Reliability of 32 flint?

[jps2486]

Considering a DGW scout rifle either in 32 or 45. I prefer a 36, but it's not offered. Anyway, do you think a 32 flint is less reliable to fire as opposed to a percussion? Those are pretty tiny holes there.

 

[TreeMan]

If you know what you’re doing, have a sharp flint, real BP prime and powder, and you’re not standing in a downpour rain then they are pretty much equal. Change any of those to no then I’d stick with percussion. The funnest part of flintlocks is learning how to make a flintlock as reliable as a percussion. That tiny hole is much larger than the hole in a percussion nipple btw.

 

[Dave Marsh]

I shoot a 32 SMR flintlock and have no issues....very reliable. Mine has a chambers lock. Good luck.

Dave

 

[andy52]

I like my .32 flinter very much and it rarely fails to fire if I do my part and it's almost as fast as a percussion however I would not deem it as reliable as a percussion. Caps are much easier to protect during inclement weather by using a cap cover with a O-ring, flintlocks can be protected but not as easily.

 

[hanshi]

My .32 flintlock has a good Chambers lock and I drilled the touch hole to 1/16" to assure absolute reliability. Flintlocks are virtually as reliable as percussion rifles, there are just a few more things to keep an eye on and become familiar with. A decent lock = a reliable rifle.

 

[tenngun]

I have found small locks a little more finicky. A well cared for musket size almost never fails, a large Siler size rare, pistol sized take a lot of care.
A slim .32 often has a dainty lock. So a little less forgiving of laziness my TFC laughs at.
Mastiff and yorkees are both good dogs one required more ‘babying’

 

[hanshi]

I have found small locks a little more finicky. A well cared for musket size almost never fails, a large Siler size rare, pistol sized take a lot of care.
A slim .32 often has a dainty lock. So a little less forgiving of laziness my TFC laughs at.
Mastiff and yorkees are both good dogs one required more ‘babying’

I've found the the same thing to be true. There are exceptions for sure; but by and large a big lock does a better job. I prefer a large lock over a small one. And to me a large lock on a rifle looks better. My smoothbore has a Chambers colonial Virginia lock and that thing will burn your shirt! With my two small Silers, one on a pistol and the other on a tiny rifle, I do have to "baby" them a little bit. But they remain very reliable as a result.

 

[Grimord]

Never had any trouble with my Davis/Zorn lock on my .32 flint. She goes off as fast as a perc gun. and like previous posts have said, flint locks are alittle more troublesome in inclement weather.

 

[Robin Henderson]

Shot this several years ago at Friendship. The gun used a small Siler flintlock and I believe a Montana barrel. Load was 25 grs 3fg GOEX and a ticking patched "0" buckshot and was a 25 yard target.

 

[M. De Land]

Good target ! I like that crow target . We shoot it quite often at our club!