help for a newbie

tonysbud · 12-12-2009, 03:20 PM

Long time reader, first time poster. I was given a Traditions Deerhunter flintlock and am planning on using a 275gr. maxi hunter pushed by 80gr. Pyrodex RS. My question is whether this is a good load for this rifle or do you have other suggestions? I am new to muzzleloading and any help would be greatly appreciated.

MountainDevil54 · 12-12-2009, 03:35 PM

you'll have a hell of a time getting a flinter to go off reliably with pyro RS. If you want the best performance you need real black powder.

cayugad · 12-12-2009, 03:54 PM

Yep! forget Pyrodex. Get black powder 2f or 3f for the main charge. 3f or 4f for the pan. As for the maxihunter... I hate those things. Never could get a 1-48 twist to shoot them well. I would suggest some .490 roundball and some patch and just shoot patch and ball. Work a load up with them, and when you have one, then experiment with different projectiles. At least then you will have something to alway fall back on, also it will give you an chance to get used to your rifle without spending a fortune.

tonysbud · 12-12-2009, 04:55 PM

I can use 3f in the barrel AND the pan?

spaniel · 12-12-2009, 05:53 PM

The 275gr should be ok in a 1:48, I used to shoot a 240gr bullet but it was a .44 in a sabot so I would think they're roughly equivalent from a twist requirement perspective. You may need to play with the charge or try a couple different bullets.

I tried balls in mine and never had much luck with charges over 60g. As you can see, opinions vary and guns are as different and tempermental as women

nchawkeye · 12-12-2009, 06:16 PM

A good flintlock will do just fine with both FFF in the barrel and pan...For hunting it's really the best combo because FFFF absorbs moisture very well...Back during the flintlock period they didn't have several different granulations of powder, there was cannon powder and musket or rifle powder...

The reason you want to stick with real black powder is because the ignition temperture is lower than Pyrodex...When Pryodex was introduced in the 70s, I was shooting flintlocks...The reason they came out with Pyrodex was less storage and shipping regulations because of the higher ignition temperature...Marketing later tried to spin it into cleaner burning etc...

btw...Over 50% of black powder is residue, some is left in the barrel and some is blown out...A flintlock is very easy to clean if you know this and take advantage of it...Simply plug the touch hole with a round tooth pick and pour a few ounces of either water or rubbing alcohol down the barrel...Put your finger over the barrel and slosh it around and pour that residue out...By the time you run 4-5 patches down the barrel to clean the bore is clean...Just spray with WD-40 to displace the water, dry and oil...

Too many shooters try to clean the residue with one patch after another when they can plug the vent and simply pour it out...

Have fun...