To pick, or not to pick. That is the question.

[Skychief]

Having a few flintlocks, I've found that not all of them benefit from picking the vent prior to shooting.

Specifically, my .62 fires quicker when I don't pick the vent.

Anyone else have a flinter that works better when not picked?

Best regards, Skychief

 

[Cruzatte]

It seems to make no difference in my .54 rifle, provided that the barrel has been swabbed out between shots.

 

[Vaino]

Have never used a TH pick...in fact, don't even own one.

Sometimes a habit is formed and persists whether or not what is being done is of any benefit. Shooters are free to do what they will, but using a TH pick along w/ an OP wad w/ a PRB are probably adopted because of lousy guns or improperly sized and lubed patch or for some other reasons.

If a TH of sufficient size and shape is located properly and the flint throws adequate sparks, reliable ignition should be the norm w/o using a TH pick.

Where the priming charge is located in the pan and how much priming is being used, has no affect on speed or intensity of the ignition....anyways on my flintlocks. Don't think the soldiers and settlers did the fussin' we do in these modern times. Hurriedly loading a flintlock was sometimes necessary w/o any fussin'.

Have strayed a bit from the topic, but was just illustrating that "fussin" around shouldn't be necessary w/ a properly made and set up flintlock.....wars were fought using flintlocks and peoples lives due to dangerous circumstances were saved and reliable food supplies were obtained due to a "trusty flintlock" which didn't require much, if any, "fussin"......Fred

 

[Calum]

'morning,

I'm with Fred on this one. I've only used a pick if there's an issue - and that's only on my caplocks, never on my flinters.

Until I came to this forum, I'd never even considered the possibility of inserting the pick prior to loading the main charge. It's on my list of things to try, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

I swab only once it starts getting difficult to get the patched ball down, so it varies between my rifles. But even then, I've never had to clean out the touchhole.

Calum

 

[Pete G]

I'm with Fred on this one. Still I have had the very occasional flash when a powder grain was lodged in the vent. I would use the pick then, but I have since learned that usually just re-prime and the load will fire. Possibly this might happen only with graphite coated powder.

 

[wattlebuster]

I dont have to pick mine. If you have to pick one to get it to fire then you have issues that need to be addressed :idunno:

 

[FishDFly]

Kind of like underwear: boxers, briefs or Depends

 

[Artificer]

I've always had a whisk and pick with any Brown Bess I have ever owned, but never needed to use the pick until one time after firing over 50 blank rounds. Never had to use it for live firing. Also never had to use it for the hand built .45 flint rifle I own.

The MOST use I have gotten out of vent picks over the years was a few times using them on others' guns that had a patch stuck in the bore and their worm would not otherwise snag the patch. The Pick held it enough that the worm tines could grab ahold and then draw it out of the barrel.

Gus

 

[Black Hand]

I don't pick unless there is an issue.

 

[Billnpatti]

I have done no study of this and have no firm footing to stand on so take this as just a SWAG. I have had guns with pretty small touch holes and some with pretty large touch holes. Those with the smaller touch holes seemed to need picking a bit more often than those with the larger touch holes. Now days, I like to have my touch holes right at 1/16 inch in diameter with a cone on the outside. Of course, it needs to be properly located in the "sunset" position for maximum effectiveness in ignition.

To pick or not to pick. Ah, that is the question. Me? I pick each time. Do I have to? :idunno: Don't know, it just seems like something I ought to do. Maybe I don't need to but it is such a simple thing to do and it has become ingrained in me so I do it. Should you? :idunno: Well, if it is firing each time without picking then you don't need to pick it. If it misfires, try picking. If it misfires often enough, check the diameter of your touch hole, it may be too small. That's an easy fix. Ah, but if it is mis-located and not in the sunset position that is a bit more of a problem. It can be fixed but my require the services of a good black powder gunsmith. Alas, I digress.

 

[nkbj]

How many folks load with the pick in place, pull it and then charge the pan?

 

[peter5761]

I have been using a split pin (you call them Cotter pin) it should leave a hollow for greater area contact on ignition.
I have just started shooting Flintlock and have been taking advice from one of this year's World Champion shooters from our club.

 

[hanshi]

I pick only if I experience a FITP.

 

[rusty]

I don't need to pick but I do give the frizzen a good thumb wipe on a regular basis..

 

[Billnpatti]

Yes, I do the same. Sometimes, if the pan or any part of the lock seems like it has a buildup of fouling, I'll use the wet patch that I have run down my bore to give the pan, touch hole, frizzen and flint a wipe. How often that is necessary seems to depend to a great degree on how humid the day is.

 

[Ames]

Food for thought. Never considered it but it makes sense. Thank you for tickling the brain! :hmm:

 

[hanshi]

I also thumb (or patch) wipe the frizzen but also the flint edge....carefully.

 

[Gene L]

I use an alcohol prep patch on the pan and frizzen, seems to clean both better and dries out immediately. I know it's not HC, but I don't care. I also use a dental Proxy Brush to clean the vent, but not every time. Does a good job. I may go to Traditional Hell for it. However, I'm pretty new to FLs and still learning.

 

[jamieorr]

I have done no study of this and have no firm footing to stand on so take this as just a SWAG. I have had guns with pretty small touch holes and some with pretty large touch holes. Those with the smaller touch holes seemed to need picking a bit more often than those with the larger touch holes.

I have only one gun, a Lyman with a pretty small vent. It likes a good poking before priming which supports your reasoning.

Jamie

 

[M. De Land]

In my opinion folks use the wrong material for a vent pick. Most all use sharp pointed, hard steel picks.
I did for a while and decided to try a notion of making a pick of soft black iron wire and profiling the nose to be half round or blunt with rounded corners.
The idea is to have it a tight slip fit to the vent diameter so that it pushed out a plug of fouling not just piercing a hole through it.
Also a soft wire pick with a round nose won't swage out the vent hole or stick dents into the barrel steel on the opposite side of the bore from the vent hole.