Traditions Trapper BP Pistol Flintlock

wmgeorge · Aug 10, 2019

I decided just to go with the pre-built Trapper model, with the set trigger instead of a kit. Very impressed with super nice finish on both the wood and the brass. My real BP will be here Monday but I decided to getting it sparking and test with Pyrodex P just in the pan. I purchased some official Traditions 5/8 inch flints in town.

Disappointed was a mild word to describe my attempts at getting them to work. After watching a few videos I decided the flint beveled side was too pointed to be able to clamp correctly. Took flints over to my 1x40 belt sander with a emery grit belt and knocked off the point so it had a flat side to clamp on. Salvaged some leather from a pair of worn out gloves and bingo.... I had the flint clamped tight and at the right angle and sparking!.

Tried a little Pyrodex in the pan, and after a couple times got flash. Will do the fine tuning with the BP.

I need to purchase a pan priming flask, the kind that measures out the 3 grains needed and some good flints at a better price than 2 for $10, Traditions 5/8 inch size.

Fyrstyk · Aug 10, 2019

wmgeorge said:
I decided just to go with the pre-built Trapper model, with the set trigger instead of a kit. Very impressed with super nice finish on both the wood and the brass. My real BP will be here Monday but I decided to getting it sparking and test with Pyrodex P just in the pan. I purchased some official Traditions 5/8 inch flints in town.

Disappointed was a mild word to describe my attempts at getting them to work. After watching a few videos I decided the flint beveled side was too pointed to be able to clamp correctly. Took flints over to my 1x40 belt sander with a emery grit belt and knocked off the point so it had a flat side to clamp on. Salvaged some leather from a pair of worn out gloves and bingo.... I had the flint clamped tight and at the right angle and sparking!.

Tried a little Pyrodex in the pan, and after a couple times got flash. Will do the fine tuning with the BP.

I need to purchase a pan priming flask, the kind that measures out the 3 grains needed and some good flints at a better price than 2 for $10, Traditions 5/8 inch size.
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Try Heritage Products.com for black english flints, or french amber flints. Flints will run about $2.25-2.50 a piece unless bought in bulk where a small discount may apply. I have a percussion Trapper that i built from a kit. 30 grains of 3f gives me 1" groups at 25 yards from the bench. I get about 2.5" off hand. I think you will enjoy your pistol.

Jackrabbit1957 · Aug 11, 2019

I used to use a primer flask widget, I got tired of fiddling with 2 different granulations of powder. I found that priming the pan with whats in my horn works better than the 4f powder that so many folks are hung up on for shooting rocklocks. Just for fun look up how the British loaded the brown Bess muskets or the Ferguson rifle. No mention of a fine grain priming powder.

arcticap · Aug 11, 2019

Swiss Null B has been timed to be a faster priming powder than Swiss 4F, which means that 4F may be a faster priming powder than 3F etc...
Can't blame a person for wanting to improve the efficiency of their flintlock's ignition system.
Perhaps for some guns priming with 4F actually makes a difference whereas for others it may not be a noticeable one.
All guns and how they are set up can be different.

Jackrabbit1957 · Aug 11, 2019

Never noticed any difference between 4f and 3f for priming, they both make the gun go bang.

4v50 Gary · Aug 13, 2019

It's better looking than the percussion trapper but I never got used to those funny frizzen springs. It just doesn't look right to my eyes.

wmgeorge · Aug 16, 2019

Took out this morning for a trial run, my pan primer flask has not shown up yet so I improvised using a small plastic bottle that came with one of my machines. I thought it was 100% free of oil but perhaps not because I had issues getting the pan to fire. Re-cleaned everything including the pan and touch hole and it worked. Takes a bit to get used to the click, whoosh, and bang but the gun is surprisingly accurate. I know the primer powder is not suppose to go into the touch hole but it was hard to use my makeshift pan primer. All and all about 6 shots, and then home for the soap and water drill.

Traditions Trapper BP Pistol Flintlock

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