flintlocks are a blast......and to me very addicting...i dont shoot half as much as some of these guys....but i dont have the time or easy place to shoot...and only own one flinter....only BP gun i own or ever fired though...you REALLY dont need anything too special...a pan charger to throw powder in the pan...and all the basic tools you need for any other BP gun....the TC manual is a very good one i feel....thats basically how i learned....and on here(mainly cayugad!) and i had a guy i know take me out and show me the ropes....he just taught me to do what the manual said to do basically...since then i picked up my own techniques and all....a GOOD lock is important....and a good frizzen and a good sharp flint.....i cant knap a flint to save my life..i can break off a few pieces sometimes and get a few extra shots..but i have a jar full of dull flints..so when i learn to knapp ill be good to go on flints for the rest of my time lol...when shooting you gota keep it all clean and dry...i soak patches in rubbing alcohol and wipe it all down...when hunting i do it from time to time..and sweep the pan pretty often....that guy that took me shooting the firt time gave me atleast a half pound of 4fg...so i dont mind dumping it....guys say its hard to find around here...i watch some of them dump it back in there powder container.....not me...i want to know my guns going to go boom when i pull the trigger....the guys in my group think im nuts always cleaning it..dumping priming charges...unloading daily..but i want to make sure it goes bang....and mine always does.....i cant wait till im outa college and i can build a big smoothbore for turkeys n such critters....that would be absolutely AWESOME...big ole cloud of smoke on a warm spring morning and a big ole gobbler on the ground...and flintlocks can be every bit as accurate as any other BP rifle....i killed a groundhog at 45yds....havent got a deer with it yet....i cant wait to shoot here soon...i just got glasses and contacts..ill beable to SEE MY SIGHTS! lol...before it was all a blurr..i have a BAD astigmatism and finally got it corrected...i should be in good shape.....any questions post away.....alot of good help here....