Want to buy a flintlock, what am I getting myself in to?

The OP asked about muzzleloading rifles.
But I'm going to suggest that it is worth considering a smoothbore and small game hunting to begin. Small game hunting opportunities can be a lot more common than big game.
There are some modern reproduction shotguns, that do turn up from time to time at reasonable prices. Perhaps $500 or less.
Original guns in shooting condition are not uncommon and can be quite reasonably priced. In past ten years or so I have paid from $100 to $1125 for shotguns in serviceable, shooting condition. The least expensive was a Belgian percussion double, the most expensive a British flintlock single.
 
sean69 said:
He's not kidding - you might get 30-40 shots off in a day....

On the flip side your ammo cost goes from like $300/day down to like $30 :)
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30-40 shots is quite a lot for a muzzle loader. I've done trail walks that were 50 stations split into two days and man that takes a ton of time to get through. Any BP firing muzzle loader is gonna be FILTHY after that many shots.
 
Tick in the box for muzzleloading.com. I've been there since 2003 and had great fun for around 99% of the time AND learned a lot. Since I live in UK I've had a a good helping of anti-Brit messages and comments, mainly about the Revolution and first and second world wars. As I was not around for any of 'em, and I'm only 1/8th British, I tend to laff 'em off. The GWN gets its share of the usual US/Canuckian banter, but that's nothing new on any US-based forum. Be warned though, any mention of anything except pre-1865 muzzleloaders gets a warning to leave your cartridge-firing stuff someplace else.
 
The advice given in the previous posts is very good so not much to add on kit guns. Another option for instant gratification is to purchase a Pedersoli Mortimer .54 flinter - looks like they are in stock at Marstar. I had one and it was a fantastic shooter; capable of putting 3 shots into one hole at 30 yards all day every day. It was also very reliable - never had one misfire. Also has an advantage of a keyed barrel which makes cleaning easier.

The caveat was the QC on Pedersoli. I've owned 4 different models and they all had quality quirks which bugged me. My .54 had a crack through the stock at the lock. I still have a Mortimer flint 12 gauge shotgun - its a nice gun (lighter than the .54 rifle) but for some reason they sent it out with the bead drilled at 11 o'clock.

So if you can inspect prior to purchase or send it back for a refund if you find a flaw a Pedersoli flinter will get you into it right away. Best of luck - flinters are a ton of fun.
 
I Dont Care About You said:
You really need to go to a Rendezvous for BP to make a lot of sense. Shooting BP at a range would be awfully dull.
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There is no question that rendezvous (at least a well run one) is a paradise for a flintlock shooter and certainly adds much to the experience (again, a well run one). I suppose if I had to go to a range to shoot by myself I would not get too excited about ML'res (to any rifles for that matter). My experience is pretty much the opposite of that that Loyer shared. Back when I lived in Southern Alberta, I used to shoot gophers, quite a lot. Used my Ruger 10-22 for the most part but when that got old, my neighbour and I would take out centerfire guns, me with my Ruler No1 22-250 and he with his Kimber .243. We would plat=y a game where we would lay on the east side of squaw coulee which has a creek running down the middle and shoot gophers, anything g on this side of the creek was worth one point anything g on the other side was wort 3 points. The creek was about 300 yard distant. If you shot and missed, the points that the shot WOULD have been worth were deducted. Anyways, I got tired of the 10-222 and it had a HORRIBLE appetite (I carried a 10 round and two 30 round banana mags. I switched to shooting them with my flinter and never looked back. There was little that topped a nice sunny day, walking the coulee with my flinter picking off gophers. For ME, it was MUCH more enjoyable than the 10-22. Tough to beat a good rendezvous though. The bigger the % of primitive camps, usually the better the rondy.
 
I Dont Care About You said:
30-40 shots is quite a lot for a muzzle loader. I've done trail walks that were 50 stations split into two days and man that takes a ton of time to get through. Any BP firing muzzle loader is gonna be FILTHY after that many shots.
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I always preferred a 20 shot trail, 30 is a bit much and if it was 40, I would Likely pass. However, it isn important to note than I was a "rendezvouser" more than a "shooter". The "shooters", usually in the tin camp, would shoot in the morning, then enter a 30 shot trail, than shoot again afterwards. Other than having to run a wet patch down the bore after maybe 15-20 shots to break up the carbon ring that forms just ahead of where the ball seats, I never found much difference in the "filth" between one shot and 30. After the first shot, they are pretty much FILTHY.
 
tacfoley said:
The GWN gets its share of the usual US/Canuckian banter, but that's nothing new on any US-based forum.
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That reminds me, my folks went to rendezvous all over the US and BC. He alway flew a period American flag over his camp. When in the States, he would oxpccasionally have a yank ask him what he flew an American flag when he was Canadian. he would look at the flag and reply, "that is the flag from the war of 1812, I fly that just to remind you guys that we kicked your ass". A few would get offence[ded but most would take it for what it wasn't and chuckle. I probably have that flag somewhere as I get all his rondy/BP stuff when he passed.
 
Jasper Morris said:
The advice given in the previous posts is very good so not much to add on kit guns. Another option for instant gratification is to purchase a Pedersoli Mortimer .54 flinter - looks like they are in stock at Marstar. I had one and it was a fantastic shooter; capable of putting 3 shots into one hole at 30 yards all day every day. It was also very reliable - never had one misfire. Also has an advantage of a keyed barrel which makes cleaning easier.

The caveat was the QC on Pedersoli. I've owned 4 different models and they all had quality quirks which bugged me. My .54 had a crack through the stock at the lock. I still have a Mortimer flint 12 gauge shotgun - its a nice gun (lighter than the .54 rifle) but for some reason they sent it out with the bead drilled at 11 o'clock.

So if you can inspect prior to purchase or send it back for a refund if you find a flaw a Pedersoli flinter will get you into it right away. Best of luck - flinters are a ton of fun.
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I agree the Mortimer flint is a nice gun .Here s mineView attachment 742515View attachment 742516
 
I can highly recommend the Kiblers, I am assembling my fourth one. Amazing flintlock rifles all around. I might have to consider selling one to finance another kit. They are hard to part with, however! My buddy borrowed my 50 cal woods runner for our trail walk this weekend and loved it.
 
I just ordered my first flinter, a steel blunderbuss from Expo antique out of QC. I'll have to read up on that muzzleloading forum myself. I also just found out Ab has a black powder association too. Hope it's still active.
 
I Dont Care About You said:
Two suggestions.

Go to a decent sized Rendezvous and meet people. Find someone you can shoot with and who can give you advice. There are numerous pitfalls in muzzle loaders that are not obvious for a newbie, one or two of which can be dangerous.

Don't start with a flinter. They are persnickety. Get yourself a moderately priced cap lock and shoot it a bunch before you commit to a flintlock. You need to be reasonably experienced with muzzle loading before moving to a flinter.
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I started with a flinter but, I had a very good mentor. The biggest reason for the flint lock was that it is a left hand unit and they just don't come up on the market all that often.
 
infidel29 said:
I just ordered my first flinter, a steel blunderbuss from Expo antique out of QC. I'll have to read up on that muzzleloading forum myself. I also just found out Ab has a black powder association too. Hope it's still active.
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What part of Alberta do you call home? If you are close to peacecriver/grandePrairie ish area, I would be happy to help with anything or any questions you may have. Have a “range” for shooting.
 
infidel29 said:
I just ordered my first flinter, a steel blunderbuss from Expo antique out of QC. I'll have to read up on that muzzleloading forum myself. I also just found out Ab has a black powder association too. Hope it's still active.
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The Alberta Black Powder Association is very active: check out their website.
 
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