Quality Time at the Range

[Scrub_buck]

Had a little time today to get to know my Kentucky Flint. Not a lot of time, probably shot 12-15 shots at 50 yards. Mainly just getting the loading procedure dialed in, and trying to shoot some groups and working on not letting the pan flash get to me. Every shot wasn't perfect, but most were OK, and a few groups were pretty good. A few fliers, but overall, I'm pleased with the rifle and how it shoots. Now, I just need to spend a little time on the sights to move the POI up and a bit right. 70 gr Goex and .490 PRB.

 

[Carbon 6]

Those groups are actually quite good, especially if you're a newbie with a new gun and shooting a flintlock for the first time.
Keep practicing and keep that gun clean. It only gets better and more fun from there.

P.s. I'd wait for a bit yet before adjusting the sights. Give it a 100 rounds or so. You still have some dialing in to do.

 

[Sidney Smith]

Before you adjust elevation, try using 80 grains and see if it makes the impact point go up. A lot of times an addition of a few grains of powder will do the trick. If not, then time to get out the file.

 

[Sidney Smith]

Before you adjust elevation, try using 80 grains and see if it makes the impact point go up. If not then time to get out the file.

 

[Shot deer]

Those groups are actually quite good, especially if you're a newbie with a new gun and shooting a flintlock for the first time.

Like Carbon 6 said, those groups are quite good.
Keep practicing!

 

[Rat]

When I shoot either of my flintlocks, I never actually see the pan flash. ?? For sure, I'd go for best groups, then adjust sights.

 

[smo]

What pan flash?

Good groups , keep at it.

 

[Scrub_buck]

Thanks for the advice guys. Lots of knowledge here that I need to soak up!

 

[Livbucks]

I never really paid much attention to the flash, or noticed it.

 

[Rifleman1776]

You are doing well. Like others said, wait and shoot more before you mess with the sights. You didn't say what kind of rifle/barrel you have. 80 grains might be OK but I suspect it will be a little much. If your shots string vertically, you are using too much bp.

 

[Scrub_buck]

You are doing well. Like others said, wait and shoot more before you mess with the sights. You didn't say what kind of rifle/barrel you have. 80 grains might be OK but I suspect it will be a little much. If your shots string vertically, you are using too much bp.

Pedersoli Kentucky.

 

[Brokennock]

Were those groups shot from a bench or standing/freestyle? Hold off on filing the front sight till you get the groups you want from the bench, and then, if, you are getting the same point of impact, adjust the sights. Assuming you're a right handed shooter, I'm wondering if you are letting the muzzle dip down and left at the shot, either due to fatigue or trying to spot the shot too soon. Follow through.

 

[Scrub_buck]

I was shooting from the bench.

 

[Rodd Boyer]

It won't take long to get used to the pan flash... a few more sessions and you'll wonder what happened to it!

 

[Sidney Smith]

Agree, just concentrate on your aim, and keep your gaze focused straight ahead while firing. After a while you will ignore your peripheral vision and will not even notice the flash or flinch from the sllight delay in ignition.

 

[Zonie]

I might add, it's a lot easier to ignore the pan flash if you wear a hat.

More than a few times that I didn't I found a few burning bits of the pan prime flash could find their way to my bare forehead.

It's hard to concentrate on keeping the sights aligned with the bulls eye when it feels like your forehead is on fire.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Pedersoli Kentucky.

OK, I can't help. I don't know the rifling type, depth, rate of twist, etc. Keep shooting and testing loads, lubes, patch material, ball size, strange mantras, etc. ;-) Good luck.

 

[Brokennock]

I was shooting from the bench.

Okay, try some shots with 75 grains of powder and 80 grains of powder. Do groups tighten? Does point of impact change? Those are good groups, but I think off the bench they could be tighter, and I'd still work on a tighter group, demonstrating more consistent pressures,velocities, and such, before adjusting for point of impact. Try a tighter patch, or more/less lube (I've found that using a patch or wad with too much or too slippery a lube can cause changes in point of impact and groups to open up). But, only change one thing at a time.
If your a hunter and you current patch/ball combo feels snug but loads without need of a short starter or pounding the ball all the way down the bore, try another gas seal, such as a felt wad or fiber card, between the powder and patched ball. In my .45 cal. Pedersoli I was able to get the gun shooting an easy to load patch/ball combo that shoots as well or better than a tighter one that was a pain to load, by using thin cards/wads that look to be made of some kind of fiber like gasket material between powder and patched ball.

 

[Livbucks]

I would start out at about 60 grains. Go up from there and see where your best groups reside.

 

[hanshi]

Never did have a problem with the pan flash; but then, I always concentrated on the front sight and didn't notice it. I think that's the way to not see the flash.