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new flintlock.......
hillbille
Member Posts: 14,426 ✭✭✭✭
I have been shooting muzzleloaders for years just never got the urge for a flintlock, till today. Old friend of mine in his 70's made me a deal on a renegade he had laying in his garage. Lots of surface rust, no major pitting still good spark.
My first question is I have lots of 3f powder, I use it in all my rifles , pistols and shotgun. Will it work for the pan primer??
It will take some tinkering, but for the next month or so, I'll be playing with it to tune in charge and bullets. will start with patch and ball, never had any luck with maxi balls.
any other tricks????
My first question is I have lots of 3f powder, I use it in all my rifles , pistols and shotgun. Will it work for the pan primer??
It will take some tinkering, but for the next month or so, I'll be playing with it to tune in charge and bullets. will start with patch and ball, never had any luck with maxi balls.
any other tricks????
Comments
In the "old days," the pioneers and armies did not carry a separate priming powder. 4F is supposed to give faster ignition. If you want finer powder, you can grind up some 3F (safely). I am not an experienced flintlock shooter - yet.
You can use 3 FFF for pan powder, heck I've used 2FF for my Bess.
It will fire the gun but, the miniscule time difference does make a difference.
Patch and ball should be the best bet with that rifle.
Start around 60 grains and work up find out what the rifle likes.
I would use 4f, just cause it works better as a priming powder. I've got your rifle's percussion brother. If the bore's good, it's an accurate rifle. I can put 3 shots into a fist sized group at 100 yards using patch and ball. But, you got a good one (older one). The new T/C traditional style muzzleloaders made by cabelas are, imo, crap. Mine's an oldie.
Cabela's is a retailer and does not build anything, The "Traditional Hawken" they sell is not a TC product, and appears to be a Traditions rifle. Budget is a polite way to describe it.
Don't matter who builds them now, they suck. But is TC still making the traditional front stuffers?
Yes, TC, now owned by S&W still builds their version of a Hawken, and I think one or two others.
BTW, Nice rifle, I have the same rifle, if I remember correctly, I think mine was bought back in the late 70's.
Just want you to know that mortar and pestle grinding of black powder is a precarious prospect if you are not EXTREMELY careful!![B)] Putting less powder in the pan (about 1/3 full) is about right. I use FFFFg if I got it because the touch hole doesn't clog as quickly as it does with FFFg. Depends on how tight the hole is, *ahem* but if you shake the rifle so that the powder in the pan is furthest from the touch hole you get a great ignition. At least in my experience this has been the case.
Best,
Hutch