First thanks to all this forum is truly a great resoruce, I just ordered my christmas present a Lyman Deerstalker L/H flintlock in 54 cal. i have experience with inlines and precussion ML's but this is a new world for me. this is what i was wondering?
[ul][*]I read that pyrodex P can be used as an ignition primer in flintlocks is this true? and if so does it work as well as 4F.[*]What do you do with a flintlock when done hunting for the day, (with other inlines and precussion guns removing the primer makes the gun safe) is there a safe way to do this with flintlocks or is it best to shoot it out.[/ul]
I am sure more questions will come as soon as my gun arrives but for now thanks. dan d

Pyrodex has the highest flash point temperature of almost any powder out there. It just does not work. If you shoot a flintlock, get some black powder. No other way around it if you want dependable ignition. Some people get 3f and use it as the main charge and the pan primer. It will work fine in both places.

clean the pan free of any trace of powder. Put a leather frizzen cover over the frizzen and a tooth pick in the vent hole. And if you really want to be safe (and legal in some places) to leave the charge in the rifle, they want the flint removed for the jaws.. Personally I shoot it out and clean the rifle then load it fresh in the morning. Flintlocks would "technically" be the most prone to charge contamination. Although the more you shoot them, the more they will amaze you at just how weather resistant they are..

If it was raining or snowing, I shoot it out. If it was not raining or snowing and was just a nice cold day I leave it in the gun in the truck or garage and hunt with it the next day. I always swab and I use sabots and a Gold Dot 300g in my TC Fl, I have hada couple ofcriples and run aways with PRB on deer drives, which is the method we use for Penna late season MLer hunting.
Chap Gleason

In Ontario Canada,you must remove the flint for transport purposes. The charge can be left in the barrell. For storage the charge must be removed. (By the book )

When hunting I use 3f Goex for both prime and charge. Target shooting I use 4f for prime. But I'm a newbie with the flinter as well.


edit: P.S. The "Wise One's" say "Dump the load every day."

pyrodex p is horrible and you'd be lucky to get it to go off in the pan. Ive been there done that! Real blackpowder as the main charge and pan is the only powder to be used in a flintlock.

I use 7F in my pan. Great reliable ignition, and also very fast. Tom.

In my .50 cal. flinters I have been using 3f real black (mostly Goex) and 4f in the pan. I also started using Swiss Null-B ignition powder in the pan and I really like it. My pan is tight so it doesn't leak out. The Null-B is very fine and supposed to be hotter at ignition. Anyway I like it alot.