Black Hand]

Exactly.

Funny how percussion guns all but replaced nearly all flintlocks in world military service in those short few decades. Why, pray tell, would that be?

Because they're better.

A subjective statement at best. All the criteria people use to dismiss flintlocks are problems IF the shooter doesn't do their job or the lock quality is poor. Having shot both, the percussion system IS NOT better, just different...

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

Some develop a very profound flinch which they have a very difficult time eliminating.

Absolutely, true statement! Anything worth while IMO is worth effort. Some shoot flint naturally, but I think most struggle at first. When you get past the "beginner" struggle your follow through will help you with all guns.
Flintlocklar :wink:

 

[rich pierce]

I often don’t recall seeing the pan flash, unless I have a flash in the pan. I think that is because muzzle flash obscures it.

 

[stubshaft]

That goes to show that you are following through properly. :thumbsup:

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I agree.

When you're cold, wet and hungry, or just need to bring home some food for the family, a flintlock is not what you want. Percussion guns are much more moisture resistant, fire instantaneously, and are simpler to maintain in the field. These are reasons why it made flintlock weapons all but obsolete and why it replaced them in near entirety

:rotf:

IF THAT's your criteria, and nothing wrong with it as a criteria, then what you want is something like a 12 Gauge breech loader. There is a reason why the traditional caplock went out of style, too. :wink:

LD

 

[azmntman]

Shooting a flintlock will make you a better shooter. You will shoot a cap lock better.

Not necessarily at all.

There are some folks who really struggle with shooting a flintlock because of the sparks very close to their eye and the smoke from the pan.

Overcome by practice. Practice makes a better shooter. Practice with sparks in yer face makes a CF a piece of cake. FOLLOW THROUGH

Some develop a very profound flinch which they have a very difficult time eliminating.

Overcome by practice. Practice makes a better shooter. Practice with sparks in yer face makes a CF a piece of cake. FOLLOW THROUGH

Some folks have asked here numerous times on how to get rid of the flinch while shooing a flintlock.

Overcome by practice. Practice makes a better shooter. Practice with sparks in yer face makes a CF a piece of cake. FOLLOW THROUGH

Flinching is not conducive to better shooting.

Overcome by practice. Practice makes a better shooter. Practice with sparks in yer face makes a CF a piece of cake. FOLLOW THROUGH

Some people refer to flintlocks as "flinch" locks.

Some people refer to all guns regardless of ignition or clip size as good for nothing but "put a man six foot in a hole" :td:

 

[coloradoclyde]

Flintlocks aren't for everyone.....Just like some people can't swim or drive a car....Many people learn to swim and drive a car and love it....Some people never learn or can't learn for various reasons....

Growing up, neither of my parents could swim....Yet I was in a canoe while still in diapers, and we always had a motorboat and went fishing and waterskiing....My parents made sure us kids could all swim.....So we could save them if need be......

There's a point in there somewhere.... :haha: