Flintlock question.

[Daryl Pelfrey]

I tried a search but maybe im doing it wrong. My question is ,afted you load your flintlock do you push the pick in the flash hole or just prime and shoot,,, or maybe some put atoothpick or other in tbe hole untilloading is done then remove the toothpick and prime?

[rfd]

i use a short length of .056" phosphor bronze acoustic guitar string to pick the touch hole before priming the pan - most of the time, but not always.  depends on the gun ... after a while of loading and shooting, you get to know what yer gun likes for lots of things. 

[Ky-Flinter]

Pick, then prime.

-ron

[David R. Pennington]

I generally don’t find it necessary to pick the tech hole lest I have swabbed the bore. Then I will run a clipped bird feather in to make sure tis clear afore a loadin.

[Hungry Horse]

I almost never pick my flintlocks, but then I am not afraid of a touchhole that some would consider on the large side. I want my touch hole small enough so the gun doesn’t self prime, but large enough that I don’t have to mess with a vent pick all the time.

 Hungry Horse

[Steve Patterson]

If I'm hunting or stump shooting i don't pick. If I'm shooting a bunch and it's humid, I load, wipe the pan, flint, and hammer (frizzen) with my shirt or a rag, then pick with a copper wire and prime. Works for me.

[Mike Brooks]

depends on the gun, some need picked, some don't. Some just need slapped on the side. Some don't need any prime at all.

[OldMtnMan]

Load, pick, prime, hunt. Always.

[hanshi]

I normally just load, prime and shoot.  About the only time I pick is when/if I get a FITP, which isn't often.  All my vents are 1/16".

[Daryl]

Some just need slapped on the side.

I've found that too.

[MuskratMike]

Ditto. Here in the Pacific Northwest I only pick once if the trail walk is over 15 stations.

[Brokennock]

Made this from coat hanger wire. The taper is just enough that the tip of the wire is just shy of the opposite barrel wall when the thick part meets the flash hole. I leave it in throughout the loading process,  only removing it when ready to prime. Since I started doing this, I've not flashed the pan even once, and ignition is much faster. Other folks at the range comment on the lack of delay in firing.

[Turtle]

 What a great idea of a long pick to the other side of the barrel. It would allow the flame a passage  to ignite more powder in the charge. I'm going to try it.

[Mike Brooks]

I avoid steel picks, hard on the vent hole. I use brass.

[WadePatton]

I avoid steel picks, hard on the vent hole. I use brass.

I load then pick, with quill-just a simple push into the charge, not a reaming nor a drilling to the far side.

Birds are very untidy and leave the woods full of feathers to collect.

[David R. Pennington]

I avoid steel picks, hard on the vent hole. I use brass.

I load then pick, with quill-just a simple push into the charge, not a reaming nor a drilling to the far side.

Birds are very untidy and leave the woods full of feathers to collect.

I feed birds and they leave me feathers. Just have to be careful not to pick up the ones that will land you in jail. I trim them till they are bout a quarter inch wide and clip the flimsy end off and they work like a pipe cleaner. I usually run a patch down the bore before my first shot to clean out the oil and then feather the oil out of the touch hole before loading.
I usually pick again if I run a patch in to clear fouling after several shots. Just in case the patch shoved some crud in the hole.

[Daryl Pelfrey]

Thanks everyone.

[Lobo]

The Hunters Rule

Flint be sharp to make good spark
no damp be in the pan
pick the vent so it be clear
so nothing stops the brand
plug the vent with feathered quill
when storing for the night
do your part so carefully
and your arm will do alright

[Darrin McDonal]

I use a pointed brass wire, pick & prime every shot. It's just a smart habit to do it every time. Make it a habit like wiping the frizzen.
Darrin

[JamesT]

The Hunters Rule

Flint be sharp to make good spark
no damp be in the pan
pick the vent so it be clear
so nothing stops the brand
plug the vent with feathered quill
when storing for the night
do your part so carefully
and your arm will do alright

I like this!!!

[Smokey Plainsman]

This makes me wonder what the people in the old times would of used?

I doubt copper wire or brass? Maybe that was available and used? 

[Daryl]

I tried a search but maybe im doing it wrong. My question is ,afted you load your flintlock do you push the pick in the flash hole or just prime and shoot,,, or maybe some put atoothpick or other in tbe hole untilloading is done then remove the toothpick and prime?

When on the trail, most of us just load, prime and shoot, load, prime and shoot - etc, until we get a flash in the pan, then prick & shoot, load, prime and shoot, load primer and shoot, etc.