Priming with 3f?

[jtmattison]

I am going to buy my first flintlock.
I have a good supply of 3f Goex but no 4f.
Can I prime with 3f?


Thanks,
Huntin

 

[Bushwhacker]

That's only powder I carry is FFF. Works great everytime. There's no evidence of priming horns being used in the early years 1700-1840 era

 

[Tlukes]

Yes you can, I use it all the time.
:m2c:

 

[bob1961]

sure can....i was at the range one day and uesd mine all up and didn't want to go....so i used it for the heck of it....didn't see any speed difference..................bob

 

[JackAubrey]

I prime my squirrel gun w/ 3f and my Brown Bess w/ 2f, works all the time if I have done my part!

 

it's the best way to do it. No extra horn, and 3F doesn't "gunk up" like 4F in high humidity situations.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I prime with FFg. If you have a large enough flint you don't need FFFFg.

 

[Twisted_1in66]

I prime with FFg. If you have a large enough flint you don't need FFFFg.

My flint is only 5/8" wide, but 3F works fine with it. :m2c: :results:

 

[jtmattison]

Thanks to everyone for the replies.
I just ordered a Lyman Deerstalker .54 flintlock, my first ever.
Found them on closeout for $224. Not a bad price to get started in flinting.
I can't wait until it get's here.

Huntin

 

[Stumpkiller]

Quote:
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I prime with FFg. If you have a large enough flint you don't need FFFFg.


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My flint is only 5/8" wide, but 3F works fine with it.

Then it's large enough. :winking:

I like a 7/8" flint. My Bess used a 1-1/8" and I guess I just got used to hiding behind them when the pan lit.

Besides, big locks make the rest of the gun appear slimmer. There must be a human parallel there. :hmm:

 

[Rat]

My Bess seems to like the 1" flint best...I have a 1-1/8", but just carry that to skin the deer with.

Since I use paper powder cartridges, I use a priming horn...it's the only horn I gots! I also use ffg for my main charges, which I'm sure would prime ok, but just seems to be getting kind of big to me to use for priming...and again, I just like to carry that cute little prime-horn, as it's a place to hang some of my other doo-dads, such as pan bursh and nipple pick.

Rat

 

[bob1961]

Besides, big locks make the rest of the gun appear slimmer. There must be a human parallel there.:hmm:

and what would that be....some people i've seen with big heads have skinny body's....or was that big body's and skinny heads :hmm:....oh i don't know :crackup:....after my supply of 4f is gone no more 4f for priming....had some trouble in the rain with soup that wasn't even hot when i went to use it....3f from now on.............bob

 

I think I'll try ffg as a prime next time but it would seem awkward to pour it from a big horn spout into the pan. I shoot ffg in my .62 Jaeger and I would like to eliminate the extra priming horn since they apparently weren't used during my period of interest (1740-1760ish, mostly ish). How do you guys do it without spilling too much or over filling? I know, lots of practice.

 

[Bushwhacker]

pour it from a big horn spout

Dangggggggggggggg.. How big a horn ya carry? ::
My horn's only 9" long and I shoot a 62 cal. It will hold enough powder to hold off the whole Comanche Nation. :hmm: :redthumb:

 

[Flint1]

I think with most locks you can use 3F. About 20 years ago someone told me 3F would be ok in a bind, if you crushed it some--you don't need to. My Pedersoli Kentucky has a 1/2 flint--have only used 4f. I have a small Siler with a 5/8 flint, and a Robbins with a 3/4 flint--used in matches and primed with 4F from a priming horn. But Shemanese, my early Viginia from Narragannsett, has a Chambers lock, with a 7/8 flint--I tried 2F in the pan and it worked wonderfully. When she and I hit the woods, she is primed by 3F form my main horn--a priming horn would not be historically correct in a F&I portrayal, I believe. Keep yer powder dry, yer flint sharp, yer nose to the wind, and an eye on yer backtrail.

 

My flints are 7/8". My horn is about 11" but compared to my priming horn it's big.

 

[Rat]

Since I only carry the priming horn, I could tell people it's a "day horn", which I understand were used for hunting close to home. I think my priming horn is a tad bigger than some of the priming horns too, probably more the size of a "day horn".

Rat

 

[cayugad]

I will be interested in how the lock and everything fits to it. Also how well it sparks....

How is your Trade Rifle shooting by the way? I was thinking of getting one of them or a different flintlock. I just have not made up my mind.

 

[ButlerFord]

I prime with FFg. If you have a large enough flint you don't need FFFFg.

It's not the size of you're filnt :nono:
It's how you stroke the frizzen :redthumb:


B.Ford

 

[jtmattison]

Cayugad,
The Trade Rifle is shooting great. I tried some .535 RB's and ticking patch and the groups are really tight with 90 grains Goex 2f.
I will report on the Deerstalker when I get it.

It's not the size of you're filnt
It's how you stroke the frizzen

:crackup: Well put!

Huntin