Carry a Primed Flintlock?
08-09-2004, 10:01 AM
#1
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,236
Carry a Primed Flintlock?
Does anyone carry their flinter in the woods primed? I've read that you should not, But if you see a deer, doesn't that hinder you tremendously?
Just another silly question from a greenhorn. Are there any techniques that people use to keep it safe when carrying?
Just another silly question from a greenhorn. Are there any techniques that people use to keep it safe when carrying?
08-09-2004, 10:21 AM
#2
Join Date: May 2004
Location:
Posts: 454
RE: Carry a Primed Flintlock?
When I carry my 'flint', I alway's keep it primed. BUT, depending on the weather, I might dump, pick and reprime every hour or two.If you're planning on hunting in foul weather, you might want a 'cows knee' as well.
08-09-2004, 10:24 AM
#4
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Gouldsboro, PA
Posts: 548
RE: Carry a Primed Flintlock?
Hey Greg,
It kinda depends. Lets say, you are going to setup in a location or a tree stand. What I do is don't prime untill I'm setup, either in a blind, tree stand, or just sitting in the woods. Then I prime the pan. The problem I have is when I'm sitting there, I want the pan powder sitting near the touch hole so I have the gun tilted in that direction. But sometime you need to do something, get a drink, pee, use some scent, etc. it get's knocked and I reprime.
Now if I were walking slowly through the woods, in a sense stalking, than I may prime, but would have the trigger on half cock or safety, so it won't go off. When I see deer, pull back on trigger and hopefully ka boom.
I had a time where I was standing near my tree stand, and 3 deer came running in. I had just been up to the house to check on the kids, and walked back. I had previously primed the gun.
When I bent down dehind a tree, and aimed, the biggest deer just stood behind another small pine. I aimed, fired, and nothing, I had knocked the powder around too much. Anyway, I quickly, reprimed, aimed and fired again, the deer had not moved during that time, KABOOM. The 3 deer took off and I thought I had missed. No blood or hair in the spot I shot her. So I walked through the snow in the direction the deer had ran and there was a doe lying in the snow. What a feeling, she was a 3 or 4 year old.
So it depends is the answer I can give you.
Tom
It kinda depends. Lets say, you are going to setup in a location or a tree stand. What I do is don't prime untill I'm setup, either in a blind, tree stand, or just sitting in the woods. Then I prime the pan. The problem I have is when I'm sitting there, I want the pan powder sitting near the touch hole so I have the gun tilted in that direction. But sometime you need to do something, get a drink, pee, use some scent, etc. it get's knocked and I reprime.
Now if I were walking slowly through the woods, in a sense stalking, than I may prime, but would have the trigger on half cock or safety, so it won't go off. When I see deer, pull back on trigger and hopefully ka boom.
I had a time where I was standing near my tree stand, and 3 deer came running in. I had just been up to the house to check on the kids, and walked back. I had previously primed the gun.
When I bent down dehind a tree, and aimed, the biggest deer just stood behind another small pine. I aimed, fired, and nothing, I had knocked the powder around too much. Anyway, I quickly, reprimed, aimed and fired again, the deer had not moved during that time, KABOOM. The 3 deer took off and I thought I had missed. No blood or hair in the spot I shot her. So I walked through the snow in the direction the deer had ran and there was a doe lying in the snow. What a feeling, she was a 3 or 4 year old.
So it depends is the answer I can give you.
Tom
08-09-2004, 11:09 AM
#5
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Gouldsboro, PA
Posts: 548
RE: Carry a Primed Flintlock?
Greg,
Another few questions you could have asked that goes along with this, when do you load your gun? It depends again. For example, let's say I am hunting in a tree stand where I am driving to, and have to climb the tree. I won't load the gun until I'm in the stand. Some people may load before you get in the stand, especially if you are walking to the stand in the day light. If you are hunting from a tree stand near your home, same thing, I may wait until I'm in the stand before loading. A blind may work the same way. I would not want the gun to drop and have it go off while I'm climbing.
What happens when you don't see or shoot at a deer during your hunt. Do you shoot it to unload or remove the bullet and powder. I don't like to leave the gun loaded but sometimes you have to. I have left it loaded for a week and had no problems shooting it.
Just be sure you don't pull the trigger while loaded. Even without pan powder, the gun could fire.
Just a few suggestions....
Tom
Another few questions you could have asked that goes along with this, when do you load your gun? It depends again. For example, let's say I am hunting in a tree stand where I am driving to, and have to climb the tree. I won't load the gun until I'm in the stand. Some people may load before you get in the stand, especially if you are walking to the stand in the day light. If you are hunting from a tree stand near your home, same thing, I may wait until I'm in the stand before loading. A blind may work the same way. I would not want the gun to drop and have it go off while I'm climbing.
What happens when you don't see or shoot at a deer during your hunt. Do you shoot it to unload or remove the bullet and powder. I don't like to leave the gun loaded but sometimes you have to. I have left it loaded for a week and had no problems shooting it.
Just be sure you don't pull the trigger while loaded. Even without pan powder, the gun could fire.
Just a few suggestions....
Tom
08-09-2004, 01:00 PM
#6
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,236
RE: Carry a Primed Flintlock?
My question is more along the line of safety. I guess any loaded gun is dangerous enough. I was reading a thing that said not to carry a primed flinter because it is too dangerous. I guess it depends on the person. As far as leaving the barrel loaded, I would be OK with it for a day or a week maybe. Though I'm going to ask Santa for a CO2 discharger for Christmas this year!
I heard if you put a sock over the barrel you can catch the bullet for future use.
I heard if you put a sock over the barrel you can catch the bullet for future use.
08-09-2004, 01:18 PM
#7
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Gouldsboro, PA
Posts: 548
RE: Carry a Primed Flintlock?
Hey Greg,
If I recall correctly, you have the PA Pellet Traditions 50 cal right. I believe from my reading that this gun has a removable breech plug similar to my in-line. Therefore, all you have to do to unload while loaded is remove the breech plug, remove the gun powder and push the bullet all the way through. Of course I would so the over a box to catch the gun powder for future use, unless it is wet. At least, the bullet would be salvaged.
My Deerhunter, I would have to shoot it or pull it.
Tom
If I recall correctly, you have the PA Pellet Traditions 50 cal right. I believe from my reading that this gun has a removable breech plug similar to my in-line. Therefore, all you have to do to unload while loaded is remove the breech plug, remove the gun powder and push the bullet all the way through. Of course I would so the over a box to catch the gun powder for future use, unless it is wet. At least, the bullet would be salvaged.
My Deerhunter, I would have to shoot it or pull it.
Tom
08-09-2004, 03:56 PM
#10
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 21,193
RE: Carry a Primed Flintlock?
I just got my flinter and am not expert on them for sure. I intend to hunt with it. I also intend to put a leather frizzen sock on the frizzen at least so there will be a much less chance of an accidental discharge. Also the frizzen sock will keep the frizzen dry so once removed we should be ready to shoot.
In wet weather I will use a cow knee although I hunt on wet days from a covered blind so that is not a major issue. I will still use the cow knee though.
From the little I have shot the flinter so far I think the way to be suscessful is to be always aware of the condition of the flint and frizzen, know that you pan is primed correctly (if not brush it out and reprime), and hunt with a sharp edged flint that has fired a couple times (this way you know it is set right. This I figure could be tested prior to loading and hunting).
Many posts ago I commented to a flinter that I had a lot of respect for them and the weapon they chose to hunt with. The more I use my flinter for target shooting so far, the more respect I get for those that use this style of rifle in their hunting.
By the way live bucks did you get a stainless steel model or the blued. Also how do you rate the fit of the rifle to the lock and frizzen. And what suscess have you had for sure ignition with the rifle. I have been looking at your rifle with terrible thoughts in my mind again..... Although the 1842 rifled musket in .69 caliber does have my interest right now...
In wet weather I will use a cow knee although I hunt on wet days from a covered blind so that is not a major issue. I will still use the cow knee though.
From the little I have shot the flinter so far I think the way to be suscessful is to be always aware of the condition of the flint and frizzen, know that you pan is primed correctly (if not brush it out and reprime), and hunt with a sharp edged flint that has fired a couple times (this way you know it is set right. This I figure could be tested prior to loading and hunting).
Many posts ago I commented to a flinter that I had a lot of respect for them and the weapon they chose to hunt with. The more I use my flinter for target shooting so far, the more respect I get for those that use this style of rifle in their hunting.
By the way live bucks did you get a stainless steel model or the blued. Also how do you rate the fit of the rifle to the lock and frizzen. And what suscess have you had for sure ignition with the rifle. I have been looking at your rifle with terrible thoughts in my mind again.....
Although the 1842 rifled musket in .69 caliber does have my interest right now...