Your thoughts? Thinking of getting a flintlock.

[Snakebite]

When your kids get their first car, do you go out & buy them a Caddie or Mercedes? Of course not. Same applies to your first flinter. Go cheap, you will learn the fundamentals and get a better idea of what you want later.

Limited funds? Look here: http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/pp-classifieds/showcat.php/cat/9

Either flinter in the for sale ads would be a great place to begin.

I just can't agree to go cheap. No offense.

IMHO, the OP should try a couple guns to see if he likes flintlocks and if he does, get a quality gun. You don't have to go extremely expensive to get quality. I just think you'd be better off in the long run.

:2

 

[Black Hand]

When your kids get their first car, do you go out & buy them a Caddie or Mercedes? Of course not. Same applies to your first flinter. Go cheap, you will learn the fundamentals and get a better idea of what you want later.

Limited funds? Look here: http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/pp-classifieds/showcat.php/cat/9

Either flinter in the for sale ads would be a great place to begin.

I just can't agree to go cheap. No offense.

IMHO, the OP should try a couple guns to see if he likes flintlocks and if he does, get a quality gun. You don't have to go extremely expensive to get quality. I just think you'd be better off in the long run.

:2

I also agree Snakebite. A cheap flinter is a sure way to turn a beginner off to shooting a flintlock. An inexpensive capper will go off, while a cheap flinter will be nothing but trouble...

 

[Commodore Swab]

My first flinter was cheap. Instead of turning me off it turned me on to discover what was wrong so I could make it work right.

 

[Gene L]

I agree that cheap is not the way to go. Get the best you can afford; it will work a lot better than a cheap gun.

I've come to realize that cheap is almost never the way to go with a ML. Especially with a flint lock. My bud bought one back when and ended up with a cheap pile of manure he had to give away. It wouldn't work and at that time could not be improved.

Same with a cartridge gun. You don't want to buy the cheapest thing on the market, especially one that has a bad reputation. Not that it's easy to find a cheap cartridge gun now, but it was when I was a kid. As a result, I ended up with a .22 rifle which I had no confidence in and little pride.

Either expensive or cheap you're taking a chance, with a more expensive rifle you're taking a chance you'll like the system, but a cheap flintlock is taking a chance on performance and that isn't a chance I'd be willing to take.

 

[Cowboy]

I own a manure load of caplock's and only one flinter. Just recently entered the world of the flintlock myself.

Yes, they are a hell of a lot more fun to shoot then a caplock. Just the interaction of making them ready to fire is a lot of fun.

I'm speaking as a newbie myself to flintlocks. I will agree 100% as to what has already been mentioned about having someone experienced show you how to shoot and maintain your flinter. I was very lucky as to have Jethro bring one of his flinter's and come on down to my range to show me the ropes. My first shot ever was from one of his, then we shot mine and he taught me how to maintain it and keep it shooting.

I will admit that I am so much more accurate with a caplock but have 10 years under my belt shooting them. I just have to now get my shooting abilities with a flintlock to that level. It's just going to take a lot of practice. Have to learn to walk before you run!

I'm now in the market for another nice flinter for myself. I now have a lot better idea of what I want in my next flintlock.

I will have some very nice caplock's of different makes coming in the classifieds real soon so keep your eyes peeled! Not getting rid of all of them but am getting rid of some very nice one's.

Respectfully, Cowboy :thumbsup:

 

[John V.]

Well everyone "Thank You" for your advice and I took it. Yesterday(20 Aug 2016)I joined a local M/L club around where I live here in Indiana. They are called the Twin Rivers M/L club and were chartered in 1954. They are active in and recognized by the NMLRA. Infact the president is a official field representative for the NMLRA.I have to say I have never met a bunch of more down to earth more welcoming folks than in this club (much like here on the forum). They hold shoots the third Saturday of every month, have a real nice range.The dues are very affordable. I shot with them yesterday with my percussion and had a great time. Even though one of the guys wife out-shot all us guys 5 out of 6 volleys. LOL! I was happy to see women there shooting and winning. 99% there were shooting flints that they themselves had built and were in the process of building more. These flints were beautiful pieces of work. With regard to knowledge. These folks were walking M/L encyclopedia's and eager to share knowledge. They even allowed me to shoot their beautiful hand built flints.I now have a place were I get get "hands on" help as well. Now maybe it is just me, but M/L folks in general(and my wife who does not shoot M/L...yet) even see's this. Seem to be very down to earth helpful folks.We both first noticed it in the spring of 2016 went we went to our first primitive M/L only gun-show in Nobelsville,Indiana. I have found this site to be the same way. Sorry so lengthy on the post, but I just wanted you all to know that your advice of getting "hands on" was taken and in the process met some great like minded folks and new friends. :thumbsup:

 

[coloradoclyde]

:thumbsup:

 

[Wes/Tex]

As mentioned, flinters can be a tad finicky till you get the hang of it....but by all means, do it...learn with it ...and enjoy the hell out of it! Nothing is more fun and rewarding than getting it going well, then amazing all your family and friends by loading a blank charge adn firing it off while holding it inverted! They won't believe it! :wink:

 

[54ball]

I have thought about this so the following may be your best bet in a flintlock.

Factory offerings.....
I have 2 in mind and they are very good.
1.Pedersoli Frontier/Cabelas Blue Ridge. These are very good guns and the best factory made longrifle IMHO. They use a large good quality lock. The only problems I have seen mentioned with these rifles are about the patent breech but it's minor and more of user error in cleaning. Some don't like that the barrel is screwed to the stock...again minor issue.
2. Pedersoli 2nd Model Brown Bess
One of the best factory flintlocks...period.
It's big, it's a military musket, sparks like ahouse afire, it's basically an 11 guage shotgun. Dixie Gunworks has been running a special for their Bess kits. These are assembled, require finish and final shaping.

Have a custom flintlock built. Smoothbore trade guns are the least expensive of the custom offerings.

Find a good used flintlock or even newly made with quality American parts. Many new builders will sell their completed projects to finance the next one. Although not perfect or custom quality some very good guns can be bought for little more than the cost of parts. Educate yourself though know what problems to lookout for.

Build one...likely the most expensive option.

 

[Billnpatti]

Clyde, you said "..... one was a running shot at 40+ yards..." :hmm: I have listened to a lot of fishing stories and hunting stories and I know that there is an unspoken gentleman's agreement that you never question the other man's story. So, the truth is that you did, in fact, shoot a squirrel running at 40+ yards. I won't question that but tell me this, and be honest, was it a luck shot or was it pure skill? :grin:

 

[Kansas Jake]

Billnpatti, of course Clyde's shot was skill, just like the running cotton tail I shot when I was a kid at about 30 yards with a rim fire unmentionable. I did it once, so didn't feel the need to do it again. :rotf:

 

I don't think anyone has mentioned this yet, but Friendship is only a couple of weeks away.
Leave home in time to get down there around eight in the morning for parking. It will be a little later before all the vendors open.
I couldn't find where you said what you are able/willing to spend. Tip Curtis always has a good selection of new rifles including a few guns in the white. His prices are good but they might seem high if you have never priced hand made rifles. There are a lot of booths selling new and used rifles that cover the price and quality spectrum. As has already been mentioned, flintlocks are not the place to go cheap.
There are always some guys walking around with rifles to sell and I have seen some really good deals over the years. Be sure to take at least one quick loop through the primitive area.
Wear comfortable walking shoes, because things are a little spread out down there.

 

[timothy prouty]

HEY see if one a them can help you make a rifle from one of the kits out there

 

[John V.]

RJ, Thanks for the thought.Going to Friendship is on my "to do" list. Just gotta get the time off work to go and the $$$. It would be awesome to actually buy a hand made long rifle at Friendship.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I won't question that but tell me this, and be honest, was it a luck shot or was it pure skill? :grin:

Well!...I don't tell fish stories...and the shot did happen......
I started shooting competitively when I was 12....
I had a lot of good mentors....

But, to answer your question....As one of my mentors use to say....."If the lead is in the air, the chance is there" :wink: :haha:

 

[azmntman]

:bull: IT WAS PURE LUCK. That tree rat never had an unLUCKIER day in it's life!!!

:rotf:

 

[Wes/Tex]

:rotf: :wink: :haha: :rotf:

 

[Billnpatti]

Okay, Clyde, until someone comes up with evidence to the contrary, I'm going with.....(drum roll)......SKILL :thumbsup: :haha:

 

[coloradoclyde]

Had I stumbled and fell and the gun went off....just missing me, but the ball knocked a squirrel out of a tree..........

Now that! would be LUCK!..... :haha:

 

[Tom Compton]

So's to not be ff ...........I have a CVA Plainsman flinter. Lock may be manure. Is there a drop in for this gun available? Its like 20 yrs old. I could easily see me going 98% flint if I could get the thing shooting consistently. Some times perfect no delay sometimes delay sometimes no flash.

I've had good experiences w L&R locks and they make replacements for some CVAs. Call them direct. I buy direct too for the same $.

Ther are lock tuners around bit I don't know who. Contact NMLRA for leads.