Offhand accuracy with flintlock pistols ?

[kyron4]

Just got done with my Traditions Kentucky flintlock pistol and have been putting it through it's paces. With 25 grains of 3F and patched round ball I can get a single ragged one hole group at 15 yards all day , when rested on a sand bag off the bench. Now when I get off the bag and bench things get wonky. Groups run 3" to 4" with the random flyer, from me of coarse. Using a one hand grip in a "dueling" stance is the least accurate , a two handed grip, like on a modern pistol is better but not by much. What should I expect as far as accuracy from an unsupported position ? Any tips or advice ? -Thanks

 

[PathfinderNC]

Just got done with my Traditions Kentucky flintlock pistol and have been putting it through its paces. With 25 grains of 3F and patched round ball I can get a single ragged one hole group at 15 yards all day , when rested on a sand bag off the bench. Now when I get off the bag and bench things get wonky. Groups run 3" to 4" with the random flyer, from me of coarse. Using a one hand grip in a "dueling" stance is the least accurate , a two handed grip, like on a modern pistol is better but not by much. What should I expect as far as accuracy from an unsupported position ? Any tips or advice ? -Thanks

You could achieve offhand what you achieve off the bench rest.
Practice, practice and then practice some more

 

[kyron4]

You could achieve offhand what you achieve off the bench rest.
Practice, practice and then practice some more

That's the plan.

 

[ChrisPer]

This may count as unmetnionable, but I attach a MantisX dryfire trainer to my BP pistols. (Plastic pic rail and velcro tape or leccy tape)
I only get to shoot them every couple of months and dryfire training is my hope for getting better.

 

[wiscoaster]

Just got done with my Traditions Kentucky flintlock pistol and have been putting it through it's paces. With 25 grains of 3F and patched round ball I can get a single ragged one hole group at 15 yards all day , when rested on a sand bag off the bench. Now when I get off the bag and bench things get wonky. Groups run 3" to 4" with the random flyer, from me of coarse. Using a one hand grip in a "dueling" stance is the least accurate , a two handed grip, like on a modern pistol is better but not by much. What should I expect as far as accuracy from an unsupported position ? Any tips or advice ? -Thanks

That's good enough to kill the other guy at that distance, so don't get too shook about it.

But you also might want to make sure you're not pan-flash flinching. It's pretty easy to not notice with all that flash and smoke. If there's somebody else who can watch from different angles to see if you're moving the gun between primer ignition and charge ignition that's the best way to discover if that's why your groups deteriorated when you went offhand.

Also, wrt stance and hold technique, I usually prefer shooting these pistols single-handed from a bladed stance. But if and when I use a two-handed grip, the usual wrap-around thumbs-forward modern grip designed for semi-auto pistol grips doesn't work too well because of the flintlock pistol's grip length and shape (designed for one hand), and I've found that the much-derided "teacup" grip actually works better with these pistols. YMMV. Have fun experimenting.

 

[nick_1]

you are flinching... good luck. whenever I have accuracy problems and start thinking its the gun I bench and find out once again that it is me......

 

[Freedom]

Just got done with my Traditions Kentucky flintlock pistol and have been putting it through it's paces. With 25 grains of 3F and patched round ball I can get a single ragged one hole group at 15 yards all day , when rested on a sand bag off the bench. Now when I get off the bag and bench things get wonky. Groups run 3" to 4" with the random flyer, from me of coarse. Using a one hand grip in a "dueling" stance is the least accurate , a two handed grip, like on a modern pistol is better but not by much. What should I expect as far as accuracy from an unsupported position ? Any tips or advice ? -Thanks

Sounds like with skills like that you had better start competing in our monthly Forum match!

It's fun to watch your targets improve after several months of participating.

A Flintlock pistol seems to be the hardest marksmanship genre to master.

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/...-national-candy-corn-day.185828/#post-2719984

 

[ChuckJonesWagon]

"Focus" through the shot. Ignore the flash and bang. Keep your eyes and attention on the sights and target the entire way through the shot.

Now, if I take my own advice every shot I'd be damn good.

 

[No second place]

Just got done with my Traditions Kentucky flintlock pistol and have been putting it through it's paces. With 25 grains of 3F and patched round ball I can get a single ragged one hole group at 15 yards all day , when rested on a sand bag off the bench. Now when I get off the bag and bench things get wonky. Groups run 3" to 4" with the random flyer, from me of coarse. Using a one hand grip in a "dueling" stance is the least accurate , a two handed grip, like on a modern pistol is better but not by much. What should I expect as far as accuracy from an unsupported position ? Any tips or advice ? -Thanks

What to expect?... Flinters depend on your follow through more than other guns for best results. Unless you're planning on killing something 25 grs is way more than the 14- 18 grains needed to win championships. Less is more. Benchrest BP pistol results are bunk. Even my 40 cal. Pistols use no more than 10-12 grains at 25 yards for winning accuracy. 15-18 at 50. My .45 cal. pistols never needed more than 15 hrs for winning accuracy...nsp

 

[nkbj]

Excellent single set trigger 9mm pistol built about 45 years ago by Chris Hirsch.
If you give me another forty years or so, and lots more rabbits, maybe I'll get it figger'd out.

 

[PathfinderNC]

Shooting a good flintlock pistol rocks your world

 

[Colonial Boy]

Like the photos and particularly the video and I noted that the gentleman firing kept the muzzle pointing upwards even though the pistol was empty. shows the right attitude to safety.

Edit.
Just noticed aa I was showing it to my wife, he hit the disc, now that’s not bad shooting.

 

[PathfinderNC]

Like the photos and particularly the video and I noted that the gentleman firing kept the muzzle pointing upwards even though the pistol was empty. shows the right attitude to safety.

Edit.
Just noticed aa I was showing it to my wife, he hit the disc, now that’s not bad shooting.

Thanks CB- that’s my Perry Smoothbore pistol .50 cal at 25 yards

 

[ChuckJonesWagon]

Excellent single set trigger 9mm pistol built about 45 years ago by Chris Hirsch.
If you give me another forty years or so, and lots more rabbits, maybe I'll get it figger'd out.

View attachment 355732

Cat's eye's say...."Why do you keep punishing yourself. You know you just are a bad shot"

 

[Juice Jaws]

Just got done with my Traditions Kentucky flintlock pistol and have been putting it through it's paces. With 25 grains of 3F and patched round ball I can get a single ragged one hole group at 15 yards all day , when rested on a sand bag off the bench. Now when I get off the bag and bench things get wonky. Groups run 3" to 4" with the random flyer, from me of coarse. Using a one hand grip in a "dueling" stance is the least accurate , a two handed grip, like on a modern pistol is better but not by much. What should I expect as far as accuracy from an unsupported position ? Any tips or advice ? -Thanks

Now you know why they all carry big fix blade knifes back in the day.

 

[wiscoaster]

Shooting a good flintlock pistol rocks your world

That's a black powder flintlock grin if I ever saw one.

 

[kyron4]

Getting better now, got out today and getting much better groupings and consistency.

 

[Scott Jones]

I've shot a lot of NRA 2700's in my earlier days, skills which I transferred to muzzleloaders years ago. One thing one team coach stated was that noone can hold perfectly still: even if you control your breathing, your pulse will still affect your hold. Off a sand bag or solid rest, you can overcome those involuntary muscles. Yes, shooting off a solid rest will show how accurate your flintlock is, but don't expect the same groups offhand. I have a .50 flinter that will shoot two inches at 25 yards off a rest, but it is rather heavy and even with the set trigger I could never get the same groups offhand.

 

[nick_1]

I if I am having a bad day and not finding consistency I like to bench for a few shots to get my head straight and see what the gun is actually doing so that I can go back to focusing on the things I need to do and not worry that something is wrong with the gun.

 

[Relic shooter]

Acquire a pistol that has all the right features for competition & fits you.
Develop a load that produces ragged hole groups off of a good solid rest.
Having an experienced competitive pistol shooter closely observe your shooting stance & impact on paper is
best way to correct poor groups & flyers.
Never blame the gun for your failures