Got my "survival" flintlock -- Now What?

Truelove

Truelove

Joined
Aug 16, 2005
Messages
149
Whenever the topic of the best survival gun comes up (as it so often does) someone points out the ideal is a flintlock:

--you can make your own powder
--no need for primers
--"it's killed plenty of bears/deer/Santa Ana's troops"

etc. So I bought myself a Pedersoli Jaeger and I'm very pleased with it, but have noticed some problems and was hoping some more experianced BP shooters can chime in:

-Finding true black powder isn't easy, at least in Iowa. You've got to order from the 'net and buy in bulk. Flintlock don't digest Pyrodex well, according to their website.
-No, I don't have to stockpile primers, but I do have to ship flints from English or France or, at best, from get them from Arkansas. Iowa is limestone country. I know you can knap glass arrowpoints, can you knap a glass flintlock flint?
-Besides wheelweights, where do you get lead?

Please note I'm up on reality-based EOTWAWKI rifles and ammo, but I want to live the post apocalyptic fantasy now. Thanks!
 
Well, I can help you with the lead (maybe).

Look for galena deposits, or other mineralised areas where you might find it. Common in limestone areas I think. Try old quarries...

Galena is lead sulphide and can be roasted to yield lead. Don't breath the fumes though: sulphur dixide, lead vapour... nasty!

Watch out for a similar looking ore though, arsenopyrite. Occurs in similar places and is arsenic sulphide. Don't roast that one!
 
Truelove said:
--you can make your own powder
Click to expand...
A very dangerous activity, even if you know what you are doing. :rolleyes:

-Finding true black powder isn't easy, at least in Iowa. You've got to order from the 'net and buy in bulk. Flintlock don't digest Pyrodex well, according to their website.
Click to expand...
It's been a while since I did any BP shooting, but it used to be redily available at all the local gun shops. Perhaps the laws are different in Iowa, or maybe the rules have just changed.

I think the problem with Pyrodex in flintlock arms is that it does not work well as a primer change. If you could get some real BP to use in the primer pan you are still stuck with the problems of getting it in the first place, but if you are only using it for priming whatever you get will go a long way.

-Besides wheelweights, where do you get lead?
Click to expand...
Uh.. buy it? :p

If you are talking about scavanging lead the first thing that springs to mind are car batteries, which have lead plates in them. Of course, they also have sulfuring acid in them so you need to (again) know what you are doing. Fishing sinkers and shotgun shot are the only other readily available sources I can think of off hand aside from buying bulk lead from reloading suppliers.
 
Track of the Wolf has really good bag moulds and laddle to go with your jaeger. I got mine from them and I'm really pleased with the quality and price.
 
Congratulations on your new flinter. Now you get to spend the next 20 years of your life learning how to hit the broad side of a barn with it. (It's a lot harder than you think.)
 
Samael said:
Congratulations on your new flinter. Now you get to spend the next 20 years of your life learning how to hit the broad side of a barn with it. (It's a lot harder than you think.)
Click to expand...

They are not so bad. I have a few of them. My Northwest Trade gun shoots ball or shot if the barn if moving. Lots of fun. Does take some practice with ball. From deer to quail. Not bad for one gun.
 
Love my flinters. Got a .62 and a .75 cal. fowler. Pyrodex burns too slow so you end up with hangfire which can be very dangerous. BP all the way. Track of the Wolf and Dixie have good supplies, I'd also search the net for local clubs. Watch yer topknot,and keep yer powder dry.
 
i love my t/c .50cal capper, but can't wait to get my hands on it's clone in flintlock.... all i need is the lock and bbl.... grins opps there goes more money... as for the broadside of the barn i can stack patched roundballs on top of each other with my .50 off the bench at 50yrds... and off hand can keep them inside of a playing card... dont cout out a smoke pole..... i only run holy black in mine... the smell is worth the difference....
 
Ah, no fair comparing cap-and-ball accuracy and flintlock accuracy. While both probably have the same inherent accuracy, the much longer lock time of a flintlock, combined with having all that commotion going on in the flash pan just inches from your face, makes a huge difference.

Agree about the smell, though - there's nothing quite like it. :)
 
Where about are you in Iowa? How much lead do you want? Can probably fix you up with some lead. I have a .54 flint rifle and a .62 smoothbore, and a couple caplock's. They are a blast to shoot.
 
A well tuned lock is as fast as a cap lock. Turn your flinter upside down and pull the trigger and it will fire before the powder can fall out of the pan. Pure lead can be bought at a plumbers supply-it is pricey. Scrap yards sometimes have pure lead. A smooth bore will shoot wheel weights ok but not so good in a rifle. If you can put an indention in the lead with your thumb nail it will shoot ok in a rifle. Learn to sharpen your flints-buy a Dixie Gun Works catalog-the appendix has a wealth of info. You can shoot a duplex load in a flintlock-if shooting an 80 grain load use 40 grain bp followed by 40gr black powder substitute. I would only do this if trying to stretch my BP. Have fun--be safe
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top