what accesories do you need with a flintlock?
12-25-2005, 09:43 PM
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: lebanon,virginia
Posts: 143
what accesories do you need with a flintlock?
I want to get a new traditions kentucky rifle flintlock and im new to muzzleloading so i was wondering what i will need to get with the rifle so i will be able to shoot it.
12-25-2005, 10:23 PM
#2
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 21,193
RE: what accesories do you need with a flintlock?
Many of the Kentucky model do not have a hooked breech and are not removable. So you will need a flush tube to clean the rifle properly. I also like to replace the vent liners right away with a stainless steel model with the hex head. And a vent pick which I put through the vent liner when first dumping the powder and setting the ball. After that I remove it and primer the pan. You will also need a pan primer flask. This small flask will put just the right amount of powder in the pan for you. As for knapping the flint, many people waste their money and get a knapping hammer. I did. I have yet to use it, but I got one. The pan brush is kind of helpful for sweeping out the base of the pan. Also some patches and alcohol to wipe the pan, frizzen, and flint off. A frizzen cover is nice too. I have yet to buy a cow knee, but I made one out of an old chunk of tarp and it seems to work good. Also you might as well get some flints or agates. You will go through a lot of them in the begining. I bought 100 of them when I started out because I got a better deal on them. I get them through October Country Muzzleloading..http://www.octobercountry.com/ I am sure I forgot a lot of the stuff.
12-25-2005, 10:36 PM
#3
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: PA
Posts: 9,085
RE: what accesories do you need with a flintlock?
ill start....sure ill miss a few things...
-REAL BLACK powder(goex) 2fg to load..4fg to prime...only way to go
-projectiles of your choice..patch n balls are cheap and shotgood in most flintlocks with a traditional slow twist
-ball starter
-powder measurer(i like TCs U-view..clearso you can see the powder)
-powderflask(i like the TC u-view again)
-pan charger(wish they made a clear one of them..but i couldnt find one)
-cleaning jag..to clean with
-ball puller..to pull a ball when you forget the powder or to unload w/o firing
-patch puller..to retrieve patches that may slipped off
-touchhole pick..to clean the touchhole out
-cleaning patches...soak them in 91% rubbing alcohol and it cleans well..
stuff you might want later...not essential to start shooting though
-extra flints and some spare leather is good to have
-i carry a few rubber charge tubes to carry my premeasured charges so im not measuring in the woods on a reload
...possiblesbag to carry it all while hunting
theres alot of gear to go along with flintlocking....some needed all the time...some are nice to have but not needed...im sure i forgot some stuff....and other guys can add more for you...but that should get you started....but once you have it all shootinga flintlock is cheap...pound of powder for15 bucks or so...roundballs and patches are around 15bucks for 100.....so thats roughly 30bucks for 100shots or so......pretty cheap when i pay about that for 20rds of 3006 ammo......good luck....welcome to the addicting sport and art of hunting and shooting a flintlock....dont be afraid to ask questions here......alot of good guys here...."cayugad" is a great guy and knows ALOT....he taught me most everything i know..im willing to pass it on..as he will probably post a book like i did also...and a bunch of other great guys...also...id call Thompson Center and ask them for a manual...just say its for a TC 50cal hawken flintlock.....their manual is excellent if you ask me....step by step...saftey...procedures.....everything you need to know....and they send them QUICK....
-REAL BLACK powder(goex) 2fg to load..4fg to prime...only way to go
-projectiles of your choice..patch n balls are cheap and shotgood in most flintlocks with a traditional slow twist
-ball starter
-powder measurer(i like TCs U-view..clearso you can see the powder)
-powderflask(i like the TC u-view again)
-pan charger(wish they made a clear one of them..but i couldnt find one)
-cleaning jag..to clean with
-ball puller..to pull a ball when you forget the powder or to unload w/o firing
-patch puller..to retrieve patches that may slipped off
-touchhole pick..to clean the touchhole out
-cleaning patches...soak them in 91% rubbing alcohol and it cleans well..
stuff you might want later...not essential to start shooting though
-extra flints and some spare leather is good to have
-i carry a few rubber charge tubes to carry my premeasured charges so im not measuring in the woods on a reload
...possiblesbag to carry it all while hunting
theres alot of gear to go along with flintlocking....some needed all the time...some are nice to have but not needed...im sure i forgot some stuff....and other guys can add more for you...but that should get you started....but once you have it all shootinga flintlock is cheap...pound of powder for15 bucks or so...roundballs and patches are around 15bucks for 100.....so thats roughly 30bucks for 100shots or so......pretty cheap when i pay about that for 20rds of 3006 ammo......good luck....welcome to the addicting sport and art of hunting and shooting a flintlock....dont be afraid to ask questions here......alot of good guys here...."cayugad" is a great guy and knows ALOT....he taught me most everything i know..im willing to pass it on..as he will probably post a book like i did also...and a bunch of other great guys...also...id call Thompson Center and ask them for a manual...just say its for a TC 50cal hawken flintlock.....their manual is excellent if you ask me....step by step...saftey...procedures.....everything you need to know....and they send them QUICK....
12-26-2005, 05:55 AM
#4
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Texas - BUT NOW in Madison County, NY
Posts: 6,270
RE: what accesories do you need with a flintlock?
ORIGINAL: cayugad
Many of the Kentucky model do not have a hooked breech and are not removable. So you will need a flush tube to clean the rifle properly. I also like to replace the vent liners right away with a stainless steel model with the hex head. And a vent pick which I put through the vent liner when first dumping the powder and setting the ball. After that I remove it and primer the pan. You will also need a pan primer flask. This small flask will put just the right amount of powder in the pan for you. As for knapping the flint, many people waste their money and get a knapping hammer. I did. I have yet to use it, but I got one. The pan brush is kind of helpful for sweeping out the base of the pan. Also some patches and alcohol to wipe the pan, frizzen, and flint off. A frizzen cover is nice too. I have yet to buy a cow knee, but I made one out of an old chunk of tarp and it seems to work good. Also you might as well get some flints or agates. You will go through a lot of them in the begining. I bought 100 of them when I started out because I got a better deal on them. I get them through October Country Muzzleloading..http://www.octobercountry.com/ I am sure I forgot a lot of the stuff.
Many of the Kentucky model do not have a hooked breech and are not removable. So you will need a flush tube to clean the rifle properly. I also like to replace the vent liners right away with a stainless steel model with the hex head. And a vent pick which I put through the vent liner when first dumping the powder and setting the ball. After that I remove it and primer the pan. You will also need a pan primer flask. This small flask will put just the right amount of powder in the pan for you. As for knapping the flint, many people waste their money and get a knapping hammer. I did. I have yet to use it, but I got one. The pan brush is kind of helpful for sweeping out the base of the pan. Also some patches and alcohol to wipe the pan, frizzen, and flint off. A frizzen cover is nice too. I have yet to buy a cow knee, but I made one out of an old chunk of tarp and it seems to work good. Also you might as well get some flints or agates. You will go through a lot of them in the begining. I bought 100 of them when I started out because I got a better deal on them. I get them through October Country Muzzleloading..http://www.octobercountry.com/ I am sure I forgot a lot of the stuff.
makes a pan priming "horn" that hold your priming powder and has a vent pick in the plug shaft and a pan brush comes with it also. I believe OCTOBER COUNTRY still sells these "Ft. Chambers" priming flasks as well.
I believe cayugad has pretty much listed everything that isdifferent for shooting a flinter....
12-26-2005, 09:38 AM
#5
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,236
RE: what accesories do you need with a flintlock?
I find that having some cloths and alcohol handy is essential. I wipe
the flint and frizzen after every shot with pure alcohol. Don't use diluted 50/50 swabbing mixture.
Removing the powder fouling from these areas is essential.
Makes ignition very dependable.
the flint and frizzen after every shot with pure alcohol. Don't use diluted 50/50 swabbing mixture.
Removing the powder fouling from these areas is essential.
Makes ignition very dependable.
12-26-2005, 03:16 PM
#6
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: lebanon,virginia
Posts: 143
RE: what accesories do you need with a flintlock?
thanks for the info but another question i have is how much of a powder charge can these guns handle, i know in my cva optima i shoot 150 grains of triple 7 but i dont guess they will handle near that much will they?
12-26-2005, 03:31 PM
#7
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 21,193
RE: what accesories do you need with a flintlock?
Many of the traditional type flintlocks will handle up to 110 grains of 2f and 90 grains of 3f in a .50 caliber and it jumps to 120 grains of 2f and 100 grains of 3f in a .54 caliber. This could vary from manufacturer to manufacturer but those are the general guidelines. Some of these values will also vary according to the kind of projectile you use. Those listed are for roundball.
12-26-2005, 03:43 PM
#8
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: lebanon,virginia
Posts: 143
RE: what accesories do you need with a flintlock?
alright thanks, earlier you said that this does not have a hooked breech so u mean the barrel will not come off of this gun right? i would kind of like one that will be easier cleaning, i was thinking of either the kentucky model or the hawkens model they are both around 300 dollars but the hawken is shorter, and has a hooked breech, and it has double triggers. which one would you go with for deer hunting?
12-26-2005, 04:01 PM
#9
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 21,193
RE: what accesories do you need with a flintlock?
ORIGINAL: 30-06lover
alright thanks, earlier you said that this does not have a hooked breech so u mean the barrel will not come off of this gun right? i would kind of like one that will be easier cleaning, i was thinking of either the kentucky model or the hawkens model they are both around 300 dollars but the hawken is shorter, and has a hooked breech, and it has double triggers. which one would you go with for deer hunting?
alright thanks, earlier you said that this does not have a hooked breech so u mean the barrel will not come off of this gun right? i would kind of like one that will be easier cleaning, i was thinking of either the kentucky model or the hawkens model they are both around 300 dollars but the hawken is shorter, and has a hooked breech, and it has double triggers. which one would you go with for deer hunting?
I personally like the Hawkins model with the hooked breech and the double triggers.The shorter barrels do not reallyconcern me. If you want a longer rifle with hooked breech styling then look at a Lyman Great Plain Rifle or Great Plains Hunter. If the double trigger is not that important, there are a lot of hooked breech traditional rifles out there.
12-26-2005, 04:55 PM
#10
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: lebanon,virginia
Posts: 143
RE: what accesories do you need with a flintlock?
Alright i have decided i want to get a traditions hawkens rifle flintlock, but i was looking at it in www.dixiegunworks.com and it said reccomended amount of ffg powder for a ball load is 60 grains and 70 grains for a cylindrical load. Is this all the powder can handle because that sounds a little week, it didnt say it was the maximum but it said reccomended amount?
