RE: flinters / rain
Just to practice and see how the rifle reacts, I sat in the rain one afternoon and shot and loaded the flintlock like I would have out in the woods. I used a small piece of plastic instead of a cow knee over the lock and frizzen when I was loading, etc.
I fired 10 shots with a brand new flint and Goex 4f as the prime, got soaking wet, but never had a misfire...