One of the "Improvements" in the Firestorm is the cone at the back of the barrel, that is suppose to make it ignite Pyrodex pellets Faster. The Problem with the flint lock version is that the touch hole comes into the barrel next to the base of this internal cone, and the cone interferes with igniting the main charge when loose powder is used. When pellets are used, ignition is often very slow- altho many owners don't notice that fact because they don't have a frame of reference to what speed a good, tuned flintlock will fire. Too many new shooters base all their " education" about flintlocks on watching lots of Hollywood Movies. Some long time shooters actually believe that a flintlock should be slow to fire!
If that cone can be ground off in the flintlock versions of the gun, it would make that gun an excellent "buy". Otherwise, there is a steep learning curve the buyer has to climb to learn how to clean his gun between shots, and how to load the powder charge in the barrel to insure reliable and fast ignition.
Mr. Biggs is not the only, nor the first member here who owns the gun, and its been discussed, with pictures, in the past. Do a search for the topic but go back at least 2 years to find the information.
The reason some members give people like Mr. Biggs a bit of grief about the gun is that it certainly does not look like a "traditional " sidelock rifle, and this is a "TRADITIONAL MUZZLELOADING" site. that being said, its at least a flintlock, and some of us are quite willing to talk to new folks about the guns.
I am a bit of old school, and I prefer stocks made of wood over stocks made of synthetic materials. I preferred browned steel to Blued, and both to Stainless Steel. I shoot flintlocks, because I want to accept the challenge of learning to fire these old styled guns, WELL, and have the Added Satisfaction of taking game with such a gun. I have and have hunted successfully with percussion rifles, and shotguns, as well as with center fire rifles, and shotguns. I enjoy them all. However, taking game with my flintlocks is just something extra special.
I believe the majority of the members here share my sentiment, as there are many other gun forums on the net to discuss other guns. However, most of us were not born with a TRADITIONAL flintlock in our hands, and that means that most of us came to flintlocks the long way. If you join us, I think one of the other rewards you will find is whenever you shoot a traditional flintlock at a public range, or a club that permits all kinds of rifles to be fired from the same line, the reaction of NON- flintlock shooters to you shooting such a rifle- often more accurately than they can shoot with their black rifles-- Is PRICELESS! :hatsoff:
