Thinking about a rock lock

[captaincaveman]

I've been killing deer for about 12 years with Dads .54 Renegade. He has a new job now and has time to hunt again next year. For my deer gun I have decided on a .54 GPR cap lock. But I also want a .32 squirrel/groundhog gun. I'm thinking about a cabelas blue ridge, and for some reason I'm leaning towards a flinter just because they're cool :hatsoff: . I have never shot a rock lock before. How are they in damp weather? How about shooting up into trees? Will it still fire OK if the gun isn't even close to level? Newbie questions I know. Thanks for the help

Josh

 

[AZ-Robert]

A properly functioning flintlock can be fired even when upside down. You'll have no trouble shooting it up at squirrels.

As for wet weather shooting, I don't have much experience with that, but Bob Spencer offers his thoughts on the subject here.

He has a few other pages you may be interested in as well:
[url] http://home.insightbb.com/~bspen/flintterm.html[/url]
[url] http://home.insightbb.com/~bspen/flintlockfaq.html[/url]

 

[captaincaveman]

thanks for the links :thumbsup: . I learned alot in the last ten minutes. I never would have considered a flinter if not for this forum. thanks guys :hatsoff:

Josh

 

[cowpoke1955]

Hi Captain,
Glad to see you're getting that GPR. The Blue Ridge is a great rifle. They have an excellent and very fast lock. The only thing I changed on my Blue Ridge was the front sight. After I filed down the factory front sight, it was too thick for the notch in the rear sight. I replaced it with a Ted Cash tall german silver front sight from Dixie. This sight is thinner and gives me a much better sight picture. The Blue Ridge taught me so much about flintlocks that when I bought my second GPR, well, it's a flinter. Have you ever fumbled with an open tin, trying to get a cap and drop the whole thing in the grass? Don't have to worry about that with a flinter. Check Cabela's. They're have a sell on Blue Ridge flinters. A really good sale on .36 and .54 cal. With the Blue Ridge being your first flinter, it won't be your last. You'll be hooked like the rest of us :rotf: . Good luck.

 

[boar]

I have the Blue Ridge in 32 flint,killed two squirrels with 3 shots first time out. Bunch of groundhogs. 20grs 311 tickingRB. Nice gun. Only thing is it hard on fints, have to use man made ones to get very many shots as lock needs fine tuned. Will do it one day. Dilly

 

[SCATTERSHOT]

Careful, they're hablt forming! :thumbsup:

 

[renovato]

Careful, they're hablt forming! :thumbsup:

You ain't kiddin'! Thanks to the fine folks on this forum and their willingness to share info, my first flint experience was flawless and very enjoyable. I'm hooked for life!

 

[Trapper]

Don't ask, just buy one, you'll never be sorry!

 

[captaincaveman]

Thanks for the help all. I guess I'' go with a .32 blue ridge flinter. So how much do flints cost, how long do they last, is it hard to get the flint in the right spot to throw sparks into the pan?

Josh

 

[Rebel]

About a buck apiece from Track Of The Wolf. How long they last depends on your lock. Mine usually last over 100 shots each in my large Siler lock. Just set it in the jaws, snug it down, the slowly lower the hammer down to the closed frizzen and let the frizzen push it back flush with the face. Then tighten the top jaw screw. Also make sure that it isn't going to hit the barrel or the pan when the hammer is down.

 

[Homesteader]

Buddy, I'm gonna guess just about everyone on this forum has more experience than me, but I love my two rock-lock smokepoles! Nothing quite like taking out those pieces of history and actually hitting the target, and really nothing like bringing home some meat with 'em. (I have a .45 Pennsylvania and a .75 "Brown Bess", btw. Gotta bark squirrels with the .45, and I swear you can take anything with the Bess.)

I love 'em! Best of luck with whatever you decide.

PS: BTW, I went to OU. Are you in Athens county by any chance?

 

[MSW]

well, the most fun i've ever had with anything that went bang involved sharp rocks and hard metal... there's just nothing quite like a flintlock... you can never be too rich, too thin, or have too many rockbangers!

good luck, and welcome to the cognoscenti! (a fancy term in Italian for those in the know).

 

[captaincaveman]

PS: BTW, I went to OU. Are you in Athens county by any chance?

close, I'm in hocking county

thanks for the help fellas looks like its gonna be the blue ridge flinter, but my lil wifey says I gotta wait till after Christmas :cursing:

Josh

 

[SCATTERSHOT]

There may be a reason for that.....

 

[captaincaveman]

There may be a reason for that.....

there is a reason....I just got a custom longbow and we still need to shop for the kids :winking:

Josh

 

[hawkeye1755]

but my lil wifey says I gotta wait till after Christmas :cursing:
Josh

Psst,you don't have to tell your wife everything.
Who's the man in the house?
:grin:

 

[ffffg]

i have a pedersoli mortimer that crushes flints or dulls them after a half dozenshots or so.. its better to have a spring too strong than not strong enough.. try the next two larger flints, grind them off from the rear to make them fit. they break if you get them hot.. but this will tame the beast. a pain but important for hunting days where that heavy spark is mandatory. also if you have a weak lock go to the next smaller (narrower) flint.. this usually solves the problem.. dave...

 

[JWP]

Go for it - you'll be happy you did :thumbsup:

 

[SCATTERSHOT]

...or maybe she's getting it for you.

 

[RickD]

All I shoot is flints..Like em a whole lot better than caps..