Got out this afternoon with the Lyman flintlock. About 5" of new snow. Still hunting through the woods I had gone about 300 yds. I was easing up a small rise from an old railroad bed which has a stream on the other side. I was far enough up the incline that I could see the other side. There at an estimated 70 yds were 3 deer lying in their beds. Two looking right at me the other facing away. The two on either side had some brush obscuring their vitals but the center one was right in a good shooting lane. I cocked the hammer on the Lyman .54 and shouldered it at the same time grabbing a 2" sapling for support - resting the forearm on my thumb. I pulled the set trigger and settled the sights just behnd the big old doe's shoulder. Waited until the sight picture was dead solid and squeezed the front trigger. That's when I heard the sound a flintlock user hates to hear. The dreaded Pfffft -the sound of only the pan charge going off. They watched as I reprimed the pan and as soon as I closed the frizzen the got to their feet and trotted off. Not really sure what they just experienced!
I don't know what happened. I took every precaution I can think of. My flash hole was clean and open (Even put a paper clip in the flash hole prior to charging the barel.) The only thing I can think is that there may have been a tiny bit of oil in the breech that fouled the main charge enough. It went off fine at the end of the day so I brought it home and gave it a good cleaning with hot water. I now have it setting on a cloth, muzzle down.
Will give it another go on Saturday.