I REALLY need to get flinting

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f_soldaten04

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OK, I have had a flinter for a couple of months now (Lyman Trade Rifle) and I would like to know EVERYTHING I need to get started. Id like to know what certain tools are for. It is a 50cal.

Thanks in advance :)
 
You should hook up with mooncoon in Nanaimo, or myself,and come out shooting.
Either one of us can walk you through it and get you started.
Cheers nessy.
 
Ah, the voice of logic. Suputin, I started with a caplock but at my first shoot I was with a group of flinters and I was hooked. Five years later I still am addicted to flinters and yes they can be a pain! I have found that if I do all the steps correctly, everthing works but if I cheat or get sloppy the shooting starts to unravel. In the immortal words of Mooncoon "it's all in the quality of the lock and barrel, specially the lock"

SW

Suputin said:
Probably a bit late but a flinter isn't the best to start out in muzzleloading. Flinters are cantankerous at best and will frustrate you a lot more than a caplock. There is a lot to learn about muzzleloaders without having to deal with a flintlock action.
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Keep that small hole between the pan and the main charge clear of any powder, use whatever to keep it clear, a paper clip, a special tool if you care to. Anyway this will prevent hang fires. Use 4f in the pan, and 3f for the main charge. Fill the pan up to the flash hole, but slightly below. Get some good quality English flints, and the frizzen should be tempered. Get a good spark and your off to the races. Use pure lead, and lubed patch. Clean with T/C #13 after a few shots to clean the bore, and help load the next ball easier.:)
Here is a flintlock Faq for ya , these guns love the cold and dry weather, perfect for late season hunting.
http://members.aye.net/~bspen/flintlockfaq.html
 
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First off you'll need to figure your ball /patch combo.
You are going to need
Patches 0.012'' - 0.018"
Round ball probably .490 maybe .495
Patch lube
Short starter
ffffg powder for priming the pan + a priming horn
You can shoot fffg or ffg powder in a 50 cal
You should measure your flints, I would order them from Track of the Wolf, English flints are the best IMHO
Flint tools : knapping hammer , vent pick, brush.
Strip of cloth for cleaning the pan.
Powder measure.
Powder horn.
You can get everything you need from Two Paws in Nanaimo 250-722-2474.
Everyone's advice here is so that you don't get frustrated and give up.
The best way to master the flinter is to have someone to answer your questions at the range.
Some flinters have an inherent delay in them--- whoosh---bang. There are ways to "tune" your lock and cone your vent.
The best guy I know is Mooncoon, and he's in Nanaimo.

Keep us updated, and if there is anything you need let me know.
Cheers nessy.
 
Thanks a lot guys! Luckily Im in Nanaimo, and there seems to be tons of knowledge on the subject here. A good place to get started it seems! The only way to get started is go in head first. Im sure it will have its share of frustration! I will surely go to the next shoot here. Thanks for all the replies. Unfortunately this is destined to be another drain on my already strained income :D
 
Gentlemen:

If I may, there is a very good book written by Sam Fadala entitled The Complete Black Powder Handbook (3rd Edition). ISBN: 0873491750.

It is an exceptional good reference book. Get a copy and spend some quality time reading. There is a good section on flinters, there use, cleaning, and loading as well.

This is not to take away from the help the others are offering, but rather to supliment it.

This is how I started, and found that beacuse of the knowledge I learned from this book, and the others that were willing to take time to help me, I avioded a lot of pitfalls and frustration.

Just my thoughts

regards and all the best

R
 
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In my flinters I did always do use 4FG powder in the pan filled about 33% that we can see in my .62 caliber fusil de chasse de Tulle.
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Yes I do always use English flints. This saw cut flint was just a try and they are just good for display purpose... nothing else...:D :p :D

Suputin said:
8Ball, try an english knapped flint. They work a lot better than the saw cut versions.
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Actually, my experience in a Lyman trade is the opposite - saw cuts in mine work better (more consistent) than flaked flints (8ball beat me to it). The Lyman trade .50 is over-bored. .490-495 ball - use .015 patch with .490. .010 patch with .495 For casual range shooting 60-70 gr ffg works well. gun is good to 110gr ffg. My pan works best with the powder up to the hole (not over it), and not away from the hole like the books usually recommend. Its a pretty consistent shooter as long as you keep the flint sparking and the frizzen clean and dry.
 
R. Wagner said:
Gentlemen:

If I may, there is a very good book written by Sam Fadala entitled The Complete Black Powder Handbook (3rd Edition). ISBN: 0873491750.


Richard
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Hi Richard, any idea on who may sell this book?

thanks
 
Water Witch:

Back in the days when I did not shop on-line,I belive that I bought my copy at Whole Sale Sports. That being said, places like amazon.ca may carry it as well.

I gave the isbn number, and I have found that is a verry effcient way to search any online book retailer or even book store by phone. Just give them that number and they should be able to find it for you.

Regards and all the best

R
 
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A source of good english flints, not mentioned so far, is Palouse Trading Company. Some may know them as Mailyn and Dan Crandall or know Marilyn by her rondyvous name of "the flint lady".
they may be reached by email at cranfam@turbonet.com and are located in Moscow, Idaho

cheers mooncoon
 
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