Dry-fire a flintlock?

I've been shooting a Lyman caplock for a few years and just got my first flintlock. What is the best way to practice shooting/dry-firing the flintlock without harming the lock or flint?

Hawken-Hunter

Way to go, :bow: there ain't nothin like a flinter (IMO)
Real easy, if you have set triggers just set them, but don't cock the lock. Hammer needs to be in the down position. Never release double set triggers with the lock in half cock. I am assuming you don't have set trigs, so just remove the flint and place a piece of hard wood in there the same size as a flint. The wood will not wear the frizzen and the lock is good to go.
Flintlocklar :wink:

Practical Instructions for Military Officers, for the District of Massachusetts, Epaphras Hoyt, published 1811

"Before the recruits are furnished with cartridges, they must be taught the necessary motions of loading, and it will be proper to substitute wooden snappers for flints to prevent the locks from sustaining injury."

Spence

Hawken-Hunter said:

I've been shooting a Lyman caplock for a few years and just got my first flintlock. What is the best way to practice shooting/dry-firing the flintlock without harming the lock or flint?

Click to expand...

I believe the best way would be to make DANG sure the guns empty then prime and aim and fire, FOLLOW THROUGH. Have wife or son or buddy prime for you (or not) so you are not SURE the pan will flash. This gives you experience of the flash in yer face as well as aiming and follow through. Burns a bit o powder but It helped me?

My rifle has a set trigger. These are all good suggestions. Thank you.

Set triggers or not, you must squeeze the trigger. Let the lock surprise you If you anticipate the hammer fall, you will flinch. By squeezing you will not know when the gun will fire. And practice, practice, practice.

Hawken-Hunter said:

What is the best way to practice shooting/dry-firing the flintlock without harming the lock or flint?

Click to expand...

Firing the lock with the pan empty and the gun unloaded will not in any way harm the lock, though it will wear the flint. Just close the pan, cock the lock, aim and fire.

One warning: DO NOT fire the lock with the frizzen open - you could damage the tumbler.

I have put wood in the jaws for dry firing.

The other day I was practicing off cross sticks and decided to dry fire after I finished sending balls down range.

I wanted to see how the hammer fall impacted the sight picture and well as find the correct finger position to avoid any torquing.

I let her spark, I did find that the hammer fall alone of a Deluxe Chambers Siler would move the sights about 1" to the left off my sticks at 50 yards.

Anyway, I practiced my trigger pull for at least a half hour. I went to the woods and killed two deer using the trigger lessons I learned during practice. I hit them right were I wanted to.

That's interesting. I always wondered what the inertia of a hammer fall / frizzen opening would do to a sight picture / point of impact. You mentioned shooting off o sticks. Did you do the same experiment in standing position? I would think the effect would be greater there. Then of course there is the jet of hot gas coming out the vent hole to bring it back the other way.

I remember doing this same experiment with an open bolt Thompson. The bolt weighs about a pound. That thing REALLY disrupts your aim as it is coming forward!

I am a lousy off hand shot so it would be hard for me to tell what went on standing as I am weaving all over the place.

I have a wooden "flint" that substitutes just fine for the real McCoy. It doesn't hurt the frizzen or the cock. Best way to "dry fire".

Me too :metoo:

One more thing new flintlock shooters need to know...A flintlock can and will go off with no powder in the pan but loaded with the main charge!!!

So, if you are shooting and don't get a spark, knap the flint but do not see if it will spark on the loaded gun or you may be cleaning out your pants...

Also, if you are going to pull a charge with powder behind it, pour water or oil down the barrel to neutralize the powder...

Have fun!!!

Thanks.

Great advice. Thanks. Two things I learned... firing the gun with the frizzen open can damage the tumbler and... sparks from the flint/frizzen can ignite the main charge even if there is no powder in the pan.

Well she's a big girl! The bess is next to my cz bobwhite for reference.
.744 bore do yall think a patched .735 ball will be too tight or do I just need to get some to try?

My next two questions are does this lock geometry look fine? And could you give some tips on removing and re brazing this sight/lug

Sorry those were meant for a different thread! But any advice/answers would be appreciated!

Hawken-Hunter said:

I've been shooting a Lyman caplock for a few years and just got my first flintlock. What is the best way to practice shooting/dry-firing the flintlock without harming the lock or flint?

Click to expand...

I make wooden flints and clamp them in the jaw . Works great for checking the lock or dry fire practice ...see if I can find a pic

Wooden flint replacment for the original flint.