Imported Guns Are Junk

[n.h.schmidt]

I have a 70s CVA kit pistol Gets no love from many. It's a flinter and has worked great for me You keep a sharp flint it it and it will work.I also have a 90s investarms rifle flinter. Same for it, with a sharp flint it works very well.

 

[SDSmlf]

It's the Traditional Muzzleloaders channel. Flintlocks-The secrets they don't want you to know.

I had not seen or heard of the channel before, must lead a sheltered life. Watched a bit of the video. Interesting how it starts out with video pulled from the internet of a popular imported gun. I am no expert (ask any member here, or better yet, my bride), but the gun in the shown video appears to be a TC, a popular American made gun, not an import. An undersized or dirty touchhole could explain the misfires in this gun with a chambered breech. Our expert goes on to show an example of a notched breech plug because of touch hole location on a gun that does not have a chambered breech. The guy is jumping around trying to create a scenario that fits his ‘story’. I have only seen the notched plug on originals and custom made replicas, not on ‘production’, cheap or high dollar, imported or American made. No offense to anyone, but my BS meter was pegging after only a few minutes. Doubt I’ll be watching any of that channel’s videos. Reminds me of the range experts you run into that try to corner you and be helpful. Nice thing about keyboard jockeys is you can completely ignore them.

There are a lot of better channels out there. Look up @Bob McBride and his Black Powder TV or @duelist1954 channels. Both are forum members, though I haven’t seen either post in some time.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

Sorry don’t have time to get into it, too busy shooting my Pedersolis.

Best 8 shots I ever got out of a Pedro before it broke, and stayed broke for almost a year.

All imported muzzle stuffers are less than the American made ones.

 

[mushka]

I think Mr Tremain s jaded with his one mentioned problem Pedersoli. His one bad experience and other's hundreds of good experiences. Seems an odd comparison to me.

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

My limited experience with "imported" factory made flintlocks was very motivating. It motivated me to save enough for a custom/semi-custom flintlock.

Being left handed, I bought a Lyman Great Plains flinter, and later an Cabelas flinter. (Both are made by the same maker in Italy.) It took a while for both guns to 'shoot in", having rough bores until broken in. Tore patches all to hell until then. Both fired most of the time, but were hard on flints. I would say that the flintlocks were 75% reliable. I could expect some klatches or flashes from time to time. There are also some issues with the breeching systems.

I also have watched many You Tube shows on Flintlock Hunting and regularly see the hunters have miss-fires (hang fires or klatches) when hunting with factory rifles. The few that are hunting with semi-custom guns seem to have better experiences with reliability.

I now own a few custom or semi-custom lefty flintlocks with either Cochran or Chambers Siler locks (and have owned two with L&R locks). Ignition is instant and consistently reliable. Flints last twenty or more shots (often twice that) and only occasionally need to be touched up to keep shooting. I would say that my flintlocks are now 99% reliable.

All imported flintlocks are not JUNK. Many do enjoy shooting them, and with the right care, can keep them running. For me, there could be no going back.

ADK Bigfoot

 

[Dale Lilly]

Well since all imports are junk, I'll help out in eliminating this scourge by offering $2 for each Parker Hale. Just tryin to do my part here......

I'll up that bid; two bucks a pound for any traditional ML rifle that is complete and not broken. I'll even pay half of shipping. Bring 'em on. Dale

 

[Slinginslugs]

Better yet dale, walkabout tell him he can bring his wallet full of money down here to Florida and bring his best "custom" rifle and we can play a game of closest to the bullseye at 50yrds and ill send him back on empty with my old brown ardesa

 

[bubba.50]

So says this guy I watched on YouTube last night. He said essentially, that the locks on imported factory built flintlocks are made poorly and it's pure luck to find one that functions properly. He also stated that the only way to get a lock that works consistently, is to have it custom made. What say you?

Sounds like somebody who, in the next breath, is gonna offer you an amazing deal on his custom whatever.

 

[Okie Hog]

All imported muzzle stuffers are less than the American made ones.

What American made flintlock rifles? US companies left the muzzleloading business years ago.

Recently watched a friend fire 20 rounds through his Traditions flint lock without a misfire or hang fire.

 

[ohio ramrod]

No wonder you got it so cheap Feltwad, the hammer is on the wrong side!

 

[Dale Lilly]

Better yet dale walkabout can bring his wallet full down here to Florida and bring his best "custom" rifle and we can play a game of closest to the bullseye at 50yrds and ill send him back on empty with my old brown ardesa

Yeah; I too have an Ardesa. Great gun. Dale

 

[deerstalkert]

Ardesa i have will fire around 14 times before i have to swab it once with a dry patch.
one pass and the accuracy comes right back.
3 -5 pumps in a bucket of water and it is clean.
can't ever remember a flash in the pan or klatch with it.
wish my own builds were more like that Junk import!

 

[trad_bowhunter1965]

Very true says the folks who don't shoot them, and I don't carry if they like or not I shoot Lyman and Traditions and I shoot 777 powder in my percussion guns.

 

[kyron4]

I HAD A TRADITIONS trapper and after 500 shots there wasnt any rifling in the last 4 inches of the barrel..SOFT STEEL these companys from guawanda land used. Lesser quality on barrels /parts ect..

I'm not doubting you , but that barrel would have to have been made of butter or had some kind of defect from the factory for PRB or soft lead bullet to wipe out a rifling in 500 shots. Very interesting. What kind of powder were you using ?

The one positive you usually hear about Traditions is the quality of their barrels.

 

[kyron4]

It's the Traditional Muzzleloaders channel. Flintlocks-The secrets they don't want you to know.

I watched that one a few months ago being new to flintlocks. The guys seems to know his stuff and is passionate about the hobby, but does come off somewhat arrogant and smug. As a newbie it was a turn off. I'd much rather watch The Black Powder Maniac shoot bigfoot targets.

 

[Whitworth]

Arm chair experts almost always seem to be disparaging.

 

[hunter thompson]

I'm not doubting you , but that barrel would have to have been made of butter or had some kind of defect from the factory for PRB or soft lead bullet to wipe out a rifling in 500 shots. Very interesting. What kind of powder were you using ?

The one positive you usually hear about Traditions is the quality of their barrels.

there non hardend steel.. its been known for years.BUT THEY shoot good...but dont last...another one is the imported hatfields bbls ..gone after 1000 rds. that apprx 12 line matches. been there done that since 73

 

[Feltwad]

No wonder you got it so cheap Feltwad, the hammer is on the wrong side!

Yes I must admit not many made like that originally a flint but converted to percussion by a lady gunmaker Patrick of Liverpool UK another image
Feltwad

 

[Nazgul58]

Watched about 30 seconds of this video. Looks like the shooter is using a substitute powder in the pan. Lock sparks ok, the powder doesn't flash when ignited. Just sort of flares up like a substitute does,

Don

 

[Tenring]

Anything Production are bound to have there problems but I have some Uberti Pistols that will shoot lights out all day long they just take a little tweaking.