[brian226]

Hello all,

I am a newbie to flintlock rifles and I have been browsing here for info but it gets confusing, since it's all new to me.
I read on here some of you guys are shooting powerbelts out of your flintlocks? I purchased a left hand Lyman Deerstalker .50 cal and was hoping i could get some info from you guys on recipes to start with using maxi balls, pb's or whatever. Also, what is the best black powder to use for the ignition and down the barrel. BTW, I looked for Goex and couldn't find it available anywhere in stores near me.

Thank you.

 

[jmbear12]

There's a sticky somewhere here on places to buy black powder... that'd be a good place to start. I'd definitely run black powder, as the synthetics have a higher flash point and may not ignite reliably.

You'll get much more detailed imformation from a lot of folks on here, but I've had good luck with 80 grains of 2F GOEX under a patched round ball, with 4F primer powder. I'd start there and see what your groups look like.

 

[dpms]

Goex, Swiss or Elephant Blackpowder. Use what you can find. Don't sacrifice and go with a substitute in a flintlock. 4F in the pan. 3F or 2F in the barrel. If 2F, 90 grains seems to work well with many folks. If 3F, 80 grains seems to be a good starting point.

If the barrel is 1/66, it is meant for round balls. If it is 1/48, rounds balls or 245 grain PBs will work well. The heavier and therefore longer PB and Maxi Balls don't stabilize well in slower twists. The Hornady Pa Conical is a great choice if you can find them.

My load is 90 grains of 2F behind a 245 grain PB Aerotip.

 

[good ole boy]

Because of safety and regulations you ain,t gonna find real BP in your big box sporting goods store.Gun shops carry it usually if they also carry s/less and have been established for years and keep BP Rifles and supplies.An exception though was a G/Mtn that used to carry it till they closed.

 

[Laylow]

Ever make your own black powder? I have.

 

[huntinlandscaper]

Hello all,

I am a newbie to flintlock rifles and I have been browsing here for info but it gets confusing, since it's all new to me.
I read on here some of you guys are shooting powerbelts out of your flintlocks? I purchased a left hand Lyman Deerstalker .50 cal and was hoping i could get some info from you guys on recipes to start with using maxi balls, pb's or whatever. Also, what is the best black powder to use for the ignition and down the barrel. BTW, I looked for Goex and couldn't find it available anywhere in stores near me.

Thank you.

Ask at your local gun shops for BP, they usually dont have it out on dsplay. Also based on your location go to Dixons muzzleloader shop in Kempton, they have real BP and any muzzleloader supplies you may need for a flintlock.

 

[Loggy]

I second going to Dixons. They carry Goex black powder plus Swiss. I used to shoot Goex but switched to Swiss years ago. Its much cleaner burning plus more uniform granulation. I think your gun has a 1-48 twist barrel which is inbetween a typical slow twisting roundall barrel(1-66 etc) and a faster twistin inline bbl such as a 1-28. I shot 348 powerbelts in a 1-28 bbl and 295 grainers(Aerotips) in a 1-48 with reasonable success. Dixons is a longtime Lyman dealer so if you go there ask what they suggest. Best of luck!

 

[Blue Bird]

You'll get much more detailed imformation from a lot of folks on here, but I've had good luck with 80 grains of 2F GOEX under a patched round ball, with 4F primer powder. I'd start there and see what your groups look like.

This is the exact load I use in my .54 caliber flintlocks. I've killed two deer with that load(so far).

My son shoots 370 grain maxi balls from his Traditions flintlock with 1 48 twist. He also uses 80 grains of 2fg powder.

 

[Leafygreen]

As has been said already.
Head to Dixons in Kempton. Full service shop.
Greg or his wife will tell you 70 grains of 2f, with a .020 patched round ball.
I use a 240 grain Hornady sabot slug, out of a 1 / 66 barrel. With excellent results.
Careful at Dixons though, it can get expensive when you see the fine custom rifles hanging from the ceiling.

If you have cut agate for a flint, toss it. Get a few black English flints in5/8 at Dixons. They'll light a fire.

 

[BerksCoflinter]

Dixon's Muzzleloader Shop is THE outing you must make as a new flintlock shooter. Great suggestions here, but you will get a flintlock education from Greg Dixon, and if you are really lucky, Chuck Dixon may be on hand tending the shop's fire when you arrive. Both these gentlemen, father and son, will readily take as much time as you need to clarify any and all flintlock questions you can possibly think of to ask.


Forty five minutes to an hour total, south on Rt. 61, then east on I-78 to the Kutztown/Krumsville exit to Rt. 737, and finally north on 737 a few miles to the bottom of the hill and a right to the shop. Don't spend all your time looking down at stuff, but also look up at the rifles and smoothbores hanging from the ceiling. You'll think you've stepped back in time!


And, now that you are new to flintlocks, set aside the last weekend in July to attend The Gunmakers Fair at Dixons. But, leave your wallet at home!:smile2:

 

[tdd]

Dixon's Muzzleloader Shop is THE outing you must make as a new flintlock shooter. Great suggestions here, but you will get a flintlock education from Greg Dixon, and if you are really lucky, Chuck Dixon may be on hand tending the shop's fire when you arrive. Both these gentlemen, father and son, will readily take as much time as you need to clarify any and all flintlock questions you can possibly think of to ask.


Forty five minutes to an hour total, south on Rt. 61, then east on I-78 to the Kutztown/Krumsville exit to Rt. 737, and finally north on 737 a few miles to the bottom of the hill and a right to the shop. Don't spend all your time looking down at stuff, but also look up at the rifles and smoothbores hanging from the ceiling. You'll think you've stepped back in time!


And, now that you are new to flintlocks, set aside the last weekend in July to attend The Gunmakers Fair at Dixons. But, leave your wallet at home!:smile2:

Excellent advice. You could also come through Tamaqua/New Tripoli if you like the scenic route and wanna hit Leiby's....

But go to Dixon's. They're closed Wednesdays, though. Just FYI.

 

[BlackBruin]

Wasn't too long ago liebys sat empty.....I turn right just past that miniature golf place and head towards kempton...

 

[brian226]

Thank you everyone for all the great advice and info! I stopped by Dixon's today and was very impressed!