Hunting with flintlocks

Gil Martin · Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 3:41 pm Post subject: Hunting with flintlocks

My preference is for flintlocks and I look for any chance to go hunting with one. I have a .45 caliber T/C Hawken that I take out for woodchucks in the summer and squirrels in the fall. Then we have a just about any muzzleloader antlerless deer season in October which requires a .50 caliber T/C or Lyman. After Christmas, the .54 Lyman comes into use for the traditional muzzleloading deer season. I am still working on buying or building a flintlock shotgun then life will be complete. Anyone else fond of flintlocks? All the best...
Gil

Flint54 · Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 10:42 pm Post subject: Re: Hunting with flintlocks

Love them, they are my FAVORITE!! As you may deduce .54 is my caliber of choice, 1 custom, 1 Lyman in 54, 1 .50 Lyman and a .45 custom. I also have a .54 & .50 TC percussion and a .50 & .54 inline. I prefer hunting with my flints but due to their legnth I use my inlines for most out of state hunts. Packing and traveling with a 42" barreled muzzleloader is a real pain on the airlines, did it once but never again. I solved that problem for Minnesota this spring, had my Father bring my .50 Flint back home with him so it will already be there! Cool

Gil Martin · Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 3:13 pm Post subject: Re: Hunting with flintlocks

I have introduced a few new shooters to flintlocks and the numbers are growing. I recommend a .54 for most hunting situations. I do not see very many .54 caliber muzzleloaders on the used gun racks. All the best...
Gil

Crackshot · Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2006 7:26 pm Post subject: Re: Hunting with flintlocks

I have a THompson Center 50cal Pennsylvannia Hunter percussion, I want a new one in 54 cal but they discontinued them(never made a 54 to begin with) I do have a Green Mountain barrel w 1-70 twist in 54 caliber for the Penn Hunter.
I also have a Dixie Gunworks 32 caliber Tennesse Squirrel rifle that is made in Japan, shoots great, Its aflint lock.
And a Dixie Cub in 40 caliber flintlock.

Hoyt · Rookie Member Joined: Jun 27, 2006 Posts: 7

I just got into flintlocks a couple yrs. ago and they are my favorite type of guns. I decided one yr. I was kinda tired of all the big mag. turkey guns and just wanted to kinda go back to the more simple form of hunting. So I bought a T/C Black mountain mag. 12ga. side lock muzzle loader shotgun. However, soon as I got that gun I knew I had bought the wrong one. I didn't like the screw in chokes, plastic stock nor the camo., but I used it that one season got a good public land
Osceola but knew I had to have a flintlock before the next spring gobbler season.
I soon found out what I wanted didn't come cheap as I thought..didn't know anything about flintlocks..never even held one. Anyway..I went on different forums and learned all I could and built one from Pecatonica River parts. Old Virginia, .62cal. smooth bore just for spring gobbler hunting. Didn't get a shot the first yr. but got my limit of gobblers on public fl, land this past season with it. Got a jake for the table and this mature gobbler. I also built a Bucks Co. 54cal. rifle for deer but didn't get a shot last yr..had my second open heart and then two stints and messed up my gun season..still hunted but didn't get a shot with flintlock.
But I just finished my serious big game flintlock liteweight .58cal.
I'm in the process now of working up a good deer and hog load with it.