Anybody do it the old fashon way?

[johnf]

The first time I shot a ML was in 1984. It was a 54 cal flint lock, flashpan and all . The gun was pretty light and it's recoil pad consisted of a brass plate. I watched as a friend carefully poured in the black powder (the old school stuff) took a patch off his tounge and shoved the ball down. After I pulled the trigger and the flint came down it seemed like an eternity before the powder in the barrel finally touched off. By the time it did my eyes were burning from looking straight into the flashpan.I was aiming at a target nailed to a 4 foot square of plywood. I didn't even hit the plywood. I was pretty proud of my markesmanship at the time. We, my sister and I, used to shoot the heads off of roofing nails with my dad's sears 22 rifle, so not hitting a 4x4' piece of plywood was pretty devistating. My shoulder was killing me because I had put the buttplate in the wrong spot.

The next time I shot a ML was my T/C Scout in 2000. I use T/C saboted slugs and 777 and #11 caps. It's not the most accurate, but I can keep a good pattern at 100 yards, and it's not the most up to date ML out there. It is a far cry from that old smoke pole from years gone by.

So back to the intent of my post. Do any of you shoot the old patch and ball flintlocks for hunting, or for that matter, do any of you shoot a full size lead conical with a patch?

[ZooBear]

Re: Anybody do it the old fashon way?

I do.

You dont use a patch with conicals.

[wtnhunt]

Re: Anybody do it the old fashon way?

Sabots for me. I dont for hunting and never have used round balls. Have shot the old fashioned way just for target shooting though.

[RangerClay]

Re: Anybody do it the old fashon way?

I used a patch and ball for many many years. I would use the T/C bore butter to lube my patch. When T/C changed the formula for their bore butter about 6 years ago I stopped using it and switched to powerbelts.

I use a T/C Renegade that I got in 1985. I would not change for any in-line on the market. I may use powerbelts but I still concider myself old school. I still use caps and a powder horn.

Ranger

[Randyman]

Re: Anybody do it the old fashon way?

I have a Lyman Great Plains Rifle in .50 caliber that i only shoot round balls out of. I have yet to deer hunt with it, but that will change this season. As you found out, the relatively long lock time of a flintlock requires concentration and follow though for optimum accuracy.

[Guest Colorado Bob]

Re: Anybody do it the old fashon way?

I've taken several elk with my 54 T/C Renegrade. I use 120 grain of FF black powder & a 470 grain T/C Maxi-ball. Seems like elk medicine to me. CB

[PA_Spike_King]

Re: Anybody do it the old fashon way?

Yes I do. In PA we have a flintlock only season after Christmas and for years that was when my Dad and I would have the most fun getting into deer.

I used to use an investarms in 50cal with all the brass but in 93 I bought a Lyman Deerstalker flinter in 50cal and would not change a thing.

In both flinters thats all I use is patch and round ball because they are 1and48 twist and they don't shoot anything better that I have shot.

[Guest Hoyt]

Re: Anybody do it the old fashon way?

Yep..