I hunted only one day last year with the flintlock. I was stalking the marsh, island hopping, and it was dry out. But I still changed the primer every hour whether it needed it or not. At the end of the day the rifle fired perfect. I take a small spray bottle of isopropyl alcohol and some patches. I blow the powder out of the frizzen pan, wipe the pan clean with an alcohol patch and then after it drys, re-prime. Your friends (the old timer I used tohunt with who uses an old old kentucky flintlock) told you the same thing I was told...