If you have a proper touch hole, well centered, and slightly convex shaped, you don't even have to use powder. In fact priming powder will slow down the ignition. 
Last edited:
How you fill your pan makes no difference ...
- Thread starter Rob M.
- Start date
Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:
Who's wasting 4f in the pan... disgusting!
Sidney Smith
58 Cal.
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2019
- Messages
- 2,205
- Reaction score
- 2,313
Funny
I've primed the pan of my .32 caliber flintlock, then walked all over the woods, climbing over fallen trees, up hills, etc. The gun is never in one position too long. I will admit it is never placed upside down however. Damn thing still goes off when I pull the trigger. Even though I went outta my way to load just a pinch of priming powder, held it away from the touch hole and everything. I must be doing something wrong.
I've primed the pan of my .32 caliber flintlock, then walked all over the woods, climbing over fallen trees, up hills, etc. The gun is never in one position too long. I will admit it is never placed upside down however. Damn thing still goes off when I pull the trigger. Even though I went outta my way to load just a pinch of priming powder, held it away from the touch hole and everything. I must be doing something wrong.
- Joined
- May 6, 2013
- Messages
- 4,320
- Reaction score
- 9,956
What ever works for you bud ,more power to ya , do believe I wrote that before . Go with your bad self and your well disciplined priming powder .
- Joined
- May 6, 2013
- Messages
- 4,320
- Reaction score
- 9,956
Alrighty then !! I'll be saving a lot of powder now that I never have to prime my lock again ! ......
Last edited:
Most of the misfires I've had with a flintlock have been because of the flint improperly set not the abundance of powder used.
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2010
- Messages
- 1,251
- Reaction score
- 1,699
Proofs in the pudding,touch hole location and a proper lock and the gun goes bang to easy.
- Joined
- May 6, 2013
- Messages
- 4,320
- Reaction score
- 9,956
Yep , you betcha bud . Easy peezy ....
You got it, Rob.
I spent a lot of time reading the work Larry Pletcher did and was so generous to share with the world. I read a lot of posts here that leave me shaking my head. If your ear can actually detect a difference of 20 milliseconds you are not made of the stuff humans are made of.
I spent a lot of time reading the work Larry Pletcher did and was so generous to share with the world. I read a lot of posts here that leave me shaking my head. If your ear can actually detect a difference of 20 milliseconds you are not made of the stuff humans are made of.
And if you have a big enough touch hole you don't need powder at all. Too big and the ball falls out through the touch hole....
Last edited:
A large enough touch hole and you'll have a self-priming rifle. 
Ballshooter
50 Cal.
My Kibler colonial and my 62 Issac bear rifle is not picky I just put in what I think looks good and shoot.
It's amazing what you learn from actually doing stuff instead of reading about stuff on the internet and deciding whose opinion is more correct.
I believe some of his test involved the touch hole location and even that didn't have much of a change. His testing puts all the myths to bed.
Cool!! That's what I do too!!
The patchbox comes in handy for a power source..........
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2013
- Messages
- 538
- Reaction score
- 796
I used to prime with FFFFg and try to use an exact amount, placed perfectly in the pan. Now I just pour some out of the horn into (sometimes around) the pan. Fg and finer, whatever is in the horn and have still been filling all my tags and knocking paint off all the targets. Way simpler
Iāve tried shooting my flintlock upside down but then everything falls out of my pockets and stuff.
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2023
- Messages
- 9
- Reaction score
- 20
I am no expert but I have been shooting and hunting with flintlocks for over 50 years.
I prime with whatever i am using for the main charge, 2 Fg / 3 Fg,
I use a cows knee to cover the lock in bad weather, ie rain/snow.
I never use 4 Fg as it is not graphite coated and quickly turns to soup from moisture in the air.
I never cover the touch hole with prime powder.
This has worked for me for many years.
I prime with whatever i am using for the main charge, 2 Fg / 3 Fg,
I use a cows knee to cover the lock in bad weather, ie rain/snow.
I never use 4 Fg as it is not graphite coated and quickly turns to soup from moisture in the air.
I never cover the touch hole with prime powder.
This has worked for me for many years.
Iām content with my flintlockās priming method/set-up when I personally canāt detect(perceive a difference in ignition time from shot to shot with the same rifle, or between different rifles. Looking for consistency, and pay attention to sparking and flash-hole size/orientation. I believe that what is considered to be satisfactory ignition time with a flintlock can vary between shooters.
