What's the attraction

[Celt5494]

If you have to ask stick with the caplocks. They are great firearms that will get you long hous of enjoyment. Once bitten by the gracefullness of the American flintlock things just plain look different.

 

[Danbo]

Flintlocks will make a better shooter out of ya!

 

[George91946]

I personally enjoy the difficulty of shooting a flintlock. The longer cycle of the lock over modern firearms and the expertise required to hold on target during the full cycle are very satisfying. I enjoy the tinkering that goes into getting the weapon to shoot with the best accuracy. I like the smell and the look of the smoke from the pan and I like the idea that I don't need manufactured caps or sabots or bullets to hit the target. When I'm on at the range, I can usually out shoot most of the guys with black guns and red dot sights. I don't consider myself to be a great marksman, but It's very satisfying to have them divert to my target inspect it and return to the bench and ask how the heck I'm shooting so tightly. Cap locks don't give the same whoosh bang and seem to me to be too easy to shoot.

 

[Tom Compton]

Kinda like the difference between modern cartridge vs break open or bolt ML vs traditional cap locks VS flinters.

OR modern cross bow vs compound vs recurve vs stick bows.

It's just depends on where U R comfortsble.

Peace.
TC

 

[steved]

Danbo and George91946 hit on one of the many reasons I prefer flintlocks over percussion or CF guns: they really make you a better shooter. I can hit the bull all day long from the bench with any of my firearms, modern or flint. It was the first time I shot my flint off-hand at 25yds when I saw how bad a shot I really was. The target looked like I was shooting a shotgun. That's when I learned the importance of trigger pull and follow thru, things I didn't pay much attention to on the bench. A tight hold in a bench rest neutralizes a lot of bad habits. After a lot of practice (live fire and dry fire with wood "flint") I can now hit the mark with regularity with my flintlock at 25yd & 50yds when shooting off hand. Now, when I shoot one of my vintage US military rifles with open sights the result is really tight groups due the skills I developed by shooting my flintlocks.

 

[RiverRat]

IF the Lord had intended for men to use caplocks, He woulda' strewn the hillsides with percussion caps....

I like that! You are a very wise man! :hatsoff:

 

[hanshi]

Looks like there should be suitable flint rock in my area but don't really know. So far I haven't been out seriously looking, not that I'd be any good at knapping them. You are in a great situation. I still have to buy mine.....uuuhh, caps, too. :surrender:

 

[Pete Gaimari]

I personally enjoy the difficulty of shooting a flintlock. The longer cycle of the lock over modern firearms and the expertise required to hold on target during the full cycle are very satisfying. I enjoy the tinkering that goes into getting the weapon to shoot with the best accuracy. I like the smell and the look of the smoke from the pan and I like the idea that I don't need manufactured caps or sabots or bullets to hit the target. When I'm on at the range, I can usually out shoot most of the guys with black guns and red dot sights. I don't consider myself to be a great marksman, but It's very satisfying to have them divert to my target inspect it and return to the bench and ask how the heck I'm shooting so tightly. Cap locks don't give the same whoosh bang and seem to me to be too easy to shoot.

You must have some really bad shots in your area. Every time I shoot next to someone with a black gun they're shooting 1/2" groups @100 yds.

 

[hanshi]

I, too, see good shooting from time to time with those rifles and have done some when invited to try one out. Mostly I see average to just fair groups even at 50 yards. It just depends on the rifle's precision and the shooter's skill.

 

[Pete Gaimari]

We might all be thinking of different guns. I think of an AR-15 when I think of a black gun. Pretty accurate gun.

 

[tg]

The experience of using a technology from an earler time and the attempt to understand how those in the past may have hunted any differently than we do with modern guns and the basic challenge such old style guns provide.