Read something interesting the other day. As a source of 'spark', the pyrite that wheellocks use is faster to create a spark than when flint strikes steel, as the pyrite itself makes the spark. Whereas on the flintlock, the flint needs to scrape off hot steel to make the spark. But the mechanism itself - think akin to a Zippo lighter - is slower in lock time, as the wheel needs to come up to RPMs whilst the dog drops down into the spinning wheel and that only after the pan cover has been opened by the cam on the tumbler. Thus ... looooooong lock time!
This weekend it was requested that I bring my wheellock to a local rendezvous camp/woodswalk event and I wanted to get a few shots in. Not too bad for offhand @ 25-yards .... hold, hOlD, HoLd, HOLD ... all the way through the shot! Unlike a firelock were there can be the dreaded fssshhhhBOOM or KlatchBOOM prior to the shot, at least on a poorly tuned or prepped flinter, I'd say the shot sequence on a wheelie is more like that of the zzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZ-BOOM as any 'delay' is the wheel spinning before the spark is created.
My aiming point was a 6 o-clock hold on the botton of the red bull, so I'd say my elevation is OK, less the flyer on shot #3 (not called). If she keeps hitting the inch right, maybe I'll bend the barrel, LOL!
This weekend it was requested that I bring my wheellock to a local rendezvous camp/woodswalk event and I wanted to get a few shots in. Not too bad for offhand @ 25-yards .... hold, hOlD, HoLd, HOLD ... all the way through the shot! Unlike a firelock were there can be the dreaded fssshhhhBOOM or KlatchBOOM prior to the shot, at least on a poorly tuned or prepped flinter, I'd say the shot sequence on a wheelie is more like that of the zzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZ-BOOM as any 'delay' is the wheel spinning before the spark is created.
My aiming point was a 6 o-clock hold on the botton of the red bull, so I'd say my elevation is OK, less the flyer on shot #3 (not called). If she keeps hitting the inch right, maybe I'll bend the barrel, LOL!
Last edited:
