Flintlock... hunting

Rodd Boyer said:

I do.... both large and small game

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Very nice .... I think I will be trying my hand here very soon

Loja man said:

FYI that was a very nice buck!

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Thank you

I've hunted my deer mostly with flintlocks. In fact I hunted exclusively with flintlocks for many years up until I retired from hunting. Also including small game.

New bp shooter said:

I just had a quick question how many guys on here are actually deer hunting with a flintlock... I'm considering ordering a kit to try it but as much as I pulled to the right on hang fires I just don't know

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Flintlock? That must be a passing fad. Matchlock is the way to go.

This will be my first year with a flintlock. Get on the range and shoot from a "hunting" position and find out your max range you feel comfortable shooting at. For me it's about 60 yards in good light.

I'm using a flintlock for the first time this season. I bought a used T/C Renegade to see if I enjoy it, and if not, I figured I could easily recover the money and just stick to percussion. So far, I am really enjoying myself. I practiced with it over the summer and to me, I see no real difference in ignition time. Have not got a shot at a deer yet, and I pay more attention to the priming powder in the pan than I would a percussion cap, but I regret not using them sooner.

After some conversations with another board member, I have a LH Fowler on order. It will be a wait, but the challenge of learning the flintlock and smoothbore round-ball shooting keeps me young.

oldwood said:

Get a reliable flint rifle , and start shooting. It ain't rocket science , it's 18th century science. Wood, lead , black powder , iron sights , leather stuff , and the ability to learn something new to you . Be brave , just do it. Join a club with a shooting range , you'll need to shoot. Practice X 3.........find a mentor

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Best advice right there.

New bp shooter said:

I just had a quick question how many guys on here are actually deer hunting with a flintlock... I'm considering ordering a kit to try it but as much as I pulled to the right on hang fires I just don't know

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I am no expert by any means

I have been exclusively deer hunting with flintlock for 20 years now. All of the deer that I have ever taken alone, have been with the flintlock. What that means is I had in the past tracked another person's wounded deer, and secured it with something modern, but all the deer that I've taken by myself have been with a flintlock .530 patched round ball. Come to think of it all the small game and birds have been with flintlocks and caplocks, too.

here are a few photos of some of the most recent:





LD

A quality lock makes a flinter almost as fast as a percussion. Practice does the rest. I do a lot of shooting off the bench, and the key is staying relaxed and good follow through...something missing with many shooters of any style. As with most shooting, frequent sessions of shorter duration focusing on what you are doing goes a lot longer than long sessions, which can reinforce bad habits.

Me too…









Squirrels too… with my 16 gauge smoothbore

Love the buck in the front end loader.

Thanks

Daveboone said:

As with most shooting, frequent sessions of shorter duration focusing on what you are doing goes a lot longer than long sessions, which can reinforce bad habits.

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In archery we always said "Better to take one good practice shot than 10 bad ones!"

No matter the weapon, I always personally end the session on a good shot.

a lot of game fell to ROCK LOCKS!!!

My fusil and I have been out looking for a buck this morning. Nothing but wind and snow so far. I do hunt with non flintlock weapons, but it always feels like I'm cheating on the flinters.

Just a side note...
Before the deer season started, I decided I wanted to primarily use my MLers. Happily, I took a nice four pointer with my Lyman GPR (percussion). With meat in the freezer, I havent been out as much as normal, waiting for better weather. Last week end was nice and chilly, with torrential rain friday night. Sat. A. M. was still very wet/misting, so I took an "unmentionable" to stand with me. Would have taken the GPR again, but I didnt bring it. I had several opportunities at nice ranges at a couple does and a spike, but passed. Felt like I was cheating. That evening it was drier, so I took the flinter (Pedersoli GPR). Wouldntcha know..same does and buck wandered through again. Easy ranges and opportunities, but I just didnt feel like ruining their day. I ended the day happy though.

No hang fires here. I hunt from a blind and don't have to prime until the game walks out. I use a round toothpick to plug the vent. If I don't shoot, I clean the pan and put the toothpick back in the hole. Shot this one today. Opening day of muzzleloader season in Alabama. We get 5 days prior to the opening of gun season. .60cal. Early Dutch profile Rice barrel with a Kibler lock that I hot-rodded using a Chambers mainspring. Built by Ed Wenger.

Heck yeah

This is best advice I’ve read. Smaller pan charge, good set trigger, and a little practice and that flinch goes away.