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Thunder14

32 Cal.
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Aug 6, 2018
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Hi,new to flintlock picked up an older TC Hawkin 50 cal.five diget serial #so she is an older one. and I have herd you can use either FFFF or FFF in the pan what would be my best option.I have a couple of pounds of FFF for my revolvers so if I could use FFF in the pan that would be good.And would it be ok to just put powder in the pan and see how my spark is so i could adjust my flint.Im just trying to set up my rifle without going down the wrong path.so if anyone can steer me in the right direction I would be very appreciative.
 
Older TC may need a new hammer (different geometry design) to work their best and not eat flints. That said try to make sure the flint is smacking the frizzen at a 55-60 degree angle about 1/3 from the bottom. 3f will work JUST FINE.

Others will chime n and have more experience than me but there ya go!
 
True, but 3f will work just fine and even 2f will work although in some cases there may be minimal delay from flash to firing. I wouldn't worry about getting 4f powder if you don't already have it. I just use 3f in my flint rifle and pistol.
 
I've heard many times on this forum and elsewhere that FFFg works fine in the pan. With my personal rifle, I tried FFFg and also FFFFg because I had access to both and FFFg seemed a tiny bit slow. With FFFFg I get instant ignition if I do my part -that is, put the right amount of powder in the right place in the pan. You may find out one works better than the other to some extent.
 
You don't need to dirty up the pan to see if it works. Just snap the flint and see where the sparks are directed. If there are a lot of them, and they hit in the pan pretty close to the middle, you're in good shape. For color they should be medium sized, and orangish yellow.

In fact, having powder in there will make it hard to know where the sparks themselves are landing. Any real BP will work in the pan, even up to cannon grade. Only the speed of ignition is affected by the granule size. It's the substitutes that usually don't work at all, or, if they do, their performance is pretty spotty. Never tried them myself though. I figured, why?
 
Be sure to point it in a safe direction.

I bought a used one once that was still loaded!

:thumbsup:

Have fun!
 
I got my TC .50 flinter brand new in 1975. I have tried 3f and 4f powder in the pan and, to me, there was a perceived difference in ignition speed, with 4f being faster. I say perceived because there have been tests with high speed video that indicate there is virtually no difference (you can search this forum for the videos). To me perception is reality, if it seems different to me, it will affect the shot. It really comes down to personal preference, both will work.
 
Expect some problems. It's just part of it.

Every new flintlock I have had, I had to go through learning sessions.. Each one can be quirky and cantankerous. You have to fool with it and shoot it.
Especially on new rifles.... they seem to improve and get more forgiving.
Does the rifle improve or the shooter? I think it's a little of both.
A old rifle may need to be..... woke up.

Do you have the Original TC cleaning jag?
The TC jag has a smaller tip for the patent breech.
A patent breech is a smaller than the bore chamber at the breech.... that special jag cleans that sub chamber as well as the bore.

A dirty or oil fouled patent breech can cause a lot of problems.
 
54ball said:
Each one can be quirky and cantankerous. You have to fool with it and shoot it.
Dare I say, I equate flintlocks to be like a new woman in your life ... ya’ gotta figure out what she likes :rotf: !

And probably even MORE important ... what she doesn’t like!
 
I use same powder for main charge and pan. FFg seems to work as good as FFFFg if the lock is set up properly. If lock is not set up properly then FFFFg probably gives you a little better chance of not having a misfire. Using the same powder for both is just a lot easier. Military figured it worked fine for a couple hundred years.
 
Just still can't figure out why everyone thinks they need 4F... :idunno:

Just another trinket to hang off a bag or belt that gets lost. Not to mention in the 18th century you'd be lucky to have rock salt powder in the pan! Over the top there but you get the idea. Not starting the debate again that's been covered a zillion times, yes we all know 4F ignites faster... Not fast enough to warrant another powder to keep track of. A good flintlock rifle set up with a good lock will spark 2F just as fast as the others.

Play with the amount your using in the pan, not to much, not to little and don't choke the vent by piling it up. Most mass production rifles are finicky, especially the mass produced flintlocks. You'll find what it likes! :thumbsup:
 
Just still can't figure out why everyone thinks they need 4F...

Agreed, but I think it's a throwback to some of the smaller locks, and the not so good, factory locks that first hit the scene in the '60's and '70's. So a person wanted the granulation that was, or was thought to be, the easiest to touch off.

I've always found 3Fg great for both, and the simplicity of a single horn quite good as well. 4Fg always seemed to soak up moisture when I had it as prime in the field, and so didn't help ignition. 5Fg, from the now defunct Elephant powder company, was only good for making fire crackers.

LD
 
Just still can't figure out why everyone thinks they need 4F

Logic does not always figure into the equation in this game. We are all individualists and like to do our own thang.
When I first started this ml madness my mentors told me to use 4Fg because "your supposed to". That was good enuf for me and that is how I started. The horns I most use are a very fine carved set I enjoy wearing and displaying. I use 4Fg for prime because I always have for nearly a half century. It works for me, I don't mind the extra horn or separate primer at the range. Plus, I have a couple pounds of 4Fg on hand. I have it and need to use it. So, those are my reasons. Logical? Probably not, but it's my own thang. :v
 
I've been using 4-F since I started flintlock hunting in 1980. FF for the charge and FFFF in the pan. It always worked. I have a powder pan primer that flows FFFF very well.

As as you know from flintlock hunting, on those "damp" days your constantly checking the pan powder and changing it out....at least I do. FFFF is easy to give a short "stab" in the pan and ready to go again.

My 50 caliber GM barrel likes FF under a Pa 240gr conical.

FWIW
 
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