Safety tips

[Roguedog]

This may be very basic, but flintlocks can go of without being primed. Bottom line, always treat a gun like it is locked and loaded. Always keep the barrel pointed in a safe direction. While I do not unload at the end of the day, I do dump the prime and plug the touchhole, and even then I still make sure the gun is always pointed in a safe direction. Also, always think about what you are doing while loading, hunting, etc. All it takes is a minor distraction or a momentary loss of concentration to forever alter your life or someone else's!

Jeff

 

[mickey44]

safest is to just fire the gun and then clean it
safer and easier than pulling the ball also faster

 

[Roguedog]

To each their own. I prefer not to clean my gun after each day's hunt. My experience with my particular setup shows that I can safely leave my gun loaded all season and have no problems with misfires. If one wants to discharge their weapon daily and start anew with a fresh load, they have my unwavering support.

Jeff

 

[garry robinson]

I've been shooting these types of rifles for over ten years and I still consider myself as a babe in the woods. Every bit of advise given here is dead on the money. It's a great way to hunt and a great hobby but can be every bit as dangerous and deadly as modern guns. They are all correct. There's tons of good information and tons of good people on here. I've learned a lot and still feel I have it's more to learn. And by the way the ramrod thru the hand happend to me. Two inches of it in my hand by just holding it too far from the muzzle while loading. Now that hurts! Reallly hurts but just read and follow. You'll be fine.

 

[eaglesnester]

Back in the day when the woods were full of hostiles, grizz, mountain lions, and such, rifles were pretty much kept loaded all the time. I keep all my front stuffers loaded. They are stowed in a dry heated gun safe with a relative humidity of around 47% at 75 degrees F. Like other posters have said dump your pan, plug the vent and or remove the cap and yur good to go.
There have been rifles found that have been loaded for hundreds of years and still fired when primed or capped. I would never keep a Pryodex or Trip 7 charge in cap lock, both tend to be more corrosive than holy black.


Did the Indians put U here? Twernt Mormons.

 

[Idaho Elk Hunter]

I use a separate brass range rod and on my first load of the day at the range I mark the depth with a black marker.[/i] When done shooting or if I am working up a load and changing charges I can wipe it off and remark on the next load.


You make some very good points here Spikebuck in what you wrote...I was at a club shoot in the 70's with a bunch of guys and this one friend of mine was loading and talking and obviously not paying attention. His turn came and we were shooting gongs and we were shooting from corral fence made of small lodgpole and he rested his gun on one of the horizontal poles and luckily didn't have his hand where he usually holds in offhand position, as pole was there this time and he blew his gun up like a bomb you might say...didn't hurt him but he would most likely lost his hand or part of it at least. When he used his starter stick to start load, got distracted and thought he put ball all the way down. I have never forgot that....concentration and focus while loading and do not get involved in conversation if at all possible while loading.

 

[Livbucks]

I wrote the exact same thing in another thread the other day. I wrap tape around the case handle with LOADED wrote in sharpie marker. My family has the instruction to give it to my brother for unloading in the event of my demise. Of course, after the season, I always unload the rifle and clean it before storage. Anything could happen to you on any given day and your family would never know the danger that awaits with a loaded flintlock sitting around the house. An accident waiting for a victim.