I've received a lot of helpful advice here so I have come back for more. In preparation for an upcoming antelope hunt where I want to use this flintlock, I spent quite a bit of time at the range today. I learned several things. My first shot on a clean barrel stays within the group of subsequent shots. I can shoot 4 shots without any difference in loading resistance. The 5th shot gets tough to push down. I shot standing, kneeling and prone and accuracy is excellent with 100-yard 5-shot groups of 5" or less in these positions. The load is 80gr Goex FFFg, .530 ball, .018 pillow tick cut at muzzle with 7:1 ballistol/water, FFFg pan prime. But in spite of these successes there were some failures.
I tried different vent picks and pipe cleaners. I tried a shot on a clean barrel and I tried a "fouling shot" without a ball. I tried wiping the frizzen, pan and flint with an alcohol pad and with just a dry patch. It got to where I could tell when the rifle was going to go off instantly or if there was going to be a delay or flash in the pan.
The only routine that worked consistently was: First shoot a fouling load (for first shot) and then wipe pan, frizzen and flint with a dry patch. Load with pipe cleaner in touch-hole. Push ball until it stopped and then tap the rod twice with palm of hand using medium force. Slowly withdraw the pipe cleaner and if a kernel or two of powder came with it that was a good sign. Nearly fill pan with FFFFg using 3-presses of the tip of pan flask. If I repeated this exactly minus the original fouling shot I would get instant ignition for a string of 6-shots. BTW after each 6-shot volley I cleaned the whole rifle like I always do and let it sit for nearly half-hour.
If I did anything different I got at least one flash in pan out of the 6-shot string. One tap on rod when loading; alcohol wipe on pan, frizzen and flint; no pipe-cleaner inserted when loading; using a vent pick; half-pan of powder....and so on.
I may have figured out the particular quirks of this rifle and have to stick to this routine. I am going to the range again tomorrow and I am going to only do this routine and maybe shoot more 6-shot volleys with just this routine. If it continues to produce reliable instant ignition I guess I'll stick to it.
Wish list: no fouling shot, less powder in pan, not rely on pipe cleaner.
Does anyone want to throw out there something different I might try? Do other people have a quirky routine to satisfy the rifle? Thanks!
I tried different vent picks and pipe cleaners. I tried a shot on a clean barrel and I tried a "fouling shot" without a ball. I tried wiping the frizzen, pan and flint with an alcohol pad and with just a dry patch. It got to where I could tell when the rifle was going to go off instantly or if there was going to be a delay or flash in the pan.
The only routine that worked consistently was: First shoot a fouling load (for first shot) and then wipe pan, frizzen and flint with a dry patch. Load with pipe cleaner in touch-hole. Push ball until it stopped and then tap the rod twice with palm of hand using medium force. Slowly withdraw the pipe cleaner and if a kernel or two of powder came with it that was a good sign. Nearly fill pan with FFFFg using 3-presses of the tip of pan flask. If I repeated this exactly minus the original fouling shot I would get instant ignition for a string of 6-shots. BTW after each 6-shot volley I cleaned the whole rifle like I always do and let it sit for nearly half-hour.
If I did anything different I got at least one flash in pan out of the 6-shot string. One tap on rod when loading; alcohol wipe on pan, frizzen and flint; no pipe-cleaner inserted when loading; using a vent pick; half-pan of powder....and so on.
I may have figured out the particular quirks of this rifle and have to stick to this routine. I am going to the range again tomorrow and I am going to only do this routine and maybe shoot more 6-shot volleys with just this routine. If it continues to produce reliable instant ignition I guess I'll stick to it.
Wish list: no fouling shot, less powder in pan, not rely on pipe cleaner.
Does anyone want to throw out there something different I might try? Do other people have a quirky routine to satisfy the rifle? Thanks!