Percussion V Flintlock?

Hi,

I have a percussion ML .45 pistol and can shoot that perfectly fine. I am going to be looking to buy a muzzle loading rifle very soon and was thinking flintlock.

I have been advise flintlocks are frustrating and I'll soon get fead up with it as they are not reliable and I should get used to percussion first.

I believe I am used to my percussion pistol and have never had a misfire or dry ball with it. I'm also told that knapping the flint is VERY hard and I'll struggle to do it as is hardening the frizzen if needed.

If ffffg is used sparingly in the pan, the frizzed is kept hard and the flint is kept sharp, is flintlock still a faff?

I'll be shooting paper targets (under cover) as that is all you can do in the UK with these guns!

I'm sure this question has been asked, but considering these guns have been about for 300 years, I expect every question has been asked a million times.

Thanks.

P.S, I guess this is a general question as it is not exactly about percussion or flintlock, but Mods please move if needed

Maybe get both !!

If you have a quality lock, they are as reliable as a percussion lock, but generally the ignition time is slightly slower. If you can learn to follow through, then you will do fine with it. You do have to dress your flint every few shots, but that's not hard. Make sure you use a quality flint of the proper size. Make sure you wear glasses for eye protection.

A poorly made flintlock is exasperating and dispiriting. A well made flintlock is a delight.

It would be a Pedersoli FL if I were to buy one.

I cannot speak as to the Pedersoli but can say I was frustrated for years with a flint rifle. Mine was a Lyman, and I even replaced the lock with a L&R RPL. I recently bought a custom rifle second hand, with a Chambers Deluxe Siler lock and it made all the difference. There is something about shooting a flint that is satisfying, however it takes getting used to. I still struggle at times though. I would like to stress that the issues are not with reliability but rather just following through with the shot. My flints have always been reliable, but the better lock is much faster, if that makes any sense. Regarding flint life, my flints do not get knapped and they last me for many dozens of shots before replacement. I love my percussions and they are much simpler. So in the end it will be your personal choice. Just do not let others sway you decision by initiating unsubstantiated fear. Buy a quality flintlock if you do choose the flint route!!
Walk

OP, I think what @Homesteader stated was spot on. Based on his comment, all a person needs to do is replace "flintlock" with any firearm type, or even with any manufacturer.

Your consideration to "get both" sounds like a plan. It will provide the clear answer of what muzzleloader is best for you.

I'm thoroughly pleased with having my .50-caliber cap & ball pistol in hand. The simplicity was the strong draw for me when making my choice of a first muzzleloader.

wiksmo

I take it all the people that are putting you off don't actually shoot flint?

Brother, I have just spent the whole morning from predawn hunting with my flintlock here in the backwards land of the UK. So you know how damp a night it was and it was still raining pre dawn today!
The same chip of flint I smashed off a rock is in the cock that has been in for months now and it fired just as quick as ever when I asked it too.
The same gun has not been cleaned for weeks, just swabbed the damp foul out, wiped the lock of heavy foul, dried the gun by the fire then run a greased patch down the bore and greased the outside.

I use and love caplocks too but have always found a problem in the field with a capper more of a fiddle!
Dressing a flint in the jaws of the cock is easy. Just scrape it with a brass rod. A decent lock will do it for you.
Loads of videos on YouTube about rehardening a frizzen but really really don't fret over it.
Prove them all wrong and get a flintlock.

Only the fact that ANY shooting flintlock or percussion here in yUK - antique or replica - an entry on your firearms certificate stops me from doing just that.

Although you live in Wales, the limitations on where you shoot must be a local thing - in our club the only thing that forces one to shoot 'under cover' is that all our firing points ARE roofed. When necessary, such as patterning a double rifle or participating in the single-shot rifle buffalo shoot, we can shoot out in the open from 75m down to 25m.

As you can read from Brother Britsmoothy's comments above, HE goes rabbiting with his F/Ls since he obviously has land on which he can do that. He is also in all probability shooting a smoothbore, which is counted as a Section 2 [shotgun].

Take care though, what you do IF you decide to get a RIFLE, and remember that the 'good reason' that you have to acquire and possess it is for target shooting. The chances of getting any kind of rifled muzzleloader, even for pest control, are as near zero as it is possible to be.

Let us know how you get on, eh?

Smoothbore yes but a reliable flintlock, as reliable as a capper and nearly as fast.
All three of my flintlocks are fast and dependable.
No fiddly caps to fumble with, just my powder flask, not even 4f for the pan, in fact if I have any more 4f or fine black powder it goes down the barrel just the same all be it on a reduced from normal amount.

Master the flintlock, then shooting anything else will be a breeze.

Sunbeam said:

It would be a Pedersoli FL if I were to buy one.

Click to expand...

Almost all factory new flintlocks, and the Pedersoli flintlocks are quality firearms, will require some tuning and polishing of the parts that touch each other. The manufacturers simply can't invest that kind of time to tune the locks and achieve the necessary price point. The good news is that it is easy to do the kind of stoning of parts that removes the new assembly burrs and rough spots. Get a spring vise to aid in the disassembly of your lock. Send the money for screwdrivers that fit your bolts. It takes a fine stone, a few strokes of the rough spots and some gun grease to resolve the roughness issues.

The people that tell you flintlocks are unreliable really haven't spent any time with a well tuned flint lock. You should not have to harden and temper a new Pedersoli lock. You may need to tune it up a little. You need good flints. The English flints are very good. You want flints with a flat top as well as a flat bottom. You want a medium weight leather wrap to hold the flint in the jaws of the hammer. You will also need a tool to dress the edge of the flint. A copper or brass rod with a small notch to rest on the edge as you tap will do just fine. Or a soft iron rod, which will draw no sparks, is just as good. I have also used a coarse diamond sharpening stone to wear down the edge, but knapping is faster.

Percussion locks the example of the improvement that technology has made for traditional muzzle loading. Flints reflect the art of traditional muzzle loading.

Thank you for all the replies
I hear what you all say.
I will get a Pedersoli percussion rife AND a Pedersoli Brown Bess FL later on
Job done and all angles covered.
I have slot for the rifle and the BB can go on my SG certificate
I believe Pedersoli are the best quality arms one can buy easily over the counter before you go big bucks hand made arms.
Thanks.

Flint locks can be challenging (any of them) I have tuned and made springs for them just to tinker and do enjoy shooting them. Nothing can be as irritating as a lock that hasn't been tuned. Like an old clock that chimes 10 minutes after the hour after it has been set.

Is there a 'Super Lock Tuner' in the UK?
Or could I send it to you guys in the US for a tune?
How would that work legally?

Sunbeam said:

Is there a 'Super Lock Tuner' in the UK?
Or could I send it to you guys in the US for a tune?
How would that work legally?

Click to expand...

Do it yourself, it's not voodoo!

Thank you, I'll look into researching lock tuning.

The Limeys must still be suffering PTSD from the battle of New Orleans, judging from such an unreasonable fear of a rifled muzzle loader. Just a thought.

Sunbeam said:

I have been advise flintlocks are frustrating and I'll soon get fead up with it as they are not reliable and I should get used to percussion first.

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They are only slightly more trouble than a caplock, and in my opinion that's only in wet weather, IF you get a good quality gun. Poor quality = frustration. I'd suggest the Pedersoli Indian Trade Musket in 20 gauge as your account shows you in Wales, UK. They are already proofed, so you're good to go, and a smoothbore so (iirc) a bit less of a hassle over on your side of the pond than a rifle might be ??? Get the flintlock and learn it....dropping money into a caplock (unless you're on a very wet all the time coastline or something) is merely a delay.

Not boasting. Here are a few game photos. All of the below were harvested in the last 7 years with flintlocks, and not all of the images are of the animals that I harvested... and I'm not nearly the game getter that Britsmoothie is.... therefore so much for the troublesomeness of flintlocks.









LD

I lov

Rat said:

The Limeys must still be suffering PTSD from the battle of New Orleans, judging from such an unreasonable fear of a rifled muzzle loader. Just a thought.

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I love the country but hate the narrow minded, short term thinking that abounds over here. The first thing everyone wonders over here is if what they are thinking is legal.
You can get any illegal drug you want. Get stabbed if you look at someone wrong but hunt with a MUZZLELOADING rifle! " You evil 9&$√&%@€"!!

I am bowing out of this conversation now as I have no idea what you lot are talking about ??

I don't know if you are making racist or demeaning comments or what ????

I'm out and not following this conversation any longer, so don't bother replying to me directly in this thread.

Thanks for the info thus far.