How Fast Does A Flintlock Fire
- Thread starter kwhi43
- Start date
Jbar4Ranch
New member
A properly tuned flintlock's lock time is virtually indistinguishable from a percussion gun to most shooters.
Properly done, a flintlock fires faster than a percussion gun because the hammer of a percussion gun has to get all the way down before the cap will fire, whereas the sparks will set off the pan charge, setting off the barrel charge before the hammer falls all the way.
The Doc is out now.
The Doc is out now.
A flintlock is faster than a caplock -- interesting opinion, however, I don't think that's right. 'course the pan has to ignite and then a hot gas jet has to find its way into the touch hole in a flintlock.
Let's see...
Watch particularly the second video on the first link...
http://www.blackpowdermag.com/featured-articles/ultra-high-speed-flintlock-movie.php
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzgVnH6uEP0
I know a caplock is significantly more reliable and shooters usually even intuitively feel they are faster which I am pretty sure is supported by the evidence. Flints even LOOK slow -- the pan is still igniting when the hammer is all the way down. I'm also pretty sure the relative locktimes have been well measured and someone else can go get that data...
In full disclosure I had a professional association with one of the parties represented in these videos.
Let's see...
Watch particularly the second video on the first link...
http://www.blackpowdermag.com/featured-articles/ultra-high-speed-flintlock-movie.php
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzgVnH6uEP0
I know a caplock is significantly more reliable and shooters usually even intuitively feel they are faster which I am pretty sure is supported by the evidence. Flints even LOOK slow -- the pan is still igniting when the hammer is all the way down. I'm also pretty sure the relative locktimes have been well measured and someone else can go get that data...
In full disclosure I had a professional association with one of the parties represented in these videos.
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Gehrhard, I agree that flinters CAN be slower. In no way do I agree that it's a foregone conclusion that they are, your videos and other shooters' intuitive feelings notwithstanding.
I actually agreed with you back when all I shot was my T/C Hawken with a replacement percussion lock from L&R - it is fast. But I bought a flintlock smoothbore from NorthStar West a few years back and that changed my mind altogether.
Granted, a flintlock MAY require more tuning than a caplock. But a properly tuned flinter loses absolutely nothing in ignition time to a percussion gun. And I've actually found the flinter to be more reliable than my caplock on occasion. Just FYI, the cap gun has the replacement lock, updated triggers and a replacement barrel from Green Mountain. So all the components there are very high quality. The flinter still easily performs neck-and-neck with it on ignition time.
I actually agreed with you back when all I shot was my T/C Hawken with a replacement percussion lock from L&R - it is fast. But I bought a flintlock smoothbore from NorthStar West a few years back and that changed my mind altogether.
Granted, a flintlock MAY require more tuning than a caplock. But a properly tuned flinter loses absolutely nothing in ignition time to a percussion gun. And I've actually found the flinter to be more reliable than my caplock on occasion. Just FYI, the cap gun has the replacement lock, updated triggers and a replacement barrel from Green Mountain. So all the components there are very high quality. The flinter still easily performs neck-and-neck with it on ignition time.
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The World Is Flat -- I Have Faith And Just Know It!
You can lead a horse to water...
Percussion caplocks are SIGNIFICANTLY faster than flints. There is just no debate and really hasn't been for a few years now!
http://muzzleloadermag.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/20610091/m/274106511
Pletch's analysis' of '07, '09 and on (including his own recent summary and thesis defense here)
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/262480/tp/3/
were state of the art, comprehensive, well documented, and more than just peer reviewed. And back to my analogy, he had no horse in this race!
You can lead a horse to water...
Percussion caplocks are SIGNIFICANTLY faster than flints. There is just no debate and really hasn't been for a few years now!
http://muzzleloadermag.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/20610091/m/274106511
Pletch's analysis' of '07, '09 and on (including his own recent summary and thesis defense here)
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/262480/tp/3/
were state of the art, comprehensive, well documented, and more than just peer reviewed. And back to my analogy, he had no horse in this race!
philthephlier
New member
A well tuned flintlock......
will fire the load easily with the rifle held upside down and with a minimal amount of fine powder in the pan. Than means the powder is being ignited after falling out of the pan from gravity. That's pretty fast locktime. Many flinters, not properly tuned have a noticeable two stage ignition. A properly tuned lock cannot be heard that way. Just one loud crack.
will fire the load easily with the rifle held upside down and with a minimal amount of fine powder in the pan. Than means the powder is being ignited after falling out of the pan from gravity. That's pretty fast locktime. Many flinters, not properly tuned have a noticeable two stage ignition. A properly tuned lock cannot be heard that way. Just one loud crack.