When Do You Use Your Vent Pick?

Hello Gang
This may sound like a silly question But I'm going to ask it anyway. I've been shooting flintlocks since the mid '70's. I have not really utilized my vent pick unless I happen to have a flash in the pan while shooting at the range.
I saw a video in which the shooter used his vent pick after loading his charge but before he primed his pan. This got me wondering about whether there was any advantage to this procedure. Other than making sure the vent is clear, would this procedure help in the speed of ignition?
Just thought that I would throw this out to the forum for some insight.
Thanks.

I insert a pick prior to loading every shot.

I am like you and only insert the pick when I only get a flash in the pan. At this time I also clean the pan really good.

I've always been a "blow down the barrel" guy. If I can tell there is any obstruction at all, is when I use the pick.

I seldom use a pick. On the rare occasion that a problem happens then it is useful.

I like the "blow down the barrel" method but find that range safety officers don't. After being told that they will kick me out I have reluctantly complied unless shooting alone.

Polecat_Tom said:

I like the "blow down the barrel" method but find that range safety officers don't. After being told that they will kick me out I have reluctantly complied unless shooting alone.

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I blow down the barrel unless one particular guy is running the match, then I use a rubber hose I keep in my range box, only use the pick when needed.

Polecat_Tom said:

I like the "blow down the barrel" method but find that range safety officers don't. After being told that they will kick me out I have reluctantly complied unless shooting alone.

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That is why I didn't fire a shot at Pacific's last year, and will never go back. To me, blowing down the barrel is a safety measure.

Almost every reload ... Its an automatic reflex when reloading , after load is rammed home , costs me nothing and is so fast ...why not ...

Every single shot I take

When needed while shooting and whenever food gets caught between my teeth.

fjrdoc said:

Hello Gang
This may sound like a silly question But I'm going to ask it anyway. I've been shooting flintlocks since the mid '70's. I have not really utilized my vent pick unless I happen to have a flash in the pan while shooting at the range.
I saw a video in which the shooter used his vent pick after loading his charge but before he primed his pan. This got me wondering about whether there was any advantage to this procedure. Other than making sure the vent is clear, would this procedure help in the speed of ignition?
Just thought that I would throw this out to the forum for some insight.
Thanks.

Click to expand...

Quite obviously this is not a silly question. The difficulty is that there is more than one answer to the question. Since you have been shooting flintlocks for quite some time and you know how fast your charge is being ignited by the flash in the pan, you are wanting to make sure that you are getting the best ignition of that main charge you can get. There is the theory that by running the vent pick clears the path for the heat from the pan to the main charge. I do believe that this is a good practice, but in practice the pressure from the main charge pushing the ball out the barrel will clear the touch hole. If you have an internally coned touch hole liner such as a White Lightning, then picking the touch hole may not be needed every shot. If you are using a clean burning powder, then clearing the touch hole every shot may not be needed. Nonetheless, using the vent pick to clear the touch hole is not a bad idea. In some flintlocks, it may improve the speed of ignition. I can only suggest that you try picking the vent after loading. After all, that is one way to verify you loaded the powder first.

fjrdoc said:

Hello Gang
This may sound like a silly question But I'm going to ask it anyway. I've been shooting flintlocks since the mid '70's. I have not really utilized my vent pick unless I happen to have a flash in the pan while shooting at the range.
I saw a video in which the shooter used his vent pick after loading his charge but before he primed his pan. This got me wondering about whether there was any advantage to this procedure. Other than making sure the vent is clear, would this procedure help in the speed of ignition?
Just thought that I would throw this out to the forum for some insight.
Thanks.

Click to expand...

Try it out for yourself and see if you get better results.
Each gun has its own preferences.
I personally run a pick in there every 8 to 10 shots. My vent pick is a large paperclip with the long leg straightened out, with a slight bend in the end about 1/4” long. The bend allows me to scrape some of the crusty fouling that forms on the face of the breech plug.
This works best on non-recessed breeches (which I hate for several reasons).

Load as normal: powder, patch, ball. Prick charge (my vent pick hangs off my trigger guard, so it's always there.) Then prime and shoot. That way you don't HAVE flashes in the pan! "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

ADK Bigfoot

smoothshooter said:

Try it out for yourself and see if you get better results.
Each gun has its own preferences.
I personally run a pick in there every 8 to 10 shots. My vent pick is a large paperclip with the long leg straightened out, with a slight bend in the end about 1/4” long. The bend allows me to scrape some of the crusty fouling that forms on the face of the breech plug.
This works best on non-recessed breeches (which I hate for several reasons).

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Large paper clip is a great pick and same here ...I sure do dislike .recessed Breeches !

Every shot.

Pick before every shot.

I pick the vent just before each shot. I feel like I get faster ignition. Bill

fjrdoc said:

Hello Gang
This may sound like a silly question But I'm going to ask it anyway. I've been shooting flintlocks since the mid '70's. I have not really utilized my vent pick unless I happen to have a flash in the pan while shooting at the range.
I saw a video in which the shooter used his vent pick after loading his charge but before he primed his pan. This got me wondering about whether there was any advantage to this procedure. Other than making sure the vent is clear, would this procedure help in the speed of ignition?
Just thought that I would throw this out to the forum for some insight.
Thanks.

Click to expand...

Mostly when I eat popcorn

Having missed a dear due to a clogged touchhole and a fizzle in the pan, I now use a vent pick before priming on every shot - even at the range. During a hunt, I re-prime use a vent pick about every 1/2 hour or so - just in case.