Caplock important to an avid hunter

BigBoreBLR · Apr 2, 2018

Think an avid hunter in the northeast needs a caplock for deer hunting?

I hunt locally, but hunt often 2 and 4 hours away at a fields and Adirondack forests. Often multi day hunts.

Debating my next build. Got a early reading 54 cal rice barrel and chambers lock in lh flint.

Got a lyman gpr 54 in flintlock which ill keep, a 45 early virginia almost complete, and a basic late lancaster 45 caplock.

Debating to build the 54, or wait until my skills get better to build this one.

I do squirrel hunt alot, and I'm tempted to build a smooth bore for Shots only or a Ohio 1/2 stock or plains rifle in 36 cal.

I'd be all over a quick kibler build if he'd offer left handed...

So, if you guys could help me pick cap or flint and which small game gun, and which to build next....

Stumpkiller · Apr 2, 2018

Think an avid hunter in the northeast needs a caplock for deer hunting?

Gosh, I hope not. Mine are collecting dust, unused for a dozen years or so. My .54 is a flintlock.

Grouse and bunnies, too. My flint fowler gets used but my caplocks are just waiting in a corner.

tenngun · Apr 3, 2018

Cap locks are better, no doubt about it. They pretty much replaced flintlocks in ten- fifteen years.
However flintlocks are reliable I’ve killed all manners of critters with mine in rain snow and sunny days. It’s been well over thirty years since I took a percussion in to the field.
The fact is you find a lot of nipplehugger shooters that get interested in rock in the locks. However you don’t find a lot that go the other way.

coloradoclyde · Apr 3, 2018

A flintlock will make you a better hunter......It will also make you enjoy your hunt more too.

BrownBear · Apr 3, 2018

tenngun said:
The fact is you find a lot of nipplehugger shooters that get interested in rock in the locks. However you don’t find a lot that go the other way.

Actually it goes the other way up in Alaska. When it got mostly impossible to get real black powder up here, the flinters went into closets and guys pretty much quit shooting muzzleloaders. With good subs appearing and accessible in Alaska they're coming back to muzzleloaders. With cappers.

I shoot flinters a bit, but sparingly to help preserve my dwindling supply of black. Among about 50-60 guys I know who shoot muzzleloaders now, I know only 2 others with flinters. And I bet neither one of them has sparked a flint in 5 years.

Ames · Apr 3, 2018

fools sulphur said:
Think an avid hunter in the northeast needs a caplock for deer hunting?

No. I hunt them up here every year. Rock or cap, you need to bring a gun you have confidence in.
And bring lots of patience into the woods with you. :hatsoff:

Britsmoothy · Apr 3, 2018

I like both. They both belch flame and smoke but a flinter does put a grin on my face slightly more than my cappers.

B.

No Deer · Apr 3, 2018

Well, assuming black powder is readily available, it all boils down to which you prefer shooting. I hear and read all the time about how caplocks are more reliable than flintlocks. It is amazing to me how often at shoots the most trouble is with caplocks. Doesn't matter what kind of weather, the guys with caplocks always have more trouble than the guys with flintlocks. Don't know why except that I think the guys with caplocks think their guns are impervious to weather, and the flintlock guys just take better care in bad weather, knowing that they are more vulnerable. So again, it is a matter of what your are more comfortable with and how well you take care of your gun in the field.

Silky921 · Apr 3, 2018

Colorado Clyde said:
A flintlock will make you a better hunter......It will also make you enjoy your hunt more too.

I've heard it also makes you six inches taller and better looking, but I could be wrong.

But no I don't think a caplock is necessary in the NE.

Howie1968 · Apr 3, 2018

for me I use percussion however, I'm about ready to progress to a flinter not so much for hunting but because of the nostalgia another learning curve. and hopefully am able to harvest an animal with a flinter, I'm taking baby steps but am loving my adventure back into traditional muzzleloading

nhmoose · Apr 3, 2018

I have not hunted with a cap lock for almost 30 years now. NH,ME, and PA flintlock only. In fact I don't have a caplock rifle and do not want nor need one to hunt with.

robinsroost · Apr 3, 2018

Britsmoothy said:
I like both. They both belch flame and smoke but a flinter does put a grin on my face slightly more than my cappers.

:metoo:

Louisk · Apr 3, 2018

BrownBear said:
Actually it goes the other way up in Alaska. When it got mostly impossible to get real black powder up here, the flinters went into closets and guys pretty much quit shooting muzzleloaders. With good subs appearing and accessible in Alaska they're coming back to muzzleloaders. With cappers.

I shoot flinters a bit, but sparingly to help preserve my dwindling supply of black. Among about 50-60 guys I know who shoot muzzleloaders now, I know only 2 others with flinters. And I bet neither one of them has sparked a flint in 5 years.

I'm in about the same situation, maybe a little easier here as we're on the road system, but when your supply of black here is gone, it's gone. There are two stores here who always have Pyrodex and caps in stock.

When I first decided to get into muzzleloader hunting my first priority was having a gun I could hit something with, which meant having one I could shoot as often as possible so I chose a caplock, even though I did (and still do) desire to have a flintlock...some day.

Britsmoothy · Apr 3, 2018

No Deer said:
Well, assuming black powder is readily available, it all boils down to which you prefer shooting. I hear and read all the time about how caplocks are more reliable than flintlocks. It is amazing to me how often at shoots the most trouble is with caplocks. Doesn't matter what kind of weather, the guys with caplocks always have more trouble than the guys with flintlocks. Don't know why except that I think the guys with caplocks think their guns are impervious to weather, and the flintlock guys just take better care in bad weather, knowing that they are more vulnerable. So again, it is a matter of what your are more comfortable with and how well you take care of your gun in the field.

True.
I find any slight amount of oil in the nipple or channel and it is flame out every time and even if one does get it to fire following shots can still be troublesome.
A flintlock is all exposed and accessable to fix any contamination.

B.

necchi · Apr 3, 2018

fools sulphur said:
So, if you guys could help me pick cap or flint and which small game gun, and which to build next....

Kinda silly to ask that.
It all depends on what kind of challenge you want.
None of us got into this game because it was an easy way to hunt.
Most of us just got tired of the CF game and crowds and wanted a better sporting experience.
It's fun to have a challenge.
Why ask others what kind of challenge we want for you?

If you think cap locks are needed and easier then the answer you seek is obvious.

hanshi · Apr 3, 2018

Got both and do love my caplocks but it's been a long time since I hunted with one. I do get a hankering to hunt with my little .45 halfstock and might succumb to the urge before too long. Any new rifle I might decide to get will be flint. A flintlock will get you into Heaven; but a caplock will only get you to halfway. :idunno:

Loyalist Dave · Apr 3, 2018

A flintlock will make you a better hunter......It will also make you enjoy your hunt more too.

Bragging rights are better too. :applause:

I have a .54 caplock rifle that was my "backup" gun if my flinter broke right as the season opened. My son is inheriting it as a graduation present, along with an additional 12 gauge caplock barrel, and extra parts. When he gets serious about BP shooting or hunting, then he gets a flinter. I'm thinking a Jim Kibler kit.

I have a couple of flintlock trade guns and several muskets, but haven't been at the range enough with round ball to trust myself going for deer with them.

My other caplock "hunting" gun is a 20 gauge SxS. Very sweet on upland birds.

LD

Skychief · Apr 3, 2018

necchi said:
fools sulphur said:

So, if you guys could help me pick cap or flint and which small game gun, and which to build next....

Click to expand...

Kinda silly to ask that.
It all depends on what kind of challenge you want.
None of us got into this game because it was an easy way to hunt.
Most of us just got tired of the CF game and crowds and wanted a better sporting experience.
It's fun to have a challenge.
Why ask others what kind of challenge we want for you?

If you think cap locks are needed and easier then the answer you seek is obvious.

Fools Sulpher, don't let necchi dissuade you from posting questions involving muzzleloader choices, here on the MUZZLELOADING forum. He's trying to make the change to decaf coffee and his brow beating antics still surface from time to time. :youcrazy:

I like them both, flint and cap. If I were to build a dedicated small game rifle now, I would look hard at a forty caliber. This from a guy that has 32, 36, and 40 caliber. The bigger bore is easier to handle for me. That is, loading and cleaning seems easier in my experience.

Best regards, Skychief

azmntman · Apr 3, 2018

FWIW if I were in yer shoes I would google the kimbler kit and order a .40 flintlock NOW

Decaf huh? :applause: :slap: :blah:

aeatwood · Nov 28, 2018

High wind is the only environment a flinter can"t handle. Rain and snow you can work around.

Caplock important to an avid hunter

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