Is a flinter hard to learn?

[squib load]

MY retailer called today and said they could not send me a 45 kentucky sidelock.So I bought a flintlock.Ihave never shot a flint gun.Is it hard to learn?Thanks,Squib

 

[54mountain]

That all depends on what your definition of Is is :rotf: :rotf:

I've been shootin' A flint long rifle for about 3 years now and I'm still learnin' that being said, They are not hard to shoot,It just takes a while to learn all of the little quirks, like flint position, how much priming powder your gun likes, Knapping your flint to keep it throwing sparks,
etc.etc

but in my opinion that's part of the fun :wink:
you may need to drill the touch hole out to 1/16 or even 5/64 to get reliable ignition as most factory liners are way to small. Go slow and read the flintlock forum here and don't get discuraged above all get out and shoot shoot shoot :thumbsup:

Galen

 

[paulvallandigham]

Not harder, IMHO- just different. A percussion lock uses a percussion caps that sends a flame burning into the main charge, while a flintlock works more like a fuse. The flintlock burns its way in slowly , unless you open a hole in the main charge with a vent pick, so that heat from the burning priming powder ignites LOTS of granules of powder, each one of which then becomes its only "Fuse".

It takes me about the same time after loading my BAll down on the powder charge in both flint and percussion to pick my main charge with a vent pick in the flintlock, prime, and close the frizzen on the pan, as it does to reach for my capper, and cap the nipple on my percussion guns- perhaps a little more time on the flinter- depending on what I am using to prime the pan.

But, this is NOT a SPEED shooting sport. The important thing is to prepare the rifles to shoot correctly, and then fire an aimed shot.

So, even if for many other people shooting a flinter takes a lot more time than if they were shooting a percussion rifle, SO WHAT? Enjoy the rifle, and the sport.

I found that Percussion shooters were angry enough that I out-shot them on a lot of matches, that they stopped making cracks about the time I take to load my rifle, and clean it between shots, and stayed on complaining about my being so " lucky" a shooter match after match.

At one point, there were only a few flintlock shooters in my club, but we had two separate awards for 1st through 3rd place. When we began to get more flintlock shooters, we flinters asked the board to abolish the separate award system for flintlocks, and let us compete for the bigger prizes formerly reserved for the percussion shooters( prizes or money for 1st through 3rd, and additional prizes added for every 5 more shooters( over the first 12) who attend and shoot the match). We have competed against the percussion rifle shooters for more than 20 years now. We don't always win- but we scare enough of the winners often enough, to beat them once in awhile.
:thumbsup:

 

[cowpoke1955]

I started of with percussion about 30 years ago. But since I discovered the world of flintlocks, that is about all I shoot anymore. A good flinter shoots as good as a percussion, but is a lot more fun. As Paul said, it's not harder, just different. You have to use real black powder in a flinter, no subs. Enjoy the smoke :thumbsup:

 

[musketman]

The hardest thing to get use to is the small "puff" of priming powder going off right beside your face, after a while you don't even notice it...

The good news is, mostly all the stuff used in percussion guns (except for priming) can be used in flinters too.

 

[squib load]

Thanks for the info,and I am sure I will like my flinter.Squib

 

[trent/OH]

Soon you will be thanking your retailer for not getting a percussion gun for you. Give it some time and dedication and you'll love it.

Remember, for generations there were no other types of firearms available, except some old matchlocks. Everybody who learned to shoot, shot flintlocks. So can you. And if you have difficulties, we'll help you through them, or refer you to a local club that can help in-person.

 

[hanshi]

I too started off with cap locks (and flint locks as well). I rarely shoot cap locks now. For several years I've been strictly a flint shooter. The puff from the pan never bothered me even from the beginning. I just never noticed it. Been sprayed with cap fragments, though. Flinters are more fun but more individualistic. You just have to get to know yours.

 

[Trench]

A flintlock was my first muzzleloader a few years back. I was kinda self taught with the help of the forum and some books I picked up. So, it must not be that hard to learn if someone with no primitive firearm experience like myself just picked one up and started having fun.

 

[hthomso]

All of my rifles are flint. Much more interesting and fun to shoot; that is if you have a good quality well tuned lock and good flints. Many threads in this site about flint shooting, tuning, maintenance. Take time to search the site and absorb all of the knowlege you can. I built my first flint rifle in 1967 and still am learning about how to get the most out of it. My single piece of advice would be to concentrate on the target/sights, not the pan, don't overprime the pan, and follow through. Wear shooting glasses. It's a good habit anyway and will help you cure flinching. Have fun

 

[Zonie]

For some modern shooters, perhaps the biggest obstacle to shooting a flintlock is their need for real black powder.

The synthetic powders, all of them, will work very poorly or not at all in a flintlock without the aid of some real black powder. The only way to get reliable, fast ignition is to use real black powder in the pan and as a main charge.

The problem some folks have is that many gun stores refuse to stock and sell it.
Even those stores that do sell it cannot sit the cans/bottles out on a shelf. You have to ask for it. That said, be sure to call around your area to see if powder is easily available.

If it is not, you may have to drive to a town where it is sold or order it from a supplier and pay the hazardous materials fee to get it shipped.

There's a lot of information about priming, positioning the flint, clamping the flint, knapping the flint available here on our site. Almost everything else is similar to shooting a Percussion style muzzleloader.

Have fun. :thumbsup:

 

[Lostrifle]

First thing ya gotta learn with a flinter; the ball goes in AFTER ya pour in the powder! :grin:

 

[renovato]

It's not any harder than a percussion gun. It loads and shoots the same, it just primes differently. There's a lot to learn about any aspect of muzzleloading and most of it applies to flintlocks too. The rest is just learning the idiosyncracies of the flint system itself. I had been shooting percussion since the '70's but only took up flint back in 2006. It was a simple transition because of the folks here and their sound advice. Read through some of the "how to" posts in the flint section and you'll be ready in no time at all. My first experience shooting flint was exceptional because of the information I gleaned here before I went.

 

[nchawkeye]

Evidently not, I started in 1977 and have never owned a percussion...Seemed natural to me from the start...

 

[musketman]

Is it hard to learn?

One thing I should say is that you need to be aware of things to your immediate right when shooting your flint lock, the side blast from the main charge is hot enough to set things on fire.

You know, things like hair, people, bales of hay, leaves, clothes, etc.

 

[runes]

Ditto on what Tex said about follow through. After you pull the trigger don't start to lower the gun. Wait a second, it can throw you off. A friend new to flint says he can see the hammer drop, I say ignore the hammer and flash, if your watching that you will never hit anything.
Some guns like the flint bevel up, some bevel down. small amount of primer works better than a full pan. Get some 4F for primer.

 

[rb8941]

Takes a little bit of time, a little bit of learning...but it's so damn much fun while you're doing it you won't care!

Enjoy your new rifle!

 

[rafterob]

If I recall correctly, doesn't it go like this. Measure powder,yak yak yak... pour powder in barrel (I thought), yak yak yak yak yak... put a ball in there. Ram it home. Step up to the line, Prime the pan and close the frizzen. Take aim and pull the trigger...pfffffft.

 

[J.D.]

IMHO, the best practice is dry fire, using a block of wood in place of the flint.

Using an UNLOADED gun, pick a small spot on the wall or some small item in a picture as a target.

Cock the piece, shoulder and "fire" making sure to hold the gun steady for 5 seconds after the shot breaks. Do this for as long as you can hold the gun steady, each day, for as long as you own the rifle. :wink:

Dry firing helps condition the muscles used in shooting, in addition to conditioning muscle memory to learn good follow through, when the shot breaks.

Be sure to focus on the front sight when practicing. If the sight drifts off of the "target" as the shot breaks, your natural point of aim is off. Readjust your body until the sights align naturally, instead of your forcing the rifle to one side, or the other, to align the sights.

God bless,
J.D.

 

[Lostrifle]

If I recall correctly, doesn't it go like this. Measure powder,yak yak yak... pour powder in barrel (I thought), yak yak yak yak yak... put a ball in there. Ram it home. Step up to the line, Prime the pan and close the frizzen. Take aim and pull the trigger...pfffffft.

You forgot the BANG! part....I hope! :rotf: