Welcome from the NW corner of MO. I'm in KC. Wife and I often drove I-70 visiting family both in KCMO and IL during the 80s. Every time went by Wentzville, she wanted to stop at the Tick Tock Clock Shoppe since we collected clocks. Don't know if it's still there. Once we did stop and she got a round, dinner plate sized clock with a 1-inch border of weaved straw. Hard to believe it is still ticking above my gun work bench. Like you, I started shooting BP ML with a percussion pistol. As others have said, you'll be shooting those "hand-me-down" flintlocks darn soon. Congrats & enjoy -- what a cool all at once gun collection!
Well. @Tinman0629, here's another welcome from Missouri and on the Eastern edge of the state. I too have family living in Warrenton. Perhaps we can arrange to meet up and we can show you that there's nothing to fear about those flint lock rifles of yours.