Swing and a miss!

[Ricky Bobby]

Got a shot at a big doe this evening during our muzzleloader season but this whole traditional black powder flintlock thing got the best of me and I completely whiffed! Haha. I need practice and since I’ve had it only a few days now and it’s been raining here that hasn’t been possible.
Anyway, I plan on hunting again tomorrow so since I fired it on this evenings hunt do I need to do a cleaning this evening before reloading it tomorrow or how do I go about this? Sorry but I’m completely new to both black powder and flintlocks. Dumb question but I’m green! Lol

 

[sb 54 cal.]

Wouldn't hurt to clean it and start fresh in case you don't get a shot tomorrow. Just my 2 cents worth

 

[Ricky Bobby]

Wouldn't hurt to clean it and start fresh in case you don't get a shot tomorrow. Just my 2 cents worth

Thanks. Yeah, I ended up just giving it a decent cleaning. Figured what can it hurt? Trying my best to not overthink all this but also don’t want a chance at something again tomorrow and get a hang fire because I didn’t clean it. Starting fresh in the morning!

This flintlock is a blast already!

 

[PEARL DRUMS]

Good call. I’m the type of gun cleaner the hard core fellas pick on. You can eat off any of my rifles at any time. Don’t miss next time, eh’?

 

[Buff1958]

you always want to clean it after you fire it. I will leave mine loaded a week at a time when not fired but if I fire it, I clean it as soon as I can. Burned BP is very corrosive

 

[Spikebuck]

Happy to see you have decided to take up a flintlock, but if you've never fired it, how do you know where it will hit?

I'd recommend sitting out at least one day of hunting and get that flinter to a range to see where it's hitting and if your load is even creating a consistent pattern for a humane killing shot.

These guns are not like suppository guns.

Good luck in your hunt, but please, take time to know your accuracy.