Re: Smoke Pole Question
[Re: Pike River]
#7362734
09/23/21 05:17 PM
09/23/21 05:17 PM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,382 Green County Wisconsin
GREENCOUNTYPETE
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,382
Green County Wisconsin
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what's your goal ?
season extender ?
want to participate in Rondy?
total independence from primers?
what do you plan to shoot ?
budget ?
flinters cost more than percussion more parts , more work more tuning
Last edited by GREENCOUNTYPETE; 09/23/21 05:18 PM.
America only has one issue, we have a Responsibility crisis and everything else stems from it.
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Re: Smoke Pole Question
[Re: Pike River]
#7362776
09/23/21 06:24 PM
09/23/21 06:24 PM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 4,951 rogers city mi.
jeff karsten
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 4,951
rogers city mi.
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I've owned and shot 30 some muzzlers of every configuration and brand still have 18 The one i've used and had the most enjoyment with is a Thompson center 12 ga. on a New Englander stock cyl. bore Wouldn't think twice about shooting a deer at 40 or so yards with a .735 patched ball Cramps up Turkeys to 35 yards furthest i ever shot at one with 75 grains 2 half in. wonder wads and 1 1/8 oz. #5 shot you can back off to 45 grains and 1 oz for a 25 yard small game shooter however 1 1/8 of 5's seem to hold the best pattern. Right now i picked up a cva bolt with a rusted up bore and reamed it to 28 gauge but haven't shot it enough to comment All this is MOHOP so its worth nothing but you can see the way i'm leaning
olden tyred
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Re: Smoke Pole Question
[Re: Pike River]
#7362791
09/23/21 06:48 PM
09/23/21 06:48 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 19,930 SEPA
Lugnut
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 19,930
SEPA
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Some years ago the Game Commission eliminated center-fire rifles during the extended (late) deer season in my area. PA has a dedicated primitive/flintlock season during that time period. I think we are the only state that has one. I bought a flintlock just for that season.
Prior to that I shot a percussion (cap lock) muzzleloader. The flinter is definitely more finicky. But over the last several years I've done my homework and learned my lessons and it is now a very reliable weapon as long as you keep the powder dry (pan powder especially), keep a good flint in it, etc.
I've only had one failure to fire and have killed a dozen or more deer with it. The one failure to fire was while a doe was standing broadside forty yards out, it was a damp day. Luckily, she stopped and looked at me after the "click" and I was able to recock and lower the frizzen. It fired on that second attempt and that fat doe went home with me.
We also have an October "muzzleloader" season during which any muzzleloader is legal (inlines, cap locks and my flinter).
Eh...wot?
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Re: Smoke Pole Question
[Re: Lugnut]
#7362798
09/23/21 07:05 PM
09/23/21 07:05 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 23,488 New Hampshire
Nessmuck
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 23,488
New Hampshire
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Some years ago the Game Commission eliminated center-fire rifles during the extended (late) deer season in my area. PA has a dedicated primitive/flintlock season during that time period. I think we are the only state that has one. I bought a flintlock just for that season.
Prior to that I shot a percussion (cap lock) muzzleloader. The flinter is definitely more finicky. But over the last several years I've done my homework and learned my lessons and it is now a very reliable weapon as long as you keep the powder dry (pan powder especially), keep a good flint in it, etc.
I've only had one failure to fire and have killed a dozen or more deer with it. The one failure to fire was while a doe was standing broadside forty yards out, it was a damp day. Luckily, she stopped and looked at me after the "click" and I was able to recock and lower the frizzen. It fired on that second attempt and that fat doe went home with me.
We also have an October "muzzleloader" season during which any muzzleloader is legal (inlines, cap locks and my flinter). Wish we had a Flintlock season….Yinz guys have it right !
It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.
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Re: Smoke Pole Question
[Re: Pike River]
#7362813
09/23/21 07:24 PM
09/23/21 07:24 PM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 366 South West Pennsylvania
Wingshot
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 366
South West Pennsylvania
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IMHO the deal with today’s muzzle loaders is simple. You get what you pay for. A well made (hand built by a craftsman) flintlock is going to be scary quick and super reliable, cap guns can and do fail but what’s even more important for someone who’s never had any experience with one is to spend a lot of time learning to shoot it well. There are some mass produced ML guns that’ll preform well, my old Lyman Great Plains Rifle is one of them. Smoothbore vs. Rifle you ask? A smoothie will give you the ability to hunt both large and small game but again, much is required as it relates to practice and working up loads that’ll give you what you’re after. Whatever you decide, buy the best you can afford and find a mentor that’s got some gray in his beard to get you flying right.
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Re: Smoke Pole Question
[Re: Pike River]
#7362906
09/23/21 09:52 PM
09/23/21 09:52 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,365 east central WI
k snow
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,365
east central WI
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Percussion caps are more reliable, and definitely less finicky than a flinter. That said, flinter reliability really comes down to the shooter and their habits. Do you have a sharp flint? Clean frizzen? Clear touch hole? Primed the way your lock likes it? I have been shooting flint for 18 years, rifle and smooth. If you want range (100 yards) go with a rifle. If you want versatility, go with a smoothbore. I love my 62's, but I lose deer hunting accuracy at about 40 yards. My 54 rifle will hold a 4 inch group at 100, with patched round ball. Flinters also need real black powder, none of the modern substitutes. Flints are scarce right now also, but then again so are caps and powder. I love all my flinters, haven't shot a cap since I got my first one. Each one is a bit different, you definitely have to spend time with them and learn the gun. Flinters will also amplify all of your technique flaws. Once you become a good flint shooter, your centerfire shooting will be even better. If you are ever down around Sheboygan County, I'd be more than happy to help. Did I mention flinters are just dead sexy?
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Re: Smoke Pole Question
[Re: Pike River]
#7362947
09/23/21 10:52 PM
09/23/21 10:52 PM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,382 Green County Wisconsin
GREENCOUNTYPETE
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,382
Green County Wisconsin
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I shoot a Flintah…Cuz I shave with a Straight Razor. Guys that shoot caps …use Bic Disposables…lol Caps it is then! what if I don't shave at all?
America only has one issue, we have a Responsibility crisis and everything else stems from it.
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Re: Smoke Pole Question
[Re: GREENCOUNTYPETE]
#7363005
09/24/21 05:24 AM
09/24/21 05:24 AM
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Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 5,570 Dunbar, Wisconsin
Pike River
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 5,570
Dunbar, Wisconsin
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if your on a budget and an entry level gun the cap locks are a lot less expensive might be a good starter , the nice part about TC is they were decent quality and parts are still fairly easy to find https://www.gunbroker.com/item/911207351I'm by no means a gun nut. TC went out of business? If I understand correctly, the longer the barrel, the slower the twist? Can I shoot conical bullets like a minie ball out of a 1:60?
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