How you fill your pan makes no difference ...

[Garbear34]

I didn't know all the proper ways to prime my flintlock. I'll have to try them all. I was just dumping in black powder in my pan and hoping it go off.

 

[Commodore Swab]

Yeah, that is a test for a really fine flint lock; firing it upside down! I don't think any of mine would pass, but haven't tried it! We do see many street shooters in the criminal class firing upside down and sideways, but that's the unspeakable modern stuff!

The harder bit is to fire on its side where the powder will slide out. Inverted you have the powder falling to the sparks.

 

[Sam squanch]

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.

My mom could react even faster than 20 milliseconds when I started trouble….

 

[11th corps]

The flintlock firing drill in the 18th C. armies had no command for "tilt pan!" or anything like it!

Probably didn't matter if it went off or not. They were going to do their work with Cold Steel anyway.

 

[11th corps]

I remember the manual for one of the first T/C hawken flintlocks I purchased. It mentioned filling the pan and making sure some of the powder got to the touch hole.
I've always had better luck keeping my powder at the far end of the pan, but to each their own.

 

[kyron4]

One thing to consider from my limited experience, is the condition of the flint. I notice as my flint dulls a slightly slower ignition. After a knapping or new flint, then back to an almost instant ignition.

 

[Darto]

A magnifying glass can help align the powder grains in the pan!