Traditional muzzle loading question

roundball

roundball

Old Mossy Horns
Contributor
team muddy creek said:
I'm planning on using my Hawken and a patched round ball this week on a 3 day draw hunt. I own 2 inclines but would rather take a deer with these old guns. To me it's more rewarding for myself.
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That's the way I was...became so overwhelmed with learning to use what the settlers used, I committed to traditional Flintlocks, BP, and PRBs...as well as Flintlock smoothbores for Dove & Turkey...for my last 20 years of hunting...best hunting memories of my life.
 
ibgreen

ibgreen

Twelve Pointer
Contributor
Underhammer said:
frizzen covers the pan until you pull the trigger.

Then, for a brief and glorious spec of time, the hammer & flint hits the frizzen and the powder starts to cascade as it is met by a cosmic shower of sparks, creating a wondrously uplifting flame which permeates into the vertical touch hole....
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Man, I might have to smoke a cigarette after reading that.....
 

waymoe1

Ten Pointer
roundball said:
FWIW, 3F was always my favorite.....faster & cleaner burning.

PS:
IMHO..... if BP is kept sealed and well stored, age doesn't seem to effect it.
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Ok thank you. I was wanting to use the 3f since the recipe for the rifle was left in the patch box.
 
Underhammer

Underhammer

Old Mossy Horns
true. Tighten the top so wimmin can't open it and it will stay good.

I use FFFg for everything. On my flintlock, I have a volumetric spout on the powder flask. I put my finger over it, fill it up, then pour it down the barrel. Seat the PRB and then use the same flask to charge the pan.
 
pcbuckhunter

pcbuckhunter

Old Mossy Horns
Contributor
roundball said:
IMHO..... if BP is kept sealed and well stored, age doesn't seem to effect it.
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I agree with this. My Dad bought 50 lbs of Goex in 1986 and it took him til 2012 to use it all up. It went bang just as well in 2012 as it did in 1986.


I'm currently using Goex purchased in 1999. I have the rest of this can( about half a can) and then I'll be moving in to the 10 lbs I have from 2001.
 
NCbowjunkie

NCbowjunkie

Ten Pointer
pcbuckhunter said:
I agree with this. My Dad bought 50 lbs of Goex in 1986 and it took him til 2012 to use it all up. It went bang just as well in 2012 as it did in 1986.


I'm currently using Goex purchased in 1999. I have the rest of this can( about half a can) and then I'll be moving in to the 10 lbs I have from 2001.
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I agree with this. My Dad bought 50 lbs of Goex in 1986 and it took him til 2012 to use it all up. It went bang just as well in 2012 as it did in 1986.

How many stumps did that blow up? Had to be fun
 
pcbuckhunter

pcbuckhunter

Old Mossy Horns
Contributor
NCbowjunkie said:
I agree with this. My Dad bought 50 lbs of Goex in 1986 and it took him til 2012 to use it all up. It went bang just as well in 2012 as it did in 1986.

How many stumps did that blow up? Had to be fun
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No stumps.
The Old Man used to shoot some frontstuffer competitions.

And he just likes to make smoke... Lol.

These days I probably burn through a pound a year myself. Practice, practice, practice you know.
 

waymoe1

Ten Pointer
Ok next question! Cleaning this jewel ? Last time I shot I used about 100 patches “ not quite that much but a bunch” used solvent patches and dry. Even run a couple dry down it mid week and still getting rusty ones and having to run a bunch to get it back slick. What y’all use to store in season and out of season. If this sounds off these dang bats on the screen are messing me up😂
 
georgeeebuck

georgeeebuck

Twelve Pointer
waymoe1 said:
Ok next question! Cleaning this jewel ? Last time I shot I used about 100 patches “ not quite that much but a bunch” used solvent patches and dry. Even run a couple dry down it mid week and still getting rusty ones and having to run a bunch to get it back slick. What y’all use to store in season and out of season. If this sounds off these dang bats on the screen are messing me up😂
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Boiling hot soapy water .
 
nchawkeye

nchawkeye

Old Mossy Horns
waymoe1 said:
Ok next question! Cleaning this jewel ? Last time I shot I used about 100 patches “ not quite that much but a bunch” used solvent patches and dry. Even run a couple dry down it mid week and still getting ro adusty ones and having to run a bunch to get it back slick. What y’all use to store in season and out of season. If this sounds off these dang bats on the screen are messing me up😂
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I only shoot flintlocks, you will have to adjust your cleaning procedure for a percussion.

I put a toothpick in the touch hole, fill the barrel with water and pour it out. I hold the gun so the touch hole is pointed to the ground and run a couple of cleaning patches through it. I do this 2-3 times, then dry with patches, spray WD-40 down the barrel, dry with patches, then use a good gun oil on a patch and run down the barrel. When ready to hunt, I run a patch down to dry the, load and hunt.
 
roundball

roundball

Old Mossy Horns
Contributor
Some additional food for thought about cleaning. Photos show a Patent Breech for a TC Flintlock...but the cleaning point I'm making is the same. ( Spare breech plug for illustration )

Due to the internal 'step-down' design, the bore cleaning jag can't get inside the breech plug.
Photos show an easy cleaning alternative.

1-CRS50.jpg
2-BRS22.jpg
3-DRS19.jpg
4-ERS22.jpg
 
roundball

roundball

Old Mossy Horns
Contributor
Another personal viewpoint...after a shot while hunting, I didn't want to carry a dirty gun for continued hours of hunting. I used home-made "Field Cleaning Kits"
Simple & quick to clean after a shot, it also let me carry the dirty stuff out of the woods.
You wouldn't need all the items for Caplocks:
Just Wet & Dry Cleaning Patches and a prelubed bore wipe patch.
( and I liked having a 'Finger Cot' over the muzzles )

Field Cleaning Kits.JPG
 
bigten

bigten

Old Mossy Horns
Contributor
waymoe1 said:
Ok next question! Cleaning this jewel ? Last time I shot I used about 100 patches “ not quite that much but a bunch” used solvent patches and dry. Even run a couple dry down it mid week and still getting rusty ones and having to run a bunch to get it back slick. What y’all use to store in season and out of season. If this sounds off these dang bats on the screen are messing me up😂
Click to expand...

I pull the barrel and put in the tub with HOT water. Swab until clean and let dry. Re-swab with bore cleaner, then with a lube. Has worked for me for many years.
 
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