"Aren't all muzzleloaders the same?"

[Adam Helmer]

At my local gun club meeting recently, this question was posed. A few old guys bantered about why this and that are legal in the PA muzzleloader season (In October for a week) versus the Traditional (Flintlock) deer season after Christmas for about three weeks. In October "Any Muzzleloader", including inlines, are legal.

A fellow stated that since his inline loaded from the muzzle it is the SAME as a Flintlock. No other club member agreed. An old member correctly pointed out that the DIFFERENCE was the Ignition System. An inline with a 209 shotgun primer in a bolt gun is NO WAY the SAME as a flintlock on stand in the rain in terms of sure-fire reliability.

As a historian, I understand flintlocks were state-of-the art for about 200 years until the percussion cap was invented about 1815. Our Civil War was fought by both sides using caplock rifled muskets. I never read where any Civil War Regiment turned in their caplocks for flintlocks. They are Different muzzleloaders with different levels of reliability. Each step up is to a higher level of reliability. In 1825, the British Army had a test of flintlock Brown Bess muskets versus caplock Brown Bess muskets at Aldershot. The flinters had a 67% fire rate out of 100 attempts versus 98% for the percussion cap arms. The result: The British went with percussion arms.

The 209 Shotgun Primer is a higher step of sure-fire reliability. If it were not so, everyone would tote a flintlock afield.

The similarity of loading from the muzzle STOPS when it comes to IGNITION. Hunt with a flinter for a few seasons and see what I mean.

Adam

[popplecop]

If worse comes to worse one probably can find a rock that'll make a spark on the frizzen.Yes I do like my flinter.

[Johnny Reb]

Adam
I couldn't agree more. I own both flint and Caplocks and also owned a couple of inlines. an inline with a scope is almost the same as shooting a modern rifle. It is also easier to keep dry in foul weather.

[Adam Helmer]

Guys,

I like my flinters best of all front loaders. It takes a bit more attention to details to keep a flinter firing. My favorite era is the French & Indian War (1756-1763) and lots of it occured hereabouts. I trek often afield with a flinter and with loyal hound. She likes gunfire and gets more "gamey" at the sound of a shot.

Adam

[greymule]

I have a T/C Hawken Flintlock that I really enjoy shooting at the range. I am just not brave enough to take it hunting instead of my caplock yet.

[Mad_Jack]

Most soldiers can pick up a similar military gun and be proficient because the weapons are nearly the same firing configurations. I can take an Inline that the owner shoots and shoot it bout as good as they do , if not better. But if they aren't shooting a flinter at all, they'll not shoot my flinter near half as good as I can. I say this from 6X experience. been there, done it. Fact.

[Mad_Jack]

I've been a member of the NAHC since 1983. Many members from various state groups host/participate in GT's (Member Get -together's). They can be 1 day events or up to a week long camp over events. I live in PA. Back in the summer,2010, Ohio members I'd met, invited me to join in their GT. Great time. I'm a reenactor, rendezvous shooter of flintlocks. I was told they would shoot free time at their range with any guns and Saturday was a clay bird shoot for fun. When I showed up Thursday AM, I set up in my period camp and dressed in period clothing, as my buddies requested, to demonstrate and educate some of the sponsors families and guests at the event. When I showed Saturday for the clay shoot with a .54 caliber smooth rifle flintlock, I was scoffed at. But the kidding stopped and the questions started to flow after I was 18 for 20. The folks there wondered how I could shoot a flintlock weapon that well. I told them when you shoot enough and practice enough, it's like scratching an itch. It's that old Greybeard adage, " It's not what you use, but how well you use it!"