Flintlocks
- Thread starter TeeDee
- Start date
This may be of interest. Although it refers to modern powder there is mention of the versatility of a smoothbore, accuracy and ranges. I first stumped across this when I first developed a load for patched ball in my smoothbore (shot on an approved range of course). http://home.insightbb.com/~bspen/SmoothboreLoads.html
OK, just one naive question, why wasn't the mallet and the starter rod the same device? i.e. why didn't the mallet have a metal rod handle?
This guy is great, he is Hungarian, and hunts with all sorts of older guns, wing shooting and roe deer and wild boar, very good videos if you have an interest in historic arms
I suppose you wouldn't want to risk damage to your starter, a mallet could be replaced more easily if broken? Interesting to see how hard it was to load the rifle, I thought it was hard to load my smoothbore. I'm also less worried about using a mallet to start off a patched ball despite the strange looks I get.
I would have thought for ease of use ,as the metal handle would have to be of a bigger diameter than the bore so as to be easier to grip.
Re: Hunting
The various loads of powder charge and projectile were sufficient ( to use RR reply to horsepower) for the chosen game.
People also employed more hunting SKILLS IE stalking, waiting for a favorable shot and KNOWING
Their firearm.
A flintlock has a long ‘lock time’ between pulling the trigger and discharge. A lot can happen in even a few seconds; your heartbeat, muscle tension, a breeze down range.
This is still a factor, although improved. The classic Mauser 98
My favorite , has a massive firing pin
Noticeably slower than a contemporary bolt action. WW1 it was said Germany had the best hunting rifle -98 USA best long range target rifle- Springfield and Remington Enfield and UK best combat rifle -SMLE
All firearms were expensive and dear in price and availability. A famous mountain man waited two years for his Hawken.
The mujahadeen in Afghanistan were still using flintlocks vs The USSR. Those rifles OUTRANGED
The Kalashnikovs!
The extinction of many species certainly shows a firearm is deadly.
The introduction of single shot shotguns in South America vs blowguns led to several monkeys
Being wiped out.
The various loads of powder charge and projectile were sufficient ( to use RR reply to horsepower) for the chosen game.
People also employed more hunting SKILLS IE stalking, waiting for a favorable shot and KNOWING
Their firearm.
A flintlock has a long ‘lock time’ between pulling the trigger and discharge. A lot can happen in even a few seconds; your heartbeat, muscle tension, a breeze down range.
This is still a factor, although improved. The classic Mauser 98
My favorite , has a massive firing pin
Noticeably slower than a contemporary bolt action. WW1 it was said Germany had the best hunting rifle -98 USA best long range target rifle- Springfield and Remington Enfield and UK best combat rifle -SMLE
All firearms were expensive and dear in price and availability. A famous mountain man waited two years for his Hawken.
The mujahadeen in Afghanistan were still using flintlocks vs The USSR. Those rifles OUTRANGED
The Kalashnikovs!
The extinction of many species certainly shows a firearm is deadly.
The introduction of single shot shotguns in South America vs blowguns led to several monkeys
Being wiped out.
Don't underestimate power. A cap and ball revolver was the most powerful handgun until .357 magnum came along. Cap and Ball is a great YouTube channel as is Everything Black Powder.
Adequate ‘stopping power’ is useless if you can’t hit anything.
Stunt men on jerk lines being thrown backwards by a .44 magnum ( terrible combat round)
Look good on film but not real life.
I had a coffee table book on old merchant ships still in service. A Norwegian skipper was transporting grain to North Africa with a shady crew of 3 hired last minute.
The all had .38 spl Victory S&W left from WW2.
He had a rare, .32 SW. a delightful target and small game piece but no
Combat arm.
Informal target practice demonstrated his superior marksmanship. They still tried to hijack the ship. He shot one dead with a headshot and the survivors
Dropped their EMPTIED revolvers and surrendered; failing to even damage the bridge.
Stunt men on jerk lines being thrown backwards by a .44 magnum ( terrible combat round)
Look good on film but not real life.
I had a coffee table book on old merchant ships still in service. A Norwegian skipper was transporting grain to North Africa with a shady crew of 3 hired last minute.
The all had .38 spl Victory S&W left from WW2.
He had a rare, .32 SW. a delightful target and small game piece but no
Combat arm.
Informal target practice demonstrated his superior marksmanship. They still tried to hijack the ship. He shot one dead with a headshot and the survivors
Dropped their EMPTIED revolvers and surrendered; failing to even damage the bridge.
