I have a good amount of 4f Swiss and 3f Tipple 7. I have no muzzle loading rifles. I live in Canada and would like a flintlock. What caliber is my best bet to use with these powders? Can you recommend a builder or manufacturer? No cap locks or in lines. Just the best bet flintlock rifle. I'm new to this. The purpose is to get into the sport.
Thanks,
John
John,
the BP powder substitutes are notoriously hard to ignite with a flinter, even if one did some sort of duplex load, although such would help. The reason is to avoid the "explosive" classification for transport, and storage at a retail facility. Pyrodex for example IS Black Powder but they substitute potassium perchlorate for some of the potassium nitrate, and this drops some of its ignition qualities. Makes it easier for "mom and pop" muzzle loader shops to stock some sort of powder.
The question on a "duplex load" would be how much of the chamber needs to be filled so that the black powder is at the touch hole. Otherwise if you used too little, the Triple 7 would be what was receiving the flash, and there would be no advantage.
As for the caliber, .50 is probably the most commonly found caliber. It's a toss-up between .54 and .45 as to which is the next favorite, but I think .54 is a bit more common these days than .45. On the other hand, years ago, I knew fellows who got .45's and loved them because the recoil was puny, deer were not difficult to down, and..., late in the season all the .50 and .54 round ball was sold off, but .440 ball (the common size for the .45) was still found.
I'm a big fan of folks looking for a good, affordable rifle, between .45 - .58 caliber, and getting that when it presents itself, in whatever caliber. I kinda have a superstition that some rifles pick their owners.
LD