Flintlock priming

[Oldnamvet]

I have shot all percussion rifles, shotguns, and pistol for years and now have an urge to get a flintlock rifle. Question is will it work with triple-7 as the pan powder? I can get that down the road. For BP I have to drive at least 30 miles to the nearest store stocking it.

 

[Starter52]

I would drive.

4F blackpowder - real blackpowder - is the only stuff I've found that works in flint rifles. I have never found a substitute that will flash through with any reliability.

On the plus side, 1 lb. of 4F will last you a LONG time . . . .

 

[Pancho]

I'd say no. I tried using 4f bp in the pan and pyrodex in the barrel and it shot but it was slooooooooow. When I use 3f bp in the barrel and 4f in the pan it shoots as fast as a percussion gun

 

[Brillo]

I have a Kentucky flintlock in 50 cal. made by Pedersoli. I use 2F triple 7 exclusively as the propellant preceded in the barrel by 5 grains of 4F Goex. I use only 4F Goex for priming and don't experience any ignition problems with this setup. Tried Triple 7 in the priming pan but could not get it to ignite consistently I so gave up.

 

[mykeal]

777 in the pan will not work reliably.

 

[StrawHat]

No to 777 for priming.

ffffg and fffg have both served me well as priming for my flintlocks.

One of the better things you can do for your flintlock is to use a sharp freshly napped stone. Dull flints don't cut as well.

Wipe the face of the frizzen each time. The sparks are actually small, hot curls of the frizzen steel the flints have scraped off the face.

3f or 4f black powder both give good ignition.

Good luck.

 

[GENTLEMAN OF THE CHARCOAL]

Yeah. The people on here who have read any of my posts know I have never shot a flintlock or real blackpowder in my life.
That said, while Triple Seven is a bit stronger than blackpowder, it is a little harder to light off....

 

[Mike OTDP]

Sounds like it's time to jump into the adult pool....

4F is OK, but Swiss NullB is much better.

 

[Oldnamvet]

4F is OK, but Swiss NullB is much better.

I am not familiar with that. Probably not available around my area.

 

[BigG]

3F black is fine for the pan. Just make sure it is a bit less than half full and below level of touch hole. It helps to close the pan and rotate the gun to the right to get the priming away from the touch hole. They go off a lot better like that.

 

[quigleysharps4570]

I'll agree with Mike...the Swiss Null B is much better. I've Swiss 4f and Goex 4f that will probably never get used since I started using Null B.

 

[StrawHat]

Anyone else remember when they used to sell a mortar and pestle designed to grind priming powder?

As I recall it had ridges at a specific height on the pestle so the powder could not be ground too fine.

 

[GENTLEMAN OF THE CHARCOAL]

I think I do, I'm not sure. I think my Grandmother had one when I was about 5 years old. I remember seeing her sit by the old wood cookstove and use it a lot. I think she was alway's grinding peanuts and Black Walnuts and Hickory nuts and maybe carrots and stuff like that.
A good (real) Wok has those ridges also. Of course a Wok is made out of metal and was designed for cooking in....

 

[Oldnamvet]

Is there any difference in 2F and 4F other than the size of the granules? Could someone buy 2F and then grind some down to use as 4F providing they had some powder sieves to get the correct size?

 

[redbone]

Grind away. No difference in composition between 2F and 4F, just the size of the grains. When you grind, you will produce a lot of particles that are too fine (flour). Dispose of those.

RBH