Mike, I really enjoy the way you discus in your videos how there are different ways to go about shooting/handling/cleaning black powder guns; and how you mention several different options, you state what works for you, but you don’t criticize other people who choose to do it differently. I used to work in a gun shop in KY and there would be no end to the number of opinions and how quick people jump on others for not having the same firearm philosophy as they do. You seem to make your content with the humble perspective of, “Based on my experience and current knowledge, this is what I think works best.” With all the puffed up egos there are in the gun world, you seemed to stay both humble and confident. I have always appreciated that watching your videos.

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the kind words. I appreciate it.

Ballistol is a gift from God.

49 year who dabbled in inline percussion cap hunting over 20 years ago and find myself drawn back to the old ways more and more, like setting my x-bow and compound bow aside and shooting traditional. I'm the same way with my woodworking and carving. Anyway, I am in the market for a flintlock and this series has been extremely helpful. You present well and your experience and passion is evident. Thank you for the effort you put into this

Thank you for the video. Funny how they're both good and bad. Good because I always learn something. Bad because I realize how little I actually know. Hahaha... Thanks again.

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching them.

I’m interested in getting into flintlocks. They look fun to shoot, and there’s a romance to ‘em that modern firearms just don’t have. I’ve watched all 3 of your beginners videos and they’ve been great and informative. Thank you for doing this!

I'm a "Bass". I'll Bite! Is this a Ball "Bag", or a Ball "Sack?" Dixie and Track have great customer service, wish I could drive to either! Keep the Smoke Poles SMOKING!

This has been a great series and I appreciate it so much it has taught me a lot and I plan to put it to use. Thanks again! Have a great day stay safe and keep your powder dry!

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

We love the Log Cabin Shop. My son, Daughter and I are in a Gun building class there as we speak.

Hey Mike thanks the series, after 60 years of shooting just getting into black powder. Have brought a 40 cal Lancaster flintlock. Your beginners series has been great. Regards kiwi

Besides picking up the accouterments online or at a store, many of them can be made yourself by hand. Powder horns, measures, bags, etcetera were all hand made, usually by their owners in most cases. Great series, as usual.

Thanks Mike, I am on a learning curve with a flintlockrifle and this has been a great help.

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you found it useful

I can not thank you enough for this series! Although I'm not new to black powder, I am planning on buying my first flint lock within the next few months. These videos were just perfect timing.

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

I think you'll enjoy shooting a flintlock. Good luck.

👍 I watched all 3 videos in this series and found them to be very interesting. Certainly wish they had been available when I started shooting flintlock firearms. Thank you doing these.

I made my own horn, I enjoy making all my equipment I can. I have done business with Track of the Wolf a few times, excellent company

Thank you for this series! I live in PA and have been considering getting into our flintlock deer season here and this has been invaluable information to get my started!

Thanks Mike , another great video learning a lot from this series.

I personally use hot water with a little soap, and followup with dry patches, and finally a patch soaked in Ballistol. If the barrel is wedged, I remove it from the stock and submerge the flash hole in water and run a patch in and out. Nice series Mike. Things I would add are a rifle cover and a cows knee when the weather is bad. Great videos!

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

good suggestions

I use cut up scraps of old t shirts as cleaning patches. I have been using boiling water as a solvent, but if cold water is good enough I'll go for that.

@warmachine_1396

2 жыл бұрын

I use boiling water also on my BP revolvers as it does a wonderful job of removing the corrosive salts and residue and also evaporates quickly leaving the gun dry for oiling.

I'm no longer on Facebook so I can't contact you there, initials were K.M.. I liked the bird videos you used to put on there. However, what I stopped in for today was to let you know I had instantaneous ignition through a series of shots with my new Kibler Southern Mountain the other day. For me that is amazing. You can find a photo of it on the Kibler website in the photos and being used in the description of the SMR. It is shown on pegs in a window on that page. Catch you later, Mr. Believue.

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

That's great! The make the best kits on the market.

Great series Mike. Thank you.

The Log Cabin Store not only has an excellent online store but an even more spectacular physical brick and mortar store to visit complete with a range a fabulous museum on site and they have a presence at events in Ohio at least but possibly elsewhere but they also host their own 17th and 18th Century Crafts Fair every Fall complete with gunmakers blacksmiths weavers carvers and so on

Just finished the 3 part series- great job- very well put together- loads of information- thanks

19:00 I'll have you know I didn't laugh until you pointed it out. Again, awesome video and the best resource available. I've got everything but my gun in the mail.

Flintlocks Inc. in Nineveh, Indiana I got all stuff for the first rifle I built. It was a .58 cal Southern Mountain rifle some 46 years ago! Jerry my friend the owner past but his son cares on, great people!

I always spray my guns with oli on range, after i'm done shooting. Then they can wait 1-2 days for cleaning, no problem. Just like you said, cold water works fine for me. I clean my guns with water and olied patches, then add some oil, and it's done.

Talk about "flash over rusting"! Several years ago, I tried cleaning a percussion rifle (T/C Renegade) with the hot water method. First time trying it. I have well water. With NO water conditioner. The iron content in our water is over the top! I was introducing "rust" onto and in the rifle every cleaning. I tried several preservatives with no luck. I stopped the hot water baths after realizing this. No problems since!

Very good video mike, like always very informative. I always learn something from every video and I have been shooting black powder for a few years now. There is a good shop here in Pa it’s called Abe’s general store in oil city Pa. if someone needs help as long as they are willing to drive to their store they are willing to help. They are having a black powder shoot out in October

Three very informative videos, possibly the best on KZread,, l have sent a link to a number of new flintlock shooters in my club. For some time there has been talk about the safety of the small brass priming flasks. About four weeks ago a member of my club ,shooting on an other range, had a priming explosion next to his chest, the back plug was only stopped going further into his body by his rib bone , he was back shooting again a week later, Most of the flintlock shooters are now replacing the brass plug with a cork.

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

That's interesting. First time I've heard of one exploding.

@shootdownshootdown90

2 жыл бұрын

@@duelist1954 The shooter,who is a very experienced muzzleloader, was using a bench rest and had tucked his small priming flask out of the way next to his body; but a spark still found its way there .This is a very rare event but I have been told of other accident with powder flasks. I notice in your videos, you always put your priming flask away in a bag or pouch after priming which makes them safe. It might be interesting to film, in slow motion, what happens to the sparks and the fire from the vent when a flintlock is fired.

All three episodes are simply the best. Thank you so much for the volume of information and demonstrations!

Excellent ending to the series Mike all three spots taught me a great deal more then i knew. Makes me wish so much I had the funds to do all this. Thanks Mike Thumbs up!

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you enjoyed the series.

This has been very good, thanks for doing it. Mark

Dualist, you are a legend. In the past 3 years I've caught the black powder bug, I've only seen one other person on the range shooting traditional BP and the one Range Officer who could help me I had finally reconnected with retired to Canada. I don't have any old timers or people my age at the ranges I have around to ask questions. Your channel is a Godsend for people like me trying to feel their way through this new world. THANK YOU!

For anyone out there worried about cleaning BP rifles, I second Dualist's cleaning advice. Hot water was flash rusting my barrel and since then, I just use cold/warm tap water (plain or with dish soap), pump water through it with a patched jag, then follow up with moose milk, then pure Ballistol to finish up. Don't sweat it, don't freak out, don't feel like you've got to buy some super special black powder solvent. I've used those too and all I did was spend a bit more money for largely the same result. I hope this helps someone. For me, a big hang up that kept me from black powder were the cleaning horror stories. It really, really isn't that bad.

As a fairly new flint rifle shooter, I am very grateful for the education, thank you!

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

I'm glad the videos are helping.

I liked the Weaver screwdriver set; especially because it includes a bench block designed for the 1911.

This was a GREAT video series thanks for sharing your time

Great video series Mike, thank you for doing this!

Again great info

Thank you Mike .

Awesome series on flintlocks. Thanks

been to Dixie gun works dad got a couple of flintlock 45 I inherited one of them and all the stuff I need to shoot with(back in the early '70's great place to visit

Great content and informative.

Thank you for this.

Learned a lot watching this series, thank you!

Thank you so much for this well put together series.👌🤠👍

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you liked it.

Thanck you from France.

Thanks Mike

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

My pleasure.

Thanks for this series, I've always wanted to get into BP and this has been invaluable. If possible could you create a troubleshooting installment? For example, what do you recommend when you load up a ball and it doesn't go off.

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

I recommend swearing profusely. It doesn't move the ball, but it does make me feel better.

@michaelhrivnak1719

2 жыл бұрын

@@duelist1954 Yes. Temper tantrums rarely end well. A good cussing soothes the soul (unless the wife is present)

Enjoyed this series

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you liked it.

Excellent series of videos.

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Very good tips there! Thanks

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you found them helpful.

Hi Mike. Thanks for sharing another one.

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

My pleasure

You're doing alot better than me I started a series like this awhile ago and I've yet to make the second episode lol.

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

Better get busy then... :)

@Real11BangBang

2 жыл бұрын

@@duelist1954 Wow KZread didn't notify about your reply. Welp five months I did end up making part 2 but I'm currently deployed with the Army so part 3 could be a while out.

Thanks for this series Mike, this will be where I send new flintlock enthusiasts to so they can learn.

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

Good! I hope it helps them.

nice job

Thanks

Mike, really enjoying your videos. I spent my childhood in muzzleloading and now that I finally have time I am getting back into it. I would really like a video or explanation on your lamb's tallow lube. Sourcing and rendering? I appreciate the nice work on the videos, keep 'em coming. Thanks

Cold water and olive oil after the bore is dry is my go to method.I used to use scalding hot water and would constantly get rust.After I went to cold water that stopped.

I've always wondered about Ballistol saying it is water soluble oil. No oil is really water soluble, but becomes that way if a little detergent is added, especially for thinner, finer oils. Pure oil and pure water are immiscible, having an advertisement say otherwise doesn't convince me of anything other than that the product is not pure oil. I don't deny that it works, only what it is. It is advertising puffery imo. (Puffery is the advertising law term that means not exactly the truth, but legal).

I've taken to tying a vent pick to the trigger guard of my flintlocks, that way I've always got one handy on every gun. Then I run a spare vent pick (or two) in my cleaning/spare parts kit, just is case.

Hi from Syracuse NY brother and thank you for sharing your thoughts and adventures and information

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching.

@earlshaner4441

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing important facts and truth about flint lock muzzleloaders. Do you think you can the same facts and truth about percussion muzzleloaders?

Great series thanks! I use a Pedersoli Mortimer and a Pedersoli Charles Moore flintlock pistol in target matches. The Mortimer rifle is very good indeed. However it has a patent breech which needs special cleaning attention, and when its not cleaned well is unreliable. The flint pistol is incredibly frustrating so far and your directions on fitting and knapping flints are going to be very useful!

I've noticed that since I became interested in BP as an addition to my other tools that the availability of all components has slipped to the point to being as difficult as centerfire equip and beyond that archery equipment too! 99.999% OOS. It's depressing.

Thank you for these videos! Is that a Jaeger style rifle you show on your title screen? It’s a great looking piece!

Great series Thank you, I 've have problems with ignition. So I haven't shot it for a long time, I was thinking of getting rid of it, but you have given me a renewed interest and hope. I'm going to try the thing you suggested. The flash hole is low in the pan and the flint hits the frizzen a little low past half way and I have to trim the flint by 1/8 or more because it his the frizzen on half cock. Wish me luck. Hope I can get it to fire like yours. Thanks you all your videos I've learned a lot from you. I have bp revolvers problems and thanks to you they now work great.

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

Good luck. Let me know how it goes.

I cleaned my Pietta 1873 after shooting with pyrodex with just ballistol and water. I usually finish with a coat of oil or just ballistol the one time I did not it had rust appear afterwards.

Hi Mike, I bought a couple of military surplus 50 cal Browning machine gun cleaning rods to use as range rods. They came in a pouch and break down into a short compact parcel. Last section is threaded 8-32 for jags, etc and first section sports a T handle...good for bullet pulling. Long enough for most any rifle, remove sections to ram your pistols. If you wait and keep an eye on eBay, cheaper than a new official range rod.

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tip

I use 2 drops of Ivory dishwashing soap to break the surface of the water. I run a wire brush down several times and then use the water. Then oil the gun well when I have clean patches come out. I then scrub the lock and barrel and lightly oil the outside. To hold the flint, I take and beat a ball for the gun flat and if need be trim it around the flint. The jaws for me hold better than leather. Once in a bit I might have to tighten it an eighth or quarter more

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the info

@tomcurran1538

2 жыл бұрын

Never thought of using a RB for the flint holder. Thanks.

@kirkmorrison6131

2 жыл бұрын

@@tomcurran1538 welcome just don't get it to thin

@kirkmorrison6131

2 жыл бұрын

@@duelist1954 welcome tricks I learned primitive hunting

Really enjoyed all three videos in this series and I've learned a few things along the way LOL! I've had three different caplock rifles (still have the last two). First two were kits (CVA & Traditions) the last is a hodgepodge of parts collected from Ebay, and other sources and the stock blank coming from a tree I cut down in my yard years ago (Tulip Poplar). Still no rock lock but you keep pushing me to the edge Mike with these videos so I know a flinter is in my future. Stuart

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

Once you shoot a flintlock you'll be hooked.

@STMwoodturning

2 жыл бұрын

@@duelist1954 probably so

For my range bag i simply use an old reenactment haversack and keep a tin of lube for my cap and ball (40% bees wax and 60% olive oil) a rag to wipe my hands off, a tin of caps, and a small leather pouch of balls. I find that the less amount of crap is best and the best part is everything was given to me besides the gun. Soon i hope to have a flintlock rifle and ill simply use the same bag and whatever else items i can scavenge from around the house and or from the trunk of civil war reenactment stuff. Really loving this black powder stuff though!

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

thanks!

I use balistol for everything that I shoot cast in. Like you you said about the boiling water I try not to get rid of the seasoning in my barrels. Just like a old skillet once the get seasoned the clean up in a snap. Great vid.🤔

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

thanks

At 3:26 , you begin to speak of the video that you had presented some time ago on cleaning flintlocks. I think the video that you're referring to is this one: kzread.info/dash/bejne/X4eIwZWIh8SdlZc.html And that's Part 3, and I'm quite glad that you presented this video series!

Ballistol have clever marketing.

Hi Mike, like your videos. Learned most of this long before the internet. It was a lot slower and more difficult to find the information then. If you were lucky, you could find some at a good library. I got the feeling watching though, that it was necessary to invest thousands in the hobby. That was not historically correct obviously, even counting for inflation. You favor buying hand made gear. I have hand made gear, like our ancestors, I made it. It may not be fashionable for the boutique crowd, but it works fine. Anybody can make a bullet board, a range rod, almost all of this. My point is not that I'm better or more authentic or whatever. Just that it doesn't have to be a rich mans sport.

Quick question, how does one get rid of the surface rust that forms inside the barrel of a smooth bore? I used the boiling water method to expel the horrible fouling buildup, although I ran dry patches soaked with balistol, rust still formed instantly... I saw a video where you took a ramrod and sandpaper + drill to alleviate the fouling issue with your brown bess, would the same method work for removing slight surface rust on my Charleville? great channel love your knowledge! -Sincerely, The Caffeinated Historian

Hi Mike. I've been thoroughly enjoying these videos and greatly appreciate all the hard work that goes into all the filming and editing that's involved in making them. Just an idea, but I think it would be cool to see a video about what not to do, or certain things to keep in mind when loading, shooting, or cleaning a flintlock. For example, as a new shooter, I've had two major "Oh shit" moments when I used too big of a cleaning patch and got my ramrod stuck in the barrel. Seriously thought I was going to need a gunsmith to get it out, lol. My understanding is using a brass cleaning brush is not a good idea either. Also, dry firing the mechanism without a flint in the jaws I hear can damage things, but I don't know for sure. Anyways, things like that. Would really like to see a "What not to do with a flintlock" video. Just a suggestion.

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

Those are good ideas. I'll consider it. Thanks

What guns did the average citizens carry during the flintlock era and what did law enforcement use?

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

There wasn't much in the way of law enforcement in the 18th century. A fowling piece would have been the most common civilian gun.

Baby wipes torn into 4 pieces make excellent cleaning patches, cleaning the outside of the gun and your hands

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tip

Mike, excellent video !! Do you have a strong opinion on the investarms flintlocks now that they are no longer being branded by lyman ? i ask this because i am a lefty and they are the only maker that offers a left handed model that i know of .love your content!!

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

I think they make a very good gun, for the price.

I’m not a flintlock shooter but I’ve enjoyed all three of your videos. I’ve never heard of a bullet block. Maybe this is a dumb question but were they used back in the day? It looks like a very simple but time saving device.

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

Yes. They were used during the 18th century

Great series of videos, Mike. I've learned a lot as I'm a novice flintlock shooter. About the only thing I'm not comfortable with at this point is working with the flint itself -- knapping, replacing, setting in the jaws, etc. Any suggestions?

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

My video on flints will be on KZread Thursday morning.

@howeymusic4091

2 жыл бұрын

@@duelist1954 Outstanding! Thanks for all your help!

Should you remove clean and grease vent liner every time you clean barrel? Only see videos where they plug vent hole and flush inside of barrel. Thank you.

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

No! Never remove the vent liner.

Hello 👋🏾, maybe this was discussed in the videos and I missed it, but what kind of priming powder can be used in the pan? Can you use the same powder you use to load the gun? I’m new to black powder and wanting to learn as much as possible with it

@duelist1954

11 ай бұрын

Most people today use 4Fg or Null-B to prime, but historically people used the same powder as the main charge.

@duelist1954 >>> At about 19:04 in this video: OR you could call it a _"ball sack."_ {Yes, I am sometimes an almost-62 year old adolescent...🤭}

👍👍👍👍

water soluble machining coolant oil?

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

I don't know if it is coolant oil, but it probably is. The guy who used to give it to me back in the 1970s just called it machinist's oil.

Hey Mike, a question as a new flintlock owner. I’ve seen a video and read comments promoting the practice of removing the pins holding the barrel and stock in order to clean the barrel. What are your thoughts on this? Enjoy your videos, keep them coming.

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

I never pull the pins to clean the barrel. It is not necessary, or even desirable

@edwarddesoignie1194

2 жыл бұрын

@@duelist1954 Thank you.

everytime i try to get a catalog from track of the wolf,,,,they always are out of them,,

Use a paper cartridge and you will never dryball. Of course your powder still may be get wet, but that's another story ;)

How many times can you shoot before you need to clean the gun?

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

That depends on the gun. Most of mine are good for at least 25 shots, usually more.

I would love to get into Flintlock. But most of them a little out of my price range.

@michael.w.salter

2 жыл бұрын

Midway has a Kentucky on sale for less than $500.

@LivingFrugalAndPrepping

2 жыл бұрын

@@michael.w.salter Thank you for the information. I will have to check that out.

I dunno if i'd wanna use peroxide as a gun cleaner

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

I don't care to either.

Mr B, this may be a dumb question but I have zero muzzleloading experience.....would I need to maintain the flint in any way or are they completely disposable? I saw another video of a man "sharpening" a flint with a small hammer and it just seemed too complicated for me. I think he broke (3) before successfully sharpening one

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

They are pretty easy to sharpen. I’ll have a video on flints next week.

@tw203809

2 жыл бұрын

@@duelist1954 Thank You Sir

I use a CO2 blaster to blow out the dry ball brother

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

Good point. I had one in the range box, but I never thought of it.

How often and how did soldiers in the Revolutionary war or Civil war clean their muskets? I’m assuming they weren’t able to clean them as thorough as is recommended now.

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

Every day that they shot them

@troymetscher6175

2 жыл бұрын

@@duelist1954 Was it a thorough cleaning with water or just running tow down the barrel to keep them functional? Seems like it would be difficult in war to thoroughly clean thousands of rifles. Thanks for the reply. Love your video’s.

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

@@troymetscher6175 After every fight, soldiers thoroughly cleaned their guns. Otherwise they would have rusted to un-useability in short order. Inspections enforced weapons cleanliness.

@troymetscher6175

2 жыл бұрын

@@duelist1954 I’d be interested to know the most common practice of them accomplishing that. Pretty similar to ours? Water? Soap? Dry it out then bear grease? Sorry for all the questions. Just intrigued.

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

@@troymetscher6175 Just water to clean. Then oil with whale oil or various vegetable oils.

I use boiling hot water myself

Most of the muzzle loaders I know make their own accessories.

@kirkmorrison6131

2 жыл бұрын

I made all my supplies except for one horn I was given. I enjoy making my own stuff. I had a blacksmith buddy help me even make my screwdrivers

@duelist1954

2 жыл бұрын

IA lot of the guys I know do too, and I've made a lot of mine over the years too.

@stevebuckskinner5482

2 жыл бұрын

@@kirkmorrison6131 I've done the same in many cases, but this is a beginner's video. And I'm sure if some of the people watching who are beginners you are beginner's, will probably easily get the idea of making their own stuff. It is good to know where you can get some of these things that you may not be privy to making yourself. Some people just don't have the time or skill to make their own stuff.

@kirkmorrison6131

2 жыл бұрын

@@stevebuckskinner5482 True, I just wanted to give them the idea that it isn't, hard to make a lot of your gear. The expense of kitting out can be a bit daunting after the Rifle and ordering powder

That is not a bag that holds your ammo. It is a sack.

ballistol smell makes me gag

@duelist1954 >>> _P.I.A._ = _Pain In the ANATOMY_ 😊😊😊