Longrifles have spoiled me

[OldMtnMan]

Taylor and I will both be "lighting" some caps this afternoon when we shoot the postal match.

When THINGS get serious, it's cap-lock time.

Do you hunt with a flintlock? That's much more serious than a postal shoot.

[Pete G.]

I have tried to get all 4 of my flinters to fire without prime - none of them would in some 5 attempts each. Note, I made sure there was NO powder in the pan.  An overly large vent hole will self-prime if the frizzen is closed when the ball is shoved down the bore.  Some of the main charge may stick to previous fouling in the pan and thus self-prime somewhat, even when loading with the frizzen in the open position.
I'm not saying the gun cannot fire without priming, just that I could not make it happen with any of my rifles in the test I performed which amounted to about 20 tries. All of my guns had 1/16" vents and I wiped the pan clear to ensure NO powder granuals were present.

It seems obvious to me that you just don't have enough flintlocks.

[hanshi]

It seems obvious to me that you just don't have enough flintlocks.

Pete, no one has enough flintlocks, including me. 

[Daryl]

Taylor and I will both be "lighting" some caps this afternoon when we shoot the postal match.

When THINGS get serious, it's cap-lock time.

Do you hunt with a flintlock? That's much more serious than a postal shoot.

It's been a number of years since I hunted with a smokepole. When I did, it was for moose with the cap-lock 14 bore rifle.  I have hunted and shot bunnies with flint guns- a Bess with shot and with a 1/2 stock flint .44 smoothbore with single round ball.

[OldMtnMan]

Oh ok. I was a die hard caplock user, but I have flintlocks in my blood now. Good or bad I use one for everything.