Percussion VS Flint

[vacca rabite]

I have posted a few times about building a southern transition era rifle. Specically, building a rifle that would have been been built as a flint gun and converted to percussion.

I have had very little experience with percussion, and a good amount of experience with flint. I'm now reading that percussion caps are becomming hard to find, which makes me think I want to build a flint gun after all.

Help me make up my mind on this. Are there specific advantages to percussion that outweigh the chance of not being able to find caps?

Thanks!
Zach

 

[swathdiver]

Caps are available now. If you buy them in bulk, say 2000, how long would that amount last you?

Having said that, get the flinter!

 

[Billnpatti]

The advantages of percussion over flint today are the same as they were back in the 1830s when percussion rifles began to appeaar on the market and soon took over as the ignition of choice. The percussion ignition is simply more reliable and less sensitive to the elements (rain, snow, high humidity, etc.) than the flint ignition. Currently, the main disadvantage of a percussion ignition over a flint ignition is the dirth of caps on the market. I think this market condition will soon be resolved.

I might add that there is, and always will be, in my opinion, a major aesthetic difference. To me, the flint rifle just is nicer looking than a percussion rifle. While I own several of each kind of rifle, I just seem to prefer a flint over a percussion rifle in spite of any disadvantages they may have.

If I were to make any recommendation on which ignition to choose, if I were going ot have only one ignition, I'd say go with the flint ignition. Not because of any temporary cap shortage but because.......well, I just like them better. Of course, since you want to build a gun that looks as if was converted from flint to percussion, why not build it so that it is both flint and percussion? It is doable.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Dont let external factors influence you. Get what you want. The percussion is part of the evolution in firearms. Undoubtedly more reliabe than flint. But nothing...I mean nothing can replace the sense of history that comes with shooting a flintlock. I have had to stop using my flint rifles due to aging and physical limitations. I amost feel like a backslider shooting percussions. When/if I can afford a new rifle I'll be back with my beloved flints.
But, this is a do yer own thang game. Git wat ye want.

 

[jamesthomas]

Well, what you do is look around first and if you can't find caps in your local gun stores, build a flint, if you can find caps build a percussion. Like I said in another thread I have no problem finding caps down here, they are all over the place, price range goes from $5.99 to $7.99 a 100 pack.

 

[dave weier]

Years ago I built a rifle using two Siler Locks. One flint and one percussion. Drum and nipple for the percussion and when I wanted to shoot flint I just removed the drum and screwed in a touch hole liner and switched locks.

 

[palonghunter]

I have both and enjoy both. I have to admit that I shoot better with percussion, especially offhand. Having said that, my next rifle will be flintlock. I like the added challenge of a flinter, and I'm more interested in the flintlock era of history.

Check around where you live and see if local shops carry percussion caps. If they don't, that makes the decision much simpler.

If all you're after is a reliable hunting rifle, percussion has a significant cost advantage. Most of the mass-produced percussion guns are very reliable, even the low end ones. Low end flintlocks are pretty hit or miss.

 

[BrownBear]

Are there specific advantages to percussion that outweigh the chance of not being able to find caps?

Only one comes readily to mind, and it's a biggy. If you ever find yourself in a situation where only subs are available, you scrawed, blued and tatooed with a flinter. I'm not talking politics here. Just try to get real black to Alaska, much less out into the bush. Yet you can walk into almost any small sporting goods store with fair odds of finding a sub.

No travel in your dreams or plans? No sweat.

 

[Col. Batguano]

All the above. The other consideration is powder. Flintlocks need real black powder. That is not available everywhere, but with mail order, it is. Percussion guns can shoot both real black, and the substitutes, which is more widely available over the counter at most gun stores, including the big boxes where the unmentionables are sold. There are no special BATFE storage requirements for substitute powders as it is not classified as an explosive.

 

[vacca rabite]

Only one comes readily to mind, and it's a biggy. If you ever find yourself in a situation where only subs are available, you scrawed, blued and tatooed with a flinter. I'm not talking politics here. Just try to get real black to Alaska, much less out into the bush. Yet you can walk into almost any small sporting goods store with fair odds of finding a sub.

This reminded me of a friend of mine who did an Alaskan (or Canadian - cant recall off hand) hunt with his Flint gun.
He loaded several rounds of .303 - uncrimped - with black. Turns out that one .303 case held the perfect measure of black powder for his flint gun, and loaded as such he could ship them through normal channels ahead of time.

He just pulled the bullet, primed a little, and the rest went down the tube.

Zach

 

[BrownBear]

Best not to advertize that window, though. Lotta other folks read the web.

 

[Col. Batguano]

Brilliant!

Are there restrictions about flying with loose black powder that don't apply to smokeless or subs, or if it's in otherwise loaded ammunition?

 

[galamb]

I live in eastern Ontario Canada and I can get #11 caps - you should have no issue.

There has been, for about 2 years, a significant component shortage which made all manner of ammunition and powder (smokeless) difficult to get at times.

Things have loosened up and appear to be improving.

I mostly own capguns because I hunt with them and just find caps give you a few less things to worry about when hunting in foul weather.

I also have a flinter which comes to the range with me and it's "cool to shoot" when I am aiming at nothing more than a paper target and it really doesn't matter if it shoots with every trigger pull.

I'm not saying you can't or shouldn't hunt with one, but if a ginormous Bambi steps out in the BP season I want my cap gun because it has a far greater chance of producing a boom than my flint...

 

[nkbj]

Get both. I mean, you never know. Right?

 

[hanshi]

It's best to have both, of course, but flintlocks are more fun. I have both but only hunt with flintlock and never had a problem; the percussion is for the range.

 

[lapierre1]

I've used caplocks since 1976 when I built my first one to take hunting when I was stationed in Indiana. Got a flintlock about two years ago and have ordered two more flintlocks since then. Something about them has really gotten to me and I love shooting mine. Still have and shoot the caplocks but am really starting to get into the flinters. Why be stuck with only one rifle?

 

[Homesteader]

I've gotta agree with the "get both" camp. Personally, I love my rock-locks better than the percussion guns, but I have a rifle and smoothbore for each. Just seems better that way. If I'm feeling 18th century I can take out a flinter, and if I'm feeling 19th century I can pull out a cap-lock.

It's a great hobby, so spread out and have fun! :thumbsup:

(That being said, if I could only have one it'd definitely be a flintlock.)

 

[EC121]

I'm in the flint camp. I have cap guns, but there is more of a sense of accomplishment in hitting with a flint. Pop locks are too much like center fires for my taste. I don't hunt enough to care so that is out of the equation.

 

[ryoung14]

I mostly own capguns because I hunt with them and just find caps give you a few less things to worry about when hunting in foul weather.

I also have a flinter which comes to the range with me and it's "cool to shoot" when I am aiming at nothing more than a paper target and it really doesn't matter if it shoots with every trigger pull.

I'm not saying you can't or shouldn't hunt with one, but if a ginormous Bambi steps out in the BP season I want my cap gun because it has a far greater chance of producing a boom than my flint...

I agree with this. For me, the cap gun is a hunter's gun; a flinter would be a range gun...and not only from a reliability standpoint

A flinter would require more practice to shoot well; the slower "lock time" and the explosion next the the face takes some getting used to. Marksmanship would suffer if one hadn't practiced with the flinter recently.

 

[FishDFly]

Pop locks are too much like center fires for my taste.

What is a pop lock?