"Follow through" when firing a Flintlocks

[roundball]

From time to time I see posts about practicing "follow through" with a Flintlock. I can only assume they must be referring to shooting older, maybe more crude, slower firing Flintlocks that have a lot of delay in the ignition sequence...with the intent of the practice being able to learn how to hold fairly steady on the target while waiting for the ignition to occur and get the ball out of the barrel.

But I also see the same suggestions being made with respect to shooting the typical Flintlock manufactured today, given that today's Flintlock quality produces virtually instantaneous ignition.

:hmm: :hmm:

 

[R.M.]

Follow-through is just as important shooting modern instant-ignition ammunition. When we get sloppy with our form, we can start to lower the gun before the bullet has actually left the barrel. This shows up maybe more-so in pistols, but it happens also with long-arms.

 

[ghostdncr]

Yep, follow through is just one aspect of the skill set required to be a top-notch shooter!

 

[FishDFly]

roundball,

Can you define "follow through" a bit more?

The only flintlocks that I shoot are pistol, no rifle experience at all. All pistol shooting is offhand,

I do not wish to argue the difference between 3, 4 or 7F (NullB) for a priming powder and a persons reaction time. I can notice a bit of difference in offhand pistol shooing and my scores are proportional to the priming powder. The faster the powder, the higher the score.

My thoughts are that "follow through" is more important to an offhand shooter than a bench shooter.

Personally, I think a lot of dry firing with a flintlock might cure the "follow through" as many people talk about as is required.

If a person is concentrating on the sights and the target, you have what is needed. I think dry firing will get you there.

Thoughts?

RDE

 

[Onojutta]

Without a doubt the best method of shooting any gun- flintlock, percussion, centerfire, rifle, pistol, etc. is to let the the gun surprise you when it goes off. Gradually increase pressure on the trigger until it suddenly fires without your anticipation. This prevents flinching and lowering the barrel prematurely. Of course this requires proper sight picture, breathing, and overall form.

But the best advice I can give anyone: Let the gun surprise you when it fires.

 

[Bob Gular]

Follow through applies to ALL shooting. not just flintlocks.

 

[roundball]

My post is not a post about business as usual follow-through that everybody already understands.
:wink:

 

[blacksmithman64]

Onojutta about said it best.Sounds like he is/was in the military. We used to balance a penny on the muzzle of an M-16 and dry fire without the penny falling off and still be on target after firing.A little different with a big ol' flat barrel but you get the idea. Prime the pan and "dry fire" at a target and still be on target when the priming smoke clears. Also you should be "surprised" when it goes off. Many folks have commented on me on a firing line or woodswalk that I don't "flinch" Like Ol' Bill Murray said in Stripes ..."Army Training, Sir!"

 

[bingo1952]

Howard Hill said it best although he was talking about longbows at the time; "At the point of release do absolutely nothing".

 

[renovato]

Even a fast flintlock, or percussion gun for that matter, is no match for the speed of ignition in modern cartridge guns and follow through is just as important with them.

Good marksmanship with any gun involves several sub skills. Proper form, breath control, front sight focus, smooth trigger press and following through until the recoil pulse has ended. Even small things, such as what part of the finger you press the trigger with can have an impact on accuracy.

The relative slowness of ignition in muzzleloaders is why they're so good at improving a persons marksmanship skills with other kinds of guns too. Focusing on follow through is also a good way to train out subconscious movements such as flinch or trigger jerk.

 

[ghostdncr]

Without a doubt the best method of shooting any gun- flintlock, percussion, centerfire, rifle, pistol, etc. is to let the the gun surprise you when it goes off.

My personal thoughts, reflecting my personal experience and training: Surprise is the LAST thing I want popping up in the middle of a shooting solution.

My rifle will fire PRECISELY when I command it to. I can't/won't submit something so critical to whims of the Universe, games of chance, voodoo, etc.

Calculating the settling of the sights between heartbeats is a good example. If the shot is a surprise, how do you know the weapon will discharge when you are in a relaxed state?

This is not offered in any way as a reproach, BTW, just an alternate concept of the way things can be done. In other words, think about it...

As always, YMMV.

 

[bingo1952]

Biathletes either want their heartbeat at less than 120 or over 180. If it is beating at 120 or less they can fire between beats but if it is over 180 it really doesn't matter when the shot is touched off. I doubt if many of us are going to go anywhere near the magic 180 number.

 

[Many Klatch]

Roundball, my flinters work as well as anyone's, however I do occasionally get a hangfire. I know my follow through is working if I can still be in the scoring rings when my gun hangfires. It can make the difference between winning a match and being 2nd or 3rd.

If you get a klatch and the gun moves, then you probably need to work on follow through. I used to get a lot of practice at that. :grin:

Many Klatch

 

[ghostdncr]

Biathletes either want their heartbeat at less than 120 or over 180. If it is beating at 120 or less they can fire between beats but if it is over 180 it really doesn't matter when the shot is touched off. I doubt if many of us are going to go anywhere near the magic 180 number.

If my heart rate is 180 these days, follow-through is WAY down on my list of concerns... :rotf:

 

[bingo1952]

After two coronaries I'm headed for the emergency room. :v:

 

[Stumpkiller]

I practice follow through with flintlocks, centerfires, rifles, shotguns, pistols, bows . . . everything I shoot. There will be the day you do get a hang-fire no matter what. And with a moving target (bird or bunny) it is manditory. Follow through could mean the difference between a kill and a miss. Also, it assures a smooth pull free of jerk and makes for a good, steady hold.

It also helps get you relaxed for the shot if you are working a consistant follow through.

 

[Swampman]

I just shoot. I don't think about it much. I try not to shoot off hand if I can help it.

 

[rabjr]

I think my many hours of practicing with the compound bow over the years actually helped a great deal when I finally picked up a flintlock.

 

[bingo1952]

It probably built up the muscles on your off side. Those things are fairly heavy the last time I checked.

 

[Onojutta]

Onojutta about said it best.Sounds like he is/was in the military. We used to balance a penny on the muzzle of an M-16 and dry fire without the penny falling off and still be on target after firing.A little different with a big ol' flat barrel but you get the idea. Prime the pan and "dry fire" at a target and still be on target when the priming smoke clears. Also you should be "surprised" when it goes off. Many folks have commented on me on a firing line or woodswalk that I don't "flinch" Like Ol' Bill Murray said in Stripes ..."Army Training, Sir!"

You got it! From time to time you get to test yourself if the flint doesn't spark. If there's no boom and you haven't moved, you aren't flinching. Another trick with modern rifles is to have a friend load a spend round in your mag so you don't know when it's coming and same thing...