Flints life.

[Rudyard]

The old timers used the term, "hammer" for the frizzen, which really confuses people as we all think of the hammer as the 'cock' that holds the flint! Newbies would really get discombobulated!

WelI I call it a 'steel' it was called a 'Hammer' but seldom today .The' cock' holds the flint the' steel 'or 'hammer' gets annoyed at being bashed all the time .Cant blame it.
Rudyard's whimsy

 

[M. De Land]

Im trying to use the search function more to not rehash something’s already spoken. But I didn’t see my answer. So here goes. Loaded question I realize. What’s the average life of a flint if everything being equal. I know that can be answered many many ways. I’m a first time flinter. I’m sure quality, cut and setup is all a factor. I just was curious about a realistic ballpark.

# 2 flint quality. What’s excellent and what junk vs adequate. You folks that make your own I admire your skills and hope to possibly learn it also.

# 3 flints are natural stones. Has there ever been man made style made that was shaped and work like a premium stone would ?

# 4 Does a fritz wear out ?

# 5 Can you use the same F grade black powder for your pan as you use for your barrel charge. I thought I have seen videos of people using the same horn. I have Goex FF & FFF on hand. For a 50 cal and my future Kibler Woodsrunner 45 cal.


I’ll end this with I hope to contact this Carolina muzzle loader shooting group in the near future. They are near Mnt Airy NC. Near enough to the Virginia line. Thanks for all the help y’all have given a newbie to black powder.

Thank you for y’all’s patience with this greenhorn. WarDawg

1, One of the most useful things to learn for any flint shooter is how to pressure flake the edge instead of whacking with a percussor or nipping it. This technique will make the flint last the longest and give the strongest, most spark producing edge of all. A well tuned lock and good quality flint can last to 70-80 shots if the edge is maintained properly.
2, If you are buying flint than English black or French Amber are very good.
3. I know of nothing that works as good as quality natural flint or chert.
4. Yes, Frizzens will eventually wear out but it takes years and thousands of shots.
5. If you screen your regular powder you will likely have all the fine pan powder you will ever need without buying it specifically. Goex has more fines than does Schutzen or Swiss.
Traditionally the same powder was used in the pan as in the barrel how ever for match shooting I prefer Swiss Null-B as it is basically black powder flour it is so fine and thus very fast burning for quick ignition.