Flints stored in water

[TN Longhunter]

". Oh and let’s not forget hammering the patch, and ball, down bore like a cobbler on speed, because if you don’t, it won’t shoot straight at all. It’s a wonder the sport survived."

  Hungry Horse

legitimate question, but...who cares?
Thanks , Horse

Who remembers the device that fit over the end of your ramrod that measured the amount of pressure you had on the ball?

[David R. Pennington]

Should the percussion guys keep their caps in water?

[Pukka Bundook]

On'y if they like a wet head, David.

[TMerkley]

I DARE you to put those water soaked flints in the fire to "heat treat" them..... I am walking away as fast as I can before all $#*! breaks loose in the fire pit!
Played a trick like that on some HS class mates once.... Sounded like gunfire and looked like a bunch of drunken teenagers dancing around the fire as they were getting hit with shrapnel...
I was a stinker.....

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

To heat treat flint, you bury the stone in about 6" of dry sand, and gently build a big fire over the pile.  Sustain the fire for eight hours and let it die on its own.  Next day unearth the flint and it will have changed it's texture from dull grey/black to glossy/glassy black.  And your gun flints will no longer work in your rifle...they will not be tough enough, but they will flake nicely.

[Daryl]

Can they be returned to being a usable rifle flint after that, Taylor?

[Bob Roller]

Can they be returned to being a usable rifle flint after that, Taylor?

Leave the flints and caps alone.Store the powder horn or flask under water.

Bob Roller

[Bob Roller]

I've heard that if you brush your teeth before shooting with "spit patches", your groups will be better........or is it you friends will like you better.....I can't remember.

Brush your teeth with Sani Flush,it cleans your teeth without a brush.

Bob Roller

[Stickburner]

Who remembers the device that fit over the end of your ramrod that measured the amount of pressure you had on the ball?
[/quote]

That was the Accupacker.  It was designed to ensure the same amount of pressure was applied to the powder each time you loaded the gun by increasing the amount of pressure on the loading rod until the device clicked, similar to the feel of using a spring loaded center punch.

I got one off a prize blanket when I was a nubie.

Richard

[smylee grouch]

Was that acupacker the same as the kadotie (sp)

[trentOH]

OK, here's the straight truth:   Soak your gunflints in Blue vervain and rue for incredible accuracy!

http://online.snh.cc/files/2100/HTML/drcn_issue_10___blue_vervain.htm

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Daryl:  no, once heat treated the flint will no longer be any good for your rifle.  Heat treating flint is for spauls of flint, whose properties change during heat treating yielding stone that flakes more easily and leaves a glassy scar...projectile points.  The edge created on flaking heat treated flint is thinner and sharper than prior to heat treating, and the resulting point is more beautiful, as well.  Many kinds of flint change colours into some amazing hues.

[Daryl]

TKS Taylor. I sort of figured that, but thought others might want that information as well.

[Bob Roller]

". Oh and let’s not forget hammering the patch, and ball, down bore like a cobbler on speed, because if you don’t, it won’t shoot straight at all. It’s a wonder the sport survived."

  Hungry Horse

legitimate question, but...who cares?
Thanks , Horse

Who remembers the device that fit over the end of your ramrod that measured the amount of pressure you had on the ball?

I remember this device.It was used for bullet guns like an Alex Henry or Rigby.
On this type of rifle,according to some,the weight of the loading rod should seat that
500+grain bullet and the use of a compression spring loading rod would help to
assure the powder compression was a bit more uniform than the "Two Taps"method.
This rod probably was useless with a patched round ball but with a specialty long rande
rifle it has a place.

Bob Roller

[Loyalist Dave]

I've done it; I still do it. 

OK so long ago I heard that the edge stays longer..., so stuck them in a mason jar full of water and put it in the fridge.  Measured the water level before and a day later checked.., it had slightly dropped.    

Now I can't tell if the flints last longer, and why would they?  Why wouldn't the water evaporate from the flint after a few days in my lock's jaws?   

So why do I still do it?  Makes for a very safe place to store the flints..., they don't get lost, and they don't get knocked off the shelf and the jar broken, nor do they fall and get scattered on the floor.   

LD