Fun with a Flintlock
 

Today was a perfect day for shooting. Not hot and no wind. I wanted to try some different powder in the new Tradition's Woodsman Flintlock and see how it worked. I decided to try some Swiss 3f and use it as prime. I only loaded 70 grains of it, but the stuff worked great.

I set the target at 30 yards and my first shot hit an inch and a half high, but nothing I could not live with. I then shot ten more rounds, without swabbing the barrel. To say I was happy with the accuracy would be an easy guess.

I then swabbed the barrel and shot 370 grain Maxiball with the same 70 gr of Swiss 3f. I used my homemade lube for the conicals. I shot at that half of a old bulls eye that was showing, making the challenge to myself to not hit the black if at all possible. I shot five rounds of conical again at 30 yards. Recoil was a little stiff in the light rifle but accuracy was very good. Also with the curved butt of the stock and the brass base plate, there was a little "digging in" of the butt stock plate.

After all of this, I took and set up soda cans at 50 yards and pushed them around in the trap for a while. For a rifle with a 1:48 twist this is a good roundball and conical shooter.

Also I am very impressed with the speed of the lock on this rifle. It never failed. I have been out three times with the same flint, although it is now about ready to change out.

RE: Fun with a Flintlock
 

Great shooting with that rifle! My new flintlock should be in late next week hopefully. You going to hunt with the traditions this year?

RE: Fun with a Flintlock
 

if the mood suits me that day. I just walk by the rack and pick one I think will be lucky. Also I think of weather conditions. It might get a day or two out there.

RE: Fun with a Flintlock
 

Groups like that are always fun!!!!!!!
Good shooting!!!!!!

RE: Fun with a Flintlock
 

I decided to make some noise today to celebrate the 4th of July. I got out a .50 caliber T/C Hawkins flintlock. I was shooting 90 grains of Graf's Black Powder 2f. Using pillow tick patches and my moose milk lube. I had a little orange dot on the center of that paper plate, but it disappeared during the shooting. The rifle shot excellent even though it was 90 degrees outside. Also the rifle lock was fast, and never had a misfire. Flintlocks are alot of fun to shoot.

RE: Fun with a Flintlock
 

Great shooting. But i must say, It looks like the traditions shot tighter groups. I did some shooting to with the .45 deer creek and 255 grain maxi hunters. I swear i will never buy anymore of those bullets lol. 2" 3 shot group @ 50 yards. I got that at 150 yards with powerbelts. This 4th of july is hotter than hell. Great shooting cayugad, How is your 4th of july going? Any special plans?

RE: Fun with a Flintlock
 

Very nice, that is really putting them in there 30 yards open sights PRB, very nice. The flintlocks are fun, they are a lot harder to shoot I think because of lock time. An inline is pull the trigger and the gun fires, a FL is a pull and a hold for a split second, and holding it tight makes all the difference. Great shooting. 50 yards too looks great with the TC.
Chap Gleason

RE: Fun with a Flintlock
 

My 4th of July is just how I like it... quiet and no crowds. I spent years in the city. Crowds, traffic, noise, no thanks. not anymore. It is a nice quiet place for me now. Other then the noise I make shooting off rifles. I was invited to two different 4th parties, but again, not something I want to get involved in. Instead I cooked out, and relaxed with some ice tea.

Some of the people out celebrating withfireworks are dangerous. I really like fireworks, but too many people have fireworks and they combine them with alcohol and children. That is just an accident waiting to happen. They just have no business playing with them. The further away from them I am, the better.

Yes the Traditions shot a tighter group, but was 20 yards closer. I intend on shooting that somemore next week, although my New Englander should be here this week. So I have more rifles to shoot...

RE: Fun with a Flintlock
 

cayugad, just a quick question. Those are great groups, are you using a rest or just off sandbags?

RE: Fun with a Flintlock
 

I bought a $22.00 Caldwell rest that I am using. It seems to work pretty good actually.

RE: Fun with a Flintlock
 

Really wish i would have bought that rest before i got the walmart junk. I hate the rubber crap thats spaced to far apart and my stock justs dangles between it. Same here with my 4th. Only i went to wyoming and bought the FUN fireworks that shoot up high. I live in the middle on no where so, its a private firework party for me:D:D. Also busted a rabbit this evening with the deercreek .45, Ive never killed and gutted an animal at the same time so this was new for me. I guess 80 grains RS and PRB was over kill?

RE: Fun with a Flintlock
 

I think your rabbit never knew what hit it...

RE: Fun with a Flintlock
 

That 50 yard group is outstanding! You SHOULD use a flintlock this year!!

RE: Fun with a Flintlock
 

I used a flintlock last year and it worked flawless. It was a .54 caliber Lyman Trade Rifle.

I think a lot of people are intimidated by flintlocks. I had a friend at the range a whileback when I was shootingthe Lyman Trade rifle, and they had a Hawkins. I rememberthey commented.. those are the rifles that sometimes don't fire, right? I shot all day without a misfire, although they had two CCI #11 caps that failed to fire. At the end of the day they remarked.. those things are pretty cool. They go off really fast. But I could not talk them into shooting it.. Oh well, their loss.

RE: Fun with a Flintlock
 

I think alot of people are afraid of flintlocks too. I was one of them, but now I think that will be the only gun I will use this year.

RE: Fun with a Flintlock
 

You guys need to stop talking about how cool flintlocks are, I'm starting to get the itch to buy one........

RE: Fun with a Flintlock
 

Thanks for the warning greatplains.. we would not to get you interested in something that belches smoke out two sides... the front and side of the rifle, and goes off by slapping a rock against some metal, and when you get the hang of them, they really are a hoot to shoot. These guns have no appeal at all. Just don't take them to a public range because people like to crowd around and watch you shoot something that when you thinkof it, should it really even go off? You're right greatplains.. you need an inline. Much more fun then a flintlock.

D&R Sports have a nice Lyman Trade Rifle for under $300.00 . I got my last Tradition's Hawkins Woodsman flintlock for $155.00 in new condition of an auction site, add to that $20.00 for shipping. Sure is a sweet little rifle. But you really are not interested in them .. are you. :D:D:D:D:D

RE: Fun with a Flintlock
 

you know what sucks? Knowing you have a flintlock that will be here by mid next week and knowing you're out of powder and cant shoot it until you drive the 3 hours to the store[:@][:@]

RE: Fun with a Flintlock
 

http://s15.photobucket.com/albums/a380/lonewolf5347/?action=view&current=012.jpg
the above is my t/c flinter 45 cal. from the bench 50 yd target 95 grains of goex and a .440 RB
who say t/c flinters won't shoot,I think this ball is moving super fast with 95 grains of 3F Goex
I think a lot of guys won't fiddle to get the flinter to shoot excellent without misfires
The above is 4 shots no cleaning between shots

RE: Fun with a Flintlock
 

It took me a couple weeks to find out what my traditions likes. After that, flintlocks turned into a lot of fun and i just bought another because i like them so much. I still love the percussion rifles too. Some people just cant stand the thought of having that powder flash in their faces i think. I really dont even notice it now that ive gotten used to it. Its nice to have that warm flash on your face on a cold day and have the meat laying on the ground.

RE: Fun with a Flintlock
 

I have no interest in flintlocks whatsoever. (Now where is that credit card, and how can I hide the bill from my wife?)