Sparks, if your valve throws to much you can always shave it down a bit.

I agree with the majority much rather shoot a flinter,I have less problems and the ignition is faster once you get the hang of it,just keep on practicing! you'll get 'er.

I remember a primitive hunt for Elk on the Washington coast Near a little town called Forks. There were three of us on this little trapping party. Two cappers, a lyman and a special make .62 with a musket cap. Just made special for huntin (this here musket cap is the answer boys). My friends poo pooed my smoth bore flinter. It was one of curly's early trade guns that I'd screwed together. It rained 4 days straight. Every night at camp we'd shoot our guns clean em and get ready for the next days hunt. The first night it was funny when the cappers wouldn't go but my flinter did. It became un funny every night after that the cappers wouldn't go but my good ol flinter cleared it's throat everytime. The caplocks would fire on the second cap. Now, pop a cap when ol' Mossy Horn, his royal elk self is giving you the mother of all broadsides? That friends, is a whole nuther story. That hunt put a stake in it for me. Flintlocks for life!

regards, stump.

Stump,
I've been toying with hunting around Forks. There are lots of zip-gun hunters over there--you know, the kind that puts the powder in one of those enclosed brass tubes with the percussion cap on one end and some kind of conical projectile on the other. Did you hunt in the regular season, or do I read the regs wrong and missed the ML season for over there? Did you hunt private land or the Nat'l. Forest?
I've hunted over north of Rimrock lake, where it's a bit drier. Never saw an elk close enough for my longbow.

Dick

Dick,

It used to be a dandy ML hunt back in the 80's Fact is my first ML deer was in the physt unit (hope I spelled that right). I don't remember the name of the unit I was in for Elk though. Maybe it was an elk numbered unit. I was hunting on private land iffn I recall correctly, um, some big outfit like champion or weyerhauser. We went in on the mainline oh, about 5 miles south of forks and headed west, them loping north on the mainline. if that makes sense. Lot's of bunnies and grouse to chase. We amused ourselves calling in coyotes also. Sounds like it is another ML hunt that has been "reallocated"

regards, stump

I only read this discussion up to page one so maybe somebody said this. When I first got into shooting flintlocks I found an interesting article. The author suggested drilling the touch hole with a bevel, mine was a 60 degree bevel. It worked great. To make sure I explained that correctly I'll recap. Normally you have a straight tube connecting your pan and charge, the sides parallel to each other. If this gets filled it creates a fuse. After drilling, mine is like a funnel pointing towards the pan. The author of the article suggested drilling close enough to the pan so you could actually knock some of your charge into your pan. I just have a cheap Cabela's Hawken rifle but it worked great! Has anyone else ever heard of this?

Hey y'all i shoot a T/C Flint Hawken always worked great, have some pards that have done the cone thing and most gun maker here in VA swear by it! Keep your bible close and your lock dry!!

Can't say that I've ever hunted up Fork's way but do hunt the Dotty Hills, Fall River, North River, Near Aberdeen and the Coweeman area down by Kalama. All the deer I've taken were from the North River and the Coweeman.

Some years back, I hunted the Yale unit. That's where my partner got his elk. Load fast and aim slow.

Hey Coon! Buy that Bess and we'll help you for sure....my first flinter was a Bess so I learned on it. It was frustrating that first day but we can set you straight so you'll enjoy your first day out with her. I can tell you what loads and powder to use or what ever else you might think of. Wish I never got rid of my Bess but did and I'd make my own if I wanted another one. I got a Pedersoli and she treated me just fine!