life of a smooth bore flintlock

[theoldredneck]

Just curious about the life or number of shots a flintlock handgun is good for on average? I bought a cheap one that needed some work. We have used good flint, broken arrow heads and scrap flint. Shoot light loads of powder under wading of whatever is handy. Have shot sand, shot, ball and bullets out of it. It shoots very reliably considering the way we play with it. Just thinking I may need to be looking for a replacement before this one starts dieing.

 

[bpd303]

Well cared for it should last longer than you. I had one that was made about 1840 and it was still shooting good when I traded it off in the 1990s.

 

[necchi]

That's silly, what will wear out? What will "die"?
Clean it and oil it,, and generally care for it like any gun and your grand children will be using it at your age.
Beat the manure out of it and you might through it in the dumpster next week.

 

[MSW]

I agree ... if well maintained and properly cleaned after each use, your gun will go on for generations.

(having said that, of course, it should be noted that you can never be too thin, too rich, or have too many flintlocks)

make good smoke!

 

[MacRob46]

The parts on your flintlock which are most likely to fail are the springs in the lock and the frizzen. You mentioned "cheap" in your post. Cheap flintlocks sometimes do not have properly or correctly hardened frizzens, but they can be re-hardened or replaced if need be. Mainsprings, sear springs and frizzen springs will sometimes break or lose their tension, especially in cheaply made locks. But these too, can be replaced if necessary. In short, watch out for problems with these parts but do not worry about it until you need to.

 

[theoldredneck]

Thanks for all replies. I bought with the understanding it wouldn't shoot. It had a very short hammer fall. After reworking the lock it shoots great. I'm usually surprised if the hammer falls and it doesn't shoot. Having no experience with flint I had to ask. As much fun as this thing has been I always want to have at least one that works reliable. It is cheap to shoot and puts a smile on the shooters face ajax won't wash off. There is just something about the way a flint shoots that brings the kid out of a man.

 

[bpd303]

One can never have too many flintlocks. Time to start looking for another one. :grin:

 

[tenngun]

I think most ware out after 50 shots...if you send it to me i can dispose of it for you :haha: As seid if you care for it well it can be shooting long after your a memory.

 

[gunmaker43]

It will never wear out. Any part can be replaced at any time. Just keep doing what your doing. Not a pistol but my #1 rifle has been going off since 1977 and shows no inclination to give it up---after 1000's rounds.....Tom

 

[Jim Vatt]

I think most ware out after 50 shots...if you send it to me i can dispose of it for you :haha:

Tenn Gun,
You beat me to it!
:rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

 

[smoothshooter]

Why would anyone shoot something as abrasive as sand out of any gun?

 

[theoldredneck]

Sir, the barrel is a smooth bore and had some rust in it. I bought the gun to play with and do not have much invested in it. We shoot carpenter bees around some of my buildings. A load of powder with some wad over it then some course builders sand at close range destroys them. It will not put holes in roofs or walls from several feet away. It also cleaned the rust out of the barrel. I wouldn't use sand or anything else abrasive in a good barrel. I had built a couple percussion guns from old parts and take off barrels. Had bored them out as smooth bores and used sand, shot, ball and bullets in them. To me the black powder guns are fun. I have some nice ones I take really good care of.Others we can play with and enjoy. We are old enough now that sitting under a shed, drinking coffee or tea is good. Having a flintlock handgun loaded with sand for bees is better. Shooting or shooting at a chipmunk with a black powder rifle is fun. Unlike shooting a deer there is no work after the shot. Some other critter will come along and eat it. It is a shame some of us didn't learn to relax and really enjoy life when we were young. To the members of this forum, Thanks, y'all have taught this old dog much and I still have a lot to learn about the black powder guns.

 

[nhmoose]

150-300+ years taken care of IMHO

 

[Grumpa]

Oldredneck, be assured that you have given much in return to this Forum...at the very least, your posts always bring a smile to my face. Usually, it's roll-on-the-floor laughing :haha: :rotf:

 

[inlikeflint]

About 50 years ago I built a cap lock pistol out of used dixie arms parts. Used to shoot rats on banks of missippi river with steel bb's. When I would run out
I would scoop up fine gravel and was using toilet paper wads. I was 20 then, I am going to be 73 this summer and still have the gun, barrel about 9" and 16 ga and still can shoot it. Fine gravel is deadly at 15 feet on river rats! John

 

[smoothshooter]

I have a flint smoothbore pistol kit to put together some day.
When I get it done, I want to try some modeling clay balls with lubricated patches for very short range shooting.
The shooting carpenter bees with sand sounds fun. I had to shoot one with a 20 gauge breechloader last summer that wouldn't leave me alone. Range : 4 inches. Clean kill ( I suppose; it was just "gone" )

 

[Jim C]

I'm a feared for you that one of these days, after watching you take out enough of their buddies with them sand blasts, them bees are gonna figure out how to shoot back. :haha:

 

[frogwalking]

When I was a teen, we had a rusty old 10 gauge Belgian double. When we ran out of shot, we sometimes shot broken glass, gravel and bent wood screws. Why? We were 15 years old. (Don't try this at home. The acts described herein were performed by professional teenagers.)

 

[inlikeflint]

No marbles?