Look what i got!!

[nwpahunter415]

No dumb questions……..

You are right I just didn't wanna seat the ball and have it pull up at all and watch all my hardwork blow up in my face

 

[nwpahunter415]

No dumb questions……..

Pillow ticking prelubed. I just opened them for the first time and the smell like peppermint! That's kinda interesting and I might not have to trim after all

 

[deermanok]

Pillow ticking prelubed. I just opened them for the first time and the smell like peppermint! That's kinda interesting and I might not have to trim after all

Nope, no need to trim those.

 

[Brokennock]

This is the factory one without the jag

Looks perfect for seating a roundball.

 

[nwpahunter415]

Flint installed in my opinion as good as it gets for a first timer! Ready for the morning firing range!

 

[Brokennock]

Flint installed in my opinion as good as it gets for a first timer! Ready for the morning firing range!

Your finger is in the way. Can't really see how it is mounted in the jaws.
Leather wrap? Seated back against the screw?

They are fine for now, just to get you started. My worthless advice on patches though, is to shoot up those prelubed things and don't buy them again. There is no way to know how long ago they were lubed and packaged. They have been known to break down over time, cutting/tearing more easily. (They have been known to work for some)
Buy some precut patches or patch material the same thickness (if that thickness works out well) and then peruse the pages and pages here of arguing over lubes.

You will notice that on many subjects here, there are folks who swear by things that the majority of people swear at. Prelubed patches, different lubes, how tight a ball/patches combo needs to be,,,,, there are others. One way I landed on to decipher who's advice to go by when thos disparity arises is to pay attention to who posts actual results when they say, "such and such, or this or that, (fill in the blank) always shot (or shoots) great for me."
What is their standard for "shoots great" or "shoots reliably?"


Sorry, I probably should have split that into two replies

 

[deerstalkert]

as per your video you have passed from newbe to expert in flint orientation. don't get much better than that!
Now pour some black stuff down the barrel, followed by a piece of ragged underwear wrapped about a lead ball and make smoke!

 

[nwpahunter415]

Your finger is in the way. Can't really see how it is mounted in the jaws.
Leather wrap? Seated back against the screw?

They are fine for now, just to get you started. My worthless advice on patches though, is to shoot up those prelubed things and don't buy them again. There is no way to know how long ago they were lubed and packaged. They have been known to break down over time, cutting/tearing more easily. (They have been known to work for some)
Buy some precut patches or patch material the same thickness (if that thickness works out well) and then peruse the pages and pages here of arguing over lubes.

You will notice that on many subjects here, there are folks who swear by things that the majority of people swear at. Prelubed patches, different lubes, how tight a ball/patches combo needs to be,,,,, there are others. One way I landed on to decipher who's advice to go by when thos disparity arises is to pay attention to who posts actual results when they say, "such and such, or this or that, (fill in the blank) always shot (or shoots) great for me."
What is their standard for "shoots great" or "shoots reliably?"


Sorry, I probably should have split that into two replies

Yeah I just got them because they were easily available I'm gonna build a traditional arsenal even if I have to suck the binky and buy a couple newer items to hold me over. I want to use boar fat for my lube in the near future and try to get 100 percent traditional or hand made stuff! Appreciate the advice and long reply don't have no buddies interested in shooting guns. It's all did ya see this (whips out a phone). Nobody has time to give advice the way this forum helps a new BP shooter. Thank you all!

 

[SDSmlf]

Flint installed in my opinion as good as it gets for a first timer! Ready for the morning firing range!

Looks good.

One recommendation once you start with live firing, keep track of what works and doesn’t work, making changes to one thing at a time. Pay attention to things like how you clean and lube things and what and how you load. Consistency will be your friend. You will quickly learn what to do and not do, plus it will be easier to ask questions if need be.

 

[Brokennock]

as pre your video you have passed from newbe to expert in flint orientation. don't get much better than that!
Now pour some black stuff down the barrel, followed by a piece of ragged underwear wrapped about a lead ball and make smoke!

Thank you....
I didn't notice that it was a video when I wrote my reply....

 

[necchi]

Surprisingly nice sparking you got going on there, Good luck.
Like others have said, forget the 4f, and the 2f for that matter, you'll be fine with what you have.

don't have no buddies interested in shooting guns. It's all did ya see this (whips out a phone). Nobody has time to give advice the way this forum helps a new BP shooter. Thank you all!

Don't be dis-swayed, there is a learning curve.
There's a lot of us here that learned on our own, long before there was internet.
You've found a good place to share,

 

[longcruise]

a powder horn out of hickory!

Well that's an interesting project. I'd like to see how it goes.

Regarding the "loading jag". As said, you don't need it to load but you will want it for wiping between shots and cleaning at the end of your shooting session.

 

[BillKilgore]

Cool. Now it's time to make some smoke. Let us know how she shoots.

 

[bothenook]

If you have a ball handled starter, drill a 3/8 in hole about 3/4 to an inch deep. That way when you use the wood rod once you have the ball started place the rod end in the hole and drive away
At least until you have a range rod. It will save your hand. Did that for years until finally getting a range rod.

 

[Thomas.bill92]

I'm hoping its good enough to just play with until I have enough money.

It will work just fine! If it's not shooting well for you, adjust your powder charge or patch thickness until you are getting a good group! It's a labor of love. A word of warning though, if those are prelubed patches, they can really turn into a headache as they never seem to be lubed enough. For regular ol' range shooting, I prefer to lube my patches with olive oil to the point that they are almost dripping, makes for greasy but easy loading Shooting session! Ask lots of questions along the way, there are a ton of really smart people on here (some really grumpy ones too but just ignore those fools).

 

[Mike in FL]

I like it! But get some 4F when you can. We hear it all the time, "3F works just fine." Just fine is not a very technical phrase. A faster lock time means more accurate shots, but for many, " just fine" accuracy is good enough. Like a "pretty sharp" flint or not swabbing between shots, or not wiping pan and frizzen or waiting a day to clean their gun. 3F and 4F is NOT the same and is NOT the best for priming. If one can afford the extra expense and willing to make a little more effort in loading, why not use what is best? I dare say a shooter with a plunger type priming flask can prime as quickly as those who prime from the same vessel that carries their main charge, plus getting a more consistent amount of priming in the pan. My main point is that just because you cannot physically detect a difference in lock time does not mean it is not there. And just because your 50 yard 50 caliber target hole is a little ways from your previous shot does not necessarily mean lock time was slower, it might indeed be the reason. Good enough is not good enough for me, but that's just me and no one need agree or follow my example. Just some advice that was not even requested. NO OFFENSE INTENDED.

 

[nwpahunter415]

Well first shot was sort of a success. I didn't think those pillow ticking were too thick but they were very much so too thick shot with cotton patch a little lubed. Ignition is fast as hell with 3f so aslong as I take great care of touchhole and bore it will be perfect. This gun will be a deer dropper after all the kinks. This shot was 70 grains of Schuetzen fff. With .490 round ball. After today definitely switching to thinner patches. Gun shoots great just so everyone knows cheaper is just as fun! Videos below!

 

[nwpahunter415]

It will work just fine! If it's not shooting well for you, adjust your powder charge or patch thickness until you are getting a good group! It's a labor of love. A word of warning though, if those are prelubed patches, they can really turn into a headache as they never seem to be lubed enough. For regular ol' range shooting, I prefer to lube my patches with olive oil to the point that they are almost dripping, makes for greasy but easy loading Shooting session! Ask lots of questions along the way, there are a ton of really smart people on here (some really grumpy ones too but just ignore those fools).

They did turn into a headache I hate them and want new thinner ones and I'm making my own lube this store bought stuff sucks. Lol the fun of working the kinks out.

 

[Brokennock]

They did turn into a headache I hate them and want new thinner ones and I'm making my own lube this store bought stuff sucks. Lol the fun of working the kinks out.

I am glad you got to shoot your new gun, and things worked out pretty well.
Don't rule out trying a smaller ball and the thick patch. The thicker patch will fill the grooves well, and with the smaller ball might give you some leeway for when things get dirty.
I'll agree with the above that "just fine," as in, "3f works just fine" isn't very quantitative. And I usually prefer things be more objective. But I'd seriously doubt the vast majority could really tell thr difference in a blind test. Also, 3f is more moisture resistant for when you are hunting. So if you are getting good performance, I'd stick with it and spend that money on more powder that you can use for both main charge and priming.

 

[nwpahunter415]

I am glad you got to shoot your new gun, and things worked out pretty well.
Don't rule out trying a smaller ball and the thick patch. The thicker patch will fill the grooves well, and with the smaller ball might give you some leeway for when things get dirty.
I'll agree with the above that "just fine," as in, "3f works just fine" isn't very quantitative. And I usually prefer things be more objective. But I'd seriously doubt the vast majority could really tell thr difference in a blind test. Also, 3f is more moisture resistant for when you are hunting. So if you are getting good performance, I'd stick with it and spend that money on more powder that you can use for both main charge and priming.

Honestly they might work I'm just scared it's too tight couldn't get it started real easy so I just swapped patches and I shot once until I figure out what I'm gonna do about ball and patches. I got .490 ball I just think that pillow ticking is most likely gauged at .18ish so I either back my ball down to .485 or I bump my patch down to .12ish. I would like to use the balls I got first because patching being cheaper then lead but I'm open to opinions and options. The real question is how tight is too tight.