I have read that people in the old days used to put a feather in the loaded rifle's touchhole. This was meant to tell the user that it's loaded, kept the touchhole free of crud and stopped moisture creeping in through there. Also after removing the feather it worked as if someone just vent picked the charge.

@mrdinme.4768

Жыл бұрын

Yes, was going to pass on the same info

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

I've read the same. This backyard test really backs up the research!

@trentnichols5075

Жыл бұрын

The reason most of us hunt black powder is b/c of the archaic nature of it. We also don’t use trailCams (for the most part) neither. lol. Good video.

@johnmullholand2044

Жыл бұрын

@@jonathanrichard1919 I had something similar happen to me. I was shooting in the back yard, and the flint quit sparking. Went inside and fiddled with sharpening the flint, with a load in the bore. Didn't think it would fire at all without priming. One hot spark directly into the touch hole, and a new hole in my ceiling. LOL

@gsnicholas8522

Жыл бұрын

If a feather isn’t readily available, a round toothpick is a good substitute.

I liked the squirrel yelling at you while it wasn’t going off. 😅

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

The squirrels around here keep me humble

Great video. I've left my flintlock loaded for months at a time, but leaned in the corner in the kitchen. No prime in the pan of course but feather in the touch hole. Once it sat there late December through May. I saw a coyote sneaking on the chicken coop. Picked the vent, primed the pan and put a buck and ball load through the hen thief! Lucky shot but no delay.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Wow! Good job!!

@dalemoss4684

Жыл бұрын

Impressive! I suppose that's what the old timers would have done..

@Quincy_Morris

Жыл бұрын

Jolly good show

@PNWOUTDOORS7923

Жыл бұрын

I shot a flintlock at a coyote from 20 yds and it didn’t kill it I shot it 3 times and it didn’t die so I don’t trust flintlocks

I have a tip for all you flinch lockers when you are out in the woods and the snow is falling or drifting about one more way to help your boomer to speak when asked is to carry an old plastic bread bag on your person slide the muzzle in to the bag and force it through the bag and slip it up over the lock and down the wrist of the stock wrap rubber bands or Velcro strap around it at both ends. Repelling moisture is a plus! You're welcome

Now you know why the rifle was hung over the fireplace, the driest, warmest place in the cabin:)

@OutnBacker

Жыл бұрын

It's also one of the prime reasons that we have so few nice examples of orignal rifles. The stocks got so dry and brittle that they just split away, leaving any inheritor with a very expensive repair. Many people couldn't afford it and probably just sold off the remaining barrel and lock, which got modified by who knows who. There's a lot of patched up, damaged stocks on rifles that are now worth nothing.

EX- 777 guy here. Blackpowder and Flintlocks only. Lol, excellent video Ethan. Forget to mention, in foul weather I pull the ball every day.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching Jack! I'm so glad your flintlock experience has improved!

Good practice is to pick the touch hole before each shot. One practice I've heard about is that rifleman would insert a bird feather in the touch hole before they loaded and kept it there until they were ready to fire. I believe this because some rifles have a little hole inlayed into the stock where they could tuck their feather. I'm by no means a cool cucumber, but for some reason I never had trouble with flinching. My only advice is to mentally "ignore" the flash. Put it out of your mind that there will be a flash and realizing that it is not going to hurt you. Aim, ignore and squeeze the trigger. Love your channel and passion for muzzeloading.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tips John!

I’ve left mine loaded once for 5 days between weekend hunts. Quite the delay when I fired it to clear it the following Sunday , it had been loaded for 9 days at that point. That’s in Canada in fall , humid conditions that no doubt contributed to the delay in ignition. I wouldn’t recommend leaving it loaded if you don’t have to. Consider the shot to clear it a practice shot.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Good points Mdog!

Heres some advice to you Flinters you should always pick the hole after sitting over night if you have a would stove or fire place hang it over it or near it if no heat take some paper towel stuff it into the pan and put the lock or frizzen on it you can walk around all day remove when you want to prime or use it when you store the gun for a few days

Good test in this video. I have let my flintlocks loaded in hunting season for up to two weeks with no problems with ignition. If I am hunting in the rain or extreamly wet conditions I do not do this. When I leave them loaded, I always pick the vent hole before priming. I do always bring them into the house when done hunting and so far have had no problems. I do a lot of hunting in Spring turkey season and in Flintlock season here in PA. Since I am retired I hunt almost every day.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing Richard! I'm glad you can hunt everyday, that sounds great.

Man, I couldn’t do that, leave my flintlock out there in the elements all alone. I would wake up at night at thinking about rust on that deep blue and I would chicken out on the experiment. You are braver than I. Great video, it was something I had wondered about myself.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Each night I'd light a candle, don my nightcap and bring it a warm cup of milk and tuck it in. 😁

I like to leave a waterproof vent pick securely crammed up tight into the touch hole. I also carefully clean the underside of the flint and the face of the Frizzen after each shot. I clean them with saliva and a little rag. If you leave it overnight, probably also spit clean the pan cover and pan as well. Residue sucks up moisture like crazy.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Good tips, thank you!

As a couple have said, it all comes down to humidity. As with percussion, you need to protect the charge from moisture. For a flintlock, a toothpick (or something similar) in the touch hole should seal the charge from moisture.

Great test!! I love these kinds of videos. Also you did a great job building that Hawken it looks amazing

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Snafu!

I’ve left a flintlock loaded for over a year, during varying weather PA flintlock season is late December into January, left it sit “loaded” (by state law no primer or pan powder is technically unloaded for transport purposes) for a year until next season, sometimes in AC sometimes windows open throughout that year, foggy misty hunts cold dry hunts, its really hard to track exact weather over the period of a year. But it touched off fine.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

That's neat Pntbll! Thank you for sharing!

Another wonderful video! Well done!

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thanks again!

Great video! Glad to see this kind of test out there. I either pull or shoot-out the ball each evening If I am hunting multiple days in row. New charge for each hunting day. You owe it to yourself and the animal you are hunting to have a clean shot.

@wallacejeffery5786

Жыл бұрын

Yep

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

I think it's a safe bet to change the load out too.

Can't count the amount of times that I've left a flint lock loaded for long periods of time obviously without any powder in the pan

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

You guys have all the fun out there!

Excellent review Ethan!

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Jim!

I've left a flinter pistol loaded for a couple years - not the pan, of course. Wooden q-tip in the flash hole and a cork in the muzzle. Touched off slick as can be. Caveat: It was stored indoors next to my bed. Same with a cap-n-ball pistol, sat for at least three and a half years as my bed stand gun. The chamber seal had turned to a wax-like solid, but there was no extra weather treatment at the nipples - just a good fit. All six went off instantly when the buyer tried it out. There have been anecdotal reports of orignal BP guns going off when carelessly handled after 100 years. Can't cite the source, though.

My dad left his Thompson center hawken ( percussion) loaded for probably 6-7 years. He went hunting and never unloaded it, and passed away before he ever got around to it. By the time we discovered it, it was about 7 years later. I put a cap on it, and it fired as if it was just loaded.

I put making tape over end of barrel and tooth pick in touch hole between hunts for as long as 3 weeks with no issues I use fresh prime each outing

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Nice!

Leave my traditions PA pellet rifle loaded for weeks. Never had a problem. Never left it uncased outside though. Left it against a tree during a heavy snow,it got pretty wet, it fired later that day just fine. I painted it with spray paint n clear coated it. Water runs down past the pan long as it's titled up. Much easier to clean up after painting.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Neat!

Good job on a good subject Ethan. I regularly leave my hunting rifle loaded for several months after hunting season if the bore is clean. Here in NW Oklahoma, the late winter and spring weather can very greatly from dry to wet with the humidity going from 30% to 100% and back again. I plug the touch hole with a small feather which effectively seals it and tells me that rifle is loaded. When ready to shoot, I pull the feather, pick the touch hole, prime and shoot. I typically have no issues. TC

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing TC! I appreciate it!

Great video, leaned allot. Thank you so much. 👌🤠👍

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Hey folks, when sharing how long your muzzleloaders have sat loaded, please share the weather conditions. Saying "Well my rifle sat for 30 years and still worked" doesn't help others compare data. Remember, we're trying to share as much as we can to educate and inform. Also, I understand the use of lock covers and feathers in the vent, but wanted sort of an unprotected test. Should have made that more clear in the video. Thanks! Thanks!

@johnmullholand2044

Жыл бұрын

Not quite the same, but I've had my cap and ball revolvers loaded for years, as they are my EDC. Last time I fired them, every chamber fired just fine. Inside, outside, hot or cold weather, dry or rain.

Last December (2022) I loaded my muzzle loader with a double powder load (cap and ball, not flintlock) and let it sit for over nine months. I finally fired it a couple weeks ago and had to prime it to make it work, but it finally fired. Thank goodness I had it in a stand and used a string to fire it cause the recoil was outrageous. 🤣

I think I seen in other videos that old times they used to put a bird feather in the touch hole to keep moisture out. Then prime the pan before use.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Definitely!

Nice video. Thank you

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

So nice of you

Good information Thank you

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

I have shot a load in a flintlock loaded for a year. Always pick the vent and pick powder into the vent. When hunting use 3-f as priming. Four F tends to grab moisture hence your first flash in the test.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tips!

@flintymcduff5417

Жыл бұрын

A flash in the pan indicates the lock and priming worked just like it was supposed to. The touch hole was blocked by something. 3F as primg powder or even 2F makes sense under a lot of conditions but not all. If there is little to no humidity 4F is just fine.

@alex0dell592

Жыл бұрын

Yes, adding the weather makes sense: The rifle loaded for a year was in the shop as it needed lock work. Temperature variations with high Virginia humidity. Once I completed the lock repair I picked some 3f priming into the load and the gun fired with reasonable speed. Most of the time, when hunting, I will not shoot a load out if hunting the next day as long as the weather is not rainy. I will place a cleaning patch in the pan and close the frizzen. The main thing to watch for is using 3F and picking the vent by shoving the puck into the charge and then picking powder into the vent. When hunting if there is a fog or heavy dew I will cover the lock with my coat etc. Even the tightest fitting frizzen will let in moisture. Years ago a firm called Mountain State Muzzelloading sold a water-proofing powder called Raincoat. It worked to keep the priming dry during damp hunts.

My last years fireworks still work great.

I think it’s very important to emphasize this was with the load being left outside. People have concerns they can’t leave the rifle loaded for months indoors because of lube seeping into the charge. I would say inside it could sit indefinitely.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Yes, perhaps I should have emphasized the outdoor aspect of this more? If we consider these being loaded, possibly, all the time during the 18th and 19th century when kept indoors, its easy to picture them sitting for along time with no issue.

Ethan, I guess the Floop did not tell you, the nose cap on your rifle should be just polished. That is how original Hawkens and Gemmers were. Just the nose cap, and just polished steel bright. The same with the tenon guide plates. The Hawken bros and Gemmer, set them to depth, and just left them there. Time and handling will dull them accordingly. I also left my Dragoon, an original, loaded for three years as I used it in my shop. On firing, I had no misfires! However, I had a ring in each chamber of powder. I had not seen that before. All six chambers had that ring. Came off easily, but was something that made me go Hmmmmmm. You should boop the Floop though. He gets lonely.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thanks John! Will have to make sure we boop the floop some more! Perhaps it'll help me this winter!

Not that I recommend it, but I know a guy that left one loaded for a year and it fired. It was in his basement not left outside obviously

@paulstuhrenberg9165

Жыл бұрын

Just did that exact thing loaded up my November no look left it loaded in my basement took it out just this month primed it thing no problem

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Nice!

I load up at the beginning of the season and don't shoot until I get a shot at a deer. That's usually within a day or two! I've never had trouble with mine going off but I always leave mine in the garage or in the truck so it acclimates slowly as temps change. If I was to bring it in the house when it's cold out , metal parts would sweat, and I just don't want to chance that. So I don't do it. Good video Ethan.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

You are one of the professionals so I trust your word on this Brian. Thank you for sharing.

@bkauffman0390

Жыл бұрын

@@ILoveMuzzleloading not a professional at all, just a hard at it hunter.

Very interesting video, watching as a very green ML shooter. As far as your comment about “still learning”, shouldn’t that be all of us, every single day? I spent 35 years in the Fire Service; never stopped try to learn and improve. Even a decade after retirement, I still keep up on emerging skills, and techniques. Keep up the goos work!

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thank you kindly! I agree, we're all still learning!

I have my CVA 32 Squirrel caplock sitting out in the truck right now loaded since last the weekend before last. I haven't had the chance to get back out for small game but I can say that I have done this many time's and never had an issue with it not going off. Not saying that it can happen but I guess I have just been lucky.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

I'd rather have luck than skill anyday!

just came into a muzzleloader, left loaded for 27 years took 4 caps to pop the charge...

Awesome video. I had my custom hunting .50cal Old Army revolver loaded for two years. Fired all five shots at the range without a hitch this past Sunday.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Wow! Did you have it inside or outside?

@Burt3006

Жыл бұрын

​@@ILoveMuzzleloading I have had it both inside here back at home in IL and outside with me constantly for protection and hunting in the Northwoods of the UP for two years. All I did was make sure the front of the cylinder was sealed (homemade deer tallow/beeswax mix). I pulled the old percussion caps and put new ones on and it fired/functioned flawlessly.

i just shot the ball my great grandfather loaded in his Thompson center .50cal in like 1980, trust me you can leave them sit

Everyone has their own experiences... Throughout a day of hunting, every time I reach a stand, I pick the touch-hole, wipe the frizzen with a paper towel and confirm my pan powder is still there, lol (ask me how I learned that one). I also carry a small square of a mesh sand paper and, when I have issues with striking a spark, I'll clear the pan powder and go over the frizzen and the flint lightly and try again. Also, having served in the U.S. Army, when shooting the Light Anti-Tank Weapon (LAW) we were taught to hold on target if it doesn't go off for 10 seconds... I will hold steady on a hang fire for a few 5-6 seconds, just to be sure I'm not bringing down a smoldering charge to go off on my lap. I've had whitetails stand there, looking at me, with a flash in the pan and even had them wait for me to reprime the pan, before running off, lol. Finally, I'll keep a hunting rifle outside during the lunch break but, after being sure it is safe (no powder in the pan) bring it inside if the temp gradient isn't too high. I will start putting a toothpick in the touch hole to help seal that against any moisture... Just some of my experiences to share with the group. Thanks for the video!

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for sharing and thank you for your service!

I've left mine loaded for over a year now. Gotta wait for the Spring to test it.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Awesome!

Great video as usual. I've got some tips for you though. If you clean the rifle normally, then clean it with denatured alcohol, you will get better results. Don't forget to put a wad of alcohol wet patch material down against the breech face, and twist that around with the worm in there. Let the rifle dry completely (run dry patches again) and then load it. Also, if it's going to sit, like a day, hours, or seven days, wad up some paper towel, jam that against the touch-hole, and lower the hammer and flint down on it. Use enough that the hammer (cock) and flint hold it down securely. A wad of kleenex will work, or some good and dry patch material. Be aware that sometimes what seems to be moisture on the pan after sitting is actually oil or cleaning solution seeping up from between the barrel and lock. That can also seep into the touch-hole. I can leave my Jeager loaded for months without miss-fire or hang fire. Also, when your rifle remains loaded for a time, the lubed patch around the ball will contaminate the main charge to some extent. In that case, use a dry wool wad between the ball and powder. No offense, but get rid of that agate!!! Okay, love the channel, you is doing good. !!!

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Kne York! These are some great tips! No offense taken! I'm learning!

Plug that touch hole with a tooth pick when hunting with the same charge for a longer period of time. Hunting hogs in Oklahomas humidity taught me this trick to keeping the charge in the barrel, fresh and dry. It also taught me to change the pan powder every 10 minutes or else that 4f turned to goo! LOL.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

LOL Changing the pan every 10 minutes would get ROUGH. Thanks for sharing!

When I store mine with a charge in the bore, I plug the touch hole with a round toothpick.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Good tip Bill!

Great video. I would think so many variables would come into play. I do not have much experience with traditional blackpowder. The only thing I would have done differently is plugged the vent while letting the rifle sit.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Gil! I agree, pluggin the vent will help!

@Quincy_Morris

Жыл бұрын

Rifle? I thought it was a musket.

Left my flintlock loaded November 21 just shot it last week no problems stored in my basement.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Dave. I agree pluggin the touch hole would help in any condition. I thought it might be informative to show without for the video to see any success/failure Thanks for noticing that, I was wondering if anyone would. I try to balance time with the video by trimming extra where I can. I usually find that if I show the whole loading process at the start, that's where most people are still watching. Do you think the entire loading process is needed to be shown each time? I'm open to any feedback!

cool test. One thing to test next time would be to put a tooth pick in the touch hole when you let it sit over night. It does 2 things, 1) would seal off the powder charge somewhat from the elements and 2) reduce the chance for some errant spark to get in there and make it go bang when you were not ready for a loud noise. Kind of the same idea as the feather someone mentioned down below.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Definitely Jeff. I was hoping this would come across as a "worst case", with no cover or plug. I appreciate you watching and sharing your thoughts.

When you say you left the rifle outside for each of the tests, was it under cover? I can imagine leaving your rifle loaded while you go in your house, but I can't imagine leaving it literally outside. Perhaps on a porch or something under a roofline. Thanks for sharing this video and results.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Hi Mark, this was left on the porch, under cover. I had planned to leave them at the loading bench but it began to rain and I thought that might not be the best test. Perhaps another time.

I left my hawken loaded for two weeks during deer season and it fired on the first try.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Nice!

I own percussion rifles and I know from experience moisture will ruin your day. I was out deer hunting, it started snowing I went to shoot and only snapped the cap. I took the nipple out worked a little powder underneath and still no fire, I took it home removed the nipple layed it down for 3 hrs . I heat with wood my house gets very dry , and it fired when I tried it, no hang fire ether. I have left a loaded gun 3 days and it fired. Slight delay.

I have left it loaded but plugged the touch hole with a quill or toothpick I carry a feather in patchwork

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

I'll be talking to my chickens today about some feathers!

I left 2of my modern inline in the barn overnight, on different occasion’s, then loaded in morning, after busting a cap, hoped it might temper the bbl, nope got condensation made load soggy, just snap when I had a shot from either time. Never left my sidelocks loaded more than one night. Im sure its in here but, a small feather quill in the touch hole, may keep out moisture and lets you n others know its loaded just needs a prime.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thank you MrD! What powder were you using in your other rifles? I'm going to have to collect some feathers from my chickens!

@mrdinme.4768

Жыл бұрын

@@ILoveMuzzleloading, In my in-lines I use 2-50grain pellets of 777, loose powder in my side-locks. I have seen, want to try myself, that a spent 22 over the nipple on cap-lock is a great help? “They” say you can even slide it over the cap for walking the field safely.I want to try that. I have used a 1/4”-3/8” nipped piece of (1/8”or 3/16”)fuel line slid over nipple and let hammer rest on the rubber. Oh also keep my guns in gun socks when storing, and acclimating over night outdoors( trying to eliminate that condensation problem). Hope thats enlightening or helpful to some degree. Blessings to you &yours Ethan.

I use pellets and have kept my pistol and ball n cap loaded for 30 days and fired fine. Prob against what you would say due to safety the caps was on them as well. The caps keeps moisture out and pellets are less Lilly to absorb moisture. This is for hunting purposes. Normal shooting I use black power and never leave it loaded. Also I have a wood plug cut out I put in hole for my Flint. I’ve never had an issue and been shooting for 30 yrs.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Great to hear, thank you for sharing!

Used to notice hang fires in my revolvers when i used to use wads and left em loaded long term. Picking always helped... I also noticed after 24 hrs the wads ended up bone dry and my powder was chunkier then with out a wad. Similar test honestly..but lead to me not using wads anymore. With your results and my old ones with a revolver... I suggest plugging the vent with a tooth pick or a feather, see if that helps... The other option would be a cows knee. I do know in fog, a cows knee really helps... Not sure if it'd help in this context though....

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Rumblestrip! This is some good information!

Learn lesson recently. Going through divorce. Wife and about 10 people robbed me. You have to be separated a year before you can get a divorce. Everything is considered community property, even all my stuff before marriage. Sheriff said, "Take her to court. There's nothing he can do.All my black powder guns were loaded. I don't know where they are, but I tried explaining to my lawyer that they are probably destroyed. Over a year, I'm not feeling good about it. Especially in this Louisiana weather. 😡😡😡

@mikeborrelli193

Жыл бұрын

While it sucks to lose a few thousand $$$ in guns just be thankful that you didn't get stuck with having to deal with and pay this horrible person for the next 19 years just to visit your own kid. You got off easy with a very minimal amount emotional damage.. The guns can be easily replaced, Count your blessings and move on..

I have loaded in November and not shot till the next year at a hunters Ed class in the fall, to show that black powder does not weaken with time.. if no moisture gets to it.. now it was on a in-line .50cal, shot at a range with all students safely watchen. I took a poll to see how many thought would go off or not. Out of 16 students I got 4 Said yes. They were right 1 cap and 1 load bang.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

That's great Kevin! Thank you for your efforts to educate the youth!

Nice review. It is helpful to see what may happen under real field conditions. It would also be helpful if someone could repeat these tests using a similar percussion lock rifle and an in-line rifle. If someone of great field experience can also demonstrate what preparation and loading procedure has never failed them in the hunting camps, that would also be very helpful. It would be a shame to lose a deer because of a hang fire or misfire.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thanks John, percussion and inline tests coming later this week and next week.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thank you John. I ran the tests you are asking for alongside this one for a direct comparison. I hope you like them. They'll be out soon.

@dturner2089

Жыл бұрын

Hello John. The guys I hunt with won't allow a loaded gun in camp. They prefer that you shoot soft earth, or a rotten stump, in order to empty the gun, before entering camp.

Hi Ethan. It would be nice if you did those same tests with the percussion Hawken Woodsman. You already know that it is manufactured here, in Spain. I suppose that a percussion rifle would not give these problems with humidity even if it was loaded for several days. It would be a bad thing for a grizzly bear trapper if the gun, loaded several days before, failed to fire because of the humidity. Affectionate greetings from Asturias, in the north of Spain.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Hey! Great to hear from you. I've got a test coming up with a Percussion Hawken from Traditions (made in Spain) coming next week. I hope you like it.

i left a charge in my flintlock once for over two years with the feather in the flash hole. fired off just like it had been loaded seconds before.

Great video,and a small suggestion what I do when I leave my muzzleloader at camp rap my lock with a oiled rag

@GO_OutDoors

Жыл бұрын

Do you cover the frizzen?

@Jeff-oc6me

Жыл бұрын

Yes cover the hole thing and put another one as a small plug in the muzzle it will help keep the power dryer

@Jeff-oc6me

Жыл бұрын

@@GO_OutDoors yes cover the whole thing and put a small piece in the muzzle and it will help keep your powder dryer

@GO_OutDoors

Жыл бұрын

@@Jeff-oc6me I would be worried about get the oil on the frizzen and flint and it not sparking when you go out.

@Jeff-oc6me

Жыл бұрын

@@GO_OutDoors you have to close your frizzin and hammer and just rap the outside of them and you want the cloth oiled lightly, I use mink oiled cloth. Get the cloth really good and hot, put it in the oven or dryer then once it's good and hot put it in the mink oil, soak it good then ring it out and let it dry like you would do for your boots,then form it around that part of the gun and succure it with a few rubber bands and Bob's your uncle.

Really wish you would have used a cows knee and a tampion, also touching the frizzen with your thumb releases oils onto the frizzen, I have found that a woolen sleeve is the best when combatting dew, or waiting until the afternoon to fire, living outside with a flintlock connects you in a real way with weather and the moisture in the air. Just blowing the pan empty can release enough moisture from your breath to make things rough. I think if you try this again with wool over the lock and muzzle you will be surprised. If nothing else unprime and bring your flintlock under the covers with you all night, that always guaranty's sure fire in the morning, prime trigger squeeze and bang. She is a lady but if you get her wet or moist, she is not fun like a human lady.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching and thanks for the tips!

I think a touchhole feather is the answer both for safety and protection for the powder.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

I think so too. What kind of bird should I find to buy a feather from?

@mikaelhellgren6781

Жыл бұрын

I am living in Sweden and every time i take a walk in the forest i have my eyes looking fore touchhole feathers. Any smallbird feather will doo. Ecscuse my english! 😉 You have a great chanel!

@mikaelhellgren6781

Жыл бұрын

Today i found a woodpecker. The tailfeathers works just fine!

7 days is a long time for any load to sit. I've found impact changes after days of even blackhorn 209 in an inline.

My cap and ball has stayed loaded in southern humidity for months and 4 out of 5 worked fine, the 5 th was a cap issue

I've kept many of my black powder guns loaded for extended periods of time. Remember black powder isn't necessarily corrosive until after it's fired, or possibly exposed to moisture. I have a replica 3rd model dragoon pistol I kept loaded for 7 years. Tight fitting balls covered with beeswax, and tight caps kept the powder dry. Of course I live in a modern, climate controlled house, not a log cabin, but all six chambers fired when I got around to testing the charges.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Very interesting! THanks for sharing!

Another good video! As others have said, blocking the vent with a vent pick or a feather works well. As to the flint. A lot depends on the geometry of the lock and the hardness of the frizzen. I've gotten reasonable ignition with a flint as dull as the one you showed. I don't have that much experience with cut agate flints, but I ofttimes knap stone flints to get more shots out of that individual flint. I have sharpened some flints by rubbing them on sandpaper to reshape the flint and then knap as needed. Our ancestors used and knapped a flint until the flint would be worn down so small it would barely fit in the jaws of the cock.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the insight!

Try cleaning off the darn flint and frizzen before priming the pan. Also the type of flints and sharpness of said flints play a hugh roll along with the quality of the lock geometry with regards to frizzen flint position and touch hole placement. When the gun is set up properly the reliability is a foregone conclusion. Your loading proceedures also set you up for consistant ignition.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Denis, all good tips!

It all comes down to humidity. Early muzzleloader season on the east coast I've had firing issues if I hunted all day and tried to shoot something later in the day.

Ethan great video, thank you for helping us with our homework. My question is where are you getting your black powder these day , since the demise of Goex(May it Rest In Peace) .

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

I have been shooting Schuetzen and Swiss Blackpowder all year and before. I’m a big fan of it. Schuetzen will be the closer to GOEX, but it is a couple bucks more a pound. I think 25-27 these days. Schuetzen Energetics has worked hard to continue to import powder through the shortages

I left a cheap muzzle loader loaded without a cap in place for 2 years, in closet. The ramrod was in the barrel to remind me that it was loaded. Hunting season came back around and I put a cap on nipple and it went bang. Keep your powder dry.

That's why percussion caps were such a big deal.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Definitely.

Very nice. So do most muzzle loader hunters usually shoot off the round before exiting the woods?

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

It seems to be split depending on the conditions. Some shoot it off and some will let it sit. Many who ask are newcomers who, like me, haven't done it before. Lots of experienced folks are leaving their thoughts in the comments. They might give you some more insight.

I have had two occasions while elk hunting in Arizona in October where I have left my muzzleloader loaded with the musket cap removed overnight and had it not function the next morning on and Elk. had to remove the nipple put powder underneath it replace a nipple new cap and have it work but lost Elk because of it.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm sure others will find it informative!

to make your gun shoot faster, don't worry about leveling powder in the pan, put a small amount to the right side of the pan away from the vent hole, do not spread it across the pan. when you level it across it burns like a fuse instead of red hot gas like it should,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

I've heard that a lot and tried it. Even in slow motion I have trouble distinguishing the difference. Not discrediting your advice at all, I encourage folks to try it. I've found that each lock likes something different. My kibler will go off with a few grains. This Investarms lock has a very small pan, about 1/4 the size of the typical Siler/Chambers lock and it wants a full pan. Thanks for watching!

Do yourself a huge favor and throw those cut agate “flints” in the trash. Get yourself some real knapped flints. It doesn’t matter if they’re English, French amber, or made from one of our harder domestic cherts. They all work equally well.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Oh... I store my guns inside... sooo... temp and humidity vary from what is outside. in my living room my humidly is 56% right now

I would think it would just have to plug that flash hole so no moisture that powder couldn't collect anything there and I think you would be fine even after 7 days

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Agreed!

How may grains of powder did you use

I have used a feather in the touch hole or I use q tips. Work well empty pan place q tip up against vent hole and close the frizzen on it. Ethan in really bad condition duck tap or scotch tap over the touch and plastic wrap over the end of the barrel with a rubber band will last for months. I have a wooden lock box I put my gun in outside. Never bring a gun in from the cold to warm because it will sweat.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing Mark! These are good tips.

I always say, if you're going to shoot it once, might as well shoot it 10 times! Still gotta clean it.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Amen!

Keep it in same temp I have had no problems

Ethan, maybe I missed it, but how did you store the rifle after loading it? I'd like to see this with a caplock, maybe even go so far as to test substitutes like T7 and Pyropoop.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Hey man! I stored it without any plugs or covers on the lock/barrel on the porch of my cabin so it was under cover. I've got a T7 caplock test coming but need to film Pyrodex and Caplock BP tests as well.

Just watching a few of these presentations and thought to myself.... I have a can of fffg that's been in my safe for darnn near 40 years... wonder if it still works...

@ILoveMuzzleloading

10 ай бұрын

If it’s dry it’ll work!

Hi Nepal 🇳🇵

You can leave it loaded for years AS LONG AS THERE ISN'T A LOT OF HUMIDITY ..

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Yep! I don't live in a desert though. Thanks for watching!

Just a suggestion, Ethan. You might want to compare using your Kibler as an example. I've frequently left my flintlock loaded overnight. However, it was a custom built gun with a Chambers Large Siler. I always load mine the night before just to save on time before I hit the woods. However, I leave it in garage where it is almost same temperature as outside which can be humid and around freezing temps during deer season. I drive about 50 minutes to hunting area. Bear in mind, my old trucks never get really warm inside in the winter due to floor pans having rust holes, holes in the firewall where I've rerouted a wire, etc. So, I doubt they get much above 50 inside with heaters running full blast. We are redneck KY folk so we often wear coveralls to stand to ride in them in coldest parts of winter. I've never had an issue or delay with them being left loaded 24 to 48 hours plus later. I do pick my vent when loading after sitting. I've never left them loaded longer than maybe 52 hours. My touchholes are drilled out to 1/16 as well. When I load even 2F powder, I will typically get a grain or two that will go in pan before priming. Just my experiences. Not saying they are right or wrong. But, locks on custom guns tend to be less cantankerous than production guns. However, that does not happen 100% of the time.

i use nothing but swiss powder and english flint. it just seems to have worked best for me

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

It's a great combo

I'd like to find a good flintlock

That rifle looks alot like my Lyman Great Plains Rifle

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

I've not confirmed it but I've heard that Investarms made the Lyman rifles for many years.

Would be interesting to see how Pyrodex or 777 would handle this test, they are supposed to really gather moisture.

@jackparmenter2649

Жыл бұрын

I have used the triple seven and let my Hawkins rifel set for a week after firing it and it's fine. I've let it set for longer if I haven't fired it and the only thing I noticed was a small delay after a week or so.

@alex0dell592

Жыл бұрын

Pyrotechnics won’t work in a flintlock.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

I've got a test done with 777 and am working on one for Pyrodex. I hope they are informative!

i have had mine loaded for one year and it shot fine, but it was kept inside,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

What if you used a tooth pick in the touch hole?

@mr.mojorisin9999

Жыл бұрын

I use a toothpick, it works for me. I tried a rag under the frizzen that had bore butter on it, left under the porch for a week, it developed surface rust under the frizzen. In central mississippi humidity is really high.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

It would certainly help. I wanted to run this test as a bare bones test to show what would happen. I hope it is informative!

Have you tried a 'Cows' Knee?

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

I've got a few and I think they'd help for sure.

How to unload musket with no shot?

@thegrenade4483

Жыл бұрын

A ball puller. It's like a little screw you thread in the end of your cleaning rod to screw into the ball to pull it out

some of my most accurate shots are done with a hang fire. 8-) .

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

LOL, me too! Gives me more time to aim!

I don't know if anyone else pointed it out, but after a hangfire, you should keep the muzzle pointed at the target for at least thirty seconds. You should not immediately point it up in the air to examine the gun. You continuously and consistently botched it...range story or not.

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Hey thanks!

English flint is the best forget the others

It's sealed once loaded. As long as your bore wasn't oiled excessively and you don't have moisture in the touch hole your good indefinitely

@ILoveMuzzleloading

Жыл бұрын

Yep, in perfect conditions it would be perfect! Thanks for watching!

@flintymcduff5417

Жыл бұрын

So if moisture can get into the touch hole then it isn't sealed is it? It's a hole open to the outside. Hence a feather or toothpick to plug it.