Flintlock Handgun Hunting

PA Flintlock season is here in a few days. Anyone have any thoughts or experience using a flintlock pistol during the season?

Seems to be a few options but I'd be interested to hear from those who have done it. Might be more interesting than carrying the rifle.

I don't have a flint handgun, however years ago I and anyone willing to try used to shoot (just for hoots) a CVA Hawkins 50 cal pistol using 50 grns of fffg and a pillow ticking spit patch with a .490 round ball and #11 CCI caps. At the IHMSA range it would seemingly knock over the pigs a chickens with as much authority as my light loaded 44 mag. With a decent cal. and reasonable ranges I say give it a whirl. Don't forget to let us know how it went.

JCP161: THIS IS NOT AN AREA I CLAIM ANY EXPERTISE ON, NOR HAVE MUCH EXPERIENCE IN, BUT I AM NOT SURE A "FLINTLOCK" USES CAPS FOR IGNITION. A LOT OF GUYS USE MUZZLELOADERS IGNITED BY CAPS, BUT I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY REPORTS HERE OF GUYS USING MUZZLELOADERS WITH A FLINTLOCK IGNITION SYSTEM. WERE YOU SPECIFICALLY ASKING ABOUT "FLINTLOCKS" OR ASKING ABOUT MUZZZLELOADERS, WHICH CAN HAVE A CAP IGNITION SYSTEM OR THE OLDER FLINTLOCK IGNITION SYSTEM?

Flintlock on this one 45MAN. Pennsylvania has a special season for deer that runs from tomorrow to the middle of January that is flintlock only. Wish I could use a percussion cap gun but rules is rules. I?ve used all of the various muzzleloaders over the years and have one of each type in the safe at the moment. No pistols though.😐

That said, other than the ignition system, the powder/ball load would be similar for flint or percussion so if someone has experience using either I?d be interested in the results. Probably have to leave the inlines out just because the loads will be different in most cases.

The slight pause between the pan flash and the "boom" would make things interesting for sure.

didnt use a flinter but shot a big doe with a lymans plains pistol in .54. 33 yards and a pass thru, 60 yards and dead. you wont have any problem killing one with the pistol if you keep em close and hit them in the goodies.

I DID NOT KNOW THAT THERE WERE ANY SPECIAL "FLINTLOCK" SEASONS, NOR DO I RECALL SEEING ANY MODERN MADE FLINTLOCK PISTOLS. WOULD BE NEAT TO SEE SOMEONE USE A FLINTLOCK PISTOL.

jcp.... Look on YouTube and find Ky Afield Flintlock Pistol Hunt. The host uses a flintlock pistol to harvest a deer. Might give you some ideas.

Thank you RSW.
I?ll do that. Tough to find one but I know where a few pistols are close by and handy.

Traditions makes a 50 caliber flintlock handgun.

My cousin actually has one of the Traditions pistols. He seems happy with it but usually uses his rifle. I don't think he has killed a deer with the pistol.

I was looking at the Traditions or the Pedersoli flintlock pistols. Pedersoli are a little more price wise but seemed to be a little better quality material wise.

Not sure how familiar you are with flinters so please forgive in advance. If someone is getting a flash......bang then the gun is not loaded properly or/and the gun is not built to its best. Touch hole drilled to low. touch holes should be drilled so the top of the pan splits the opening. Most common the pan is over filled with powder getting in the touch hole. This causes a fuse like burn and slower ignition. Another problem is having what seems to be 50 gal. of rain water collected in the brim of you Jones cap and when you glance down all that water runs all over and though the frizzen and pan, or at the end of the day blowing out the pan only to have a BIG buck at spitting distance blow right back at you.

A well built flinter is very fast and reliable if it is primed right, BUT GOOD FOLLOW THRU IS VERY IMPORTANT, flint or cap lock.

As for rain the old saying, MAY YOU HAVE GOOD FORTUNE"S AND MAY THE ANGELS NOT PISS IN YOUR PAN still holds true.

I'm not a muzzle loader guy, but that sure sounds like a cool way to hunt.

My new favorite term is "pillow ticking spit patch", even though I have no idea what it means!

Pillow ticking is the material used for patching, a tight weave cotton material. It needs to be washed before use to remove the starch. Makes it taste horrible and keeps it from absorbing lube.

Spit patch is just that, pop the patch in your mouth while loading and the saliva lubes the patch and softens residue left in the barrel from the last shot, not sopping wet just damp. Best used in matches where shots are close together so it doesn't dry out. Most guns will shoot very well with a spit patch. For hunting use a lube.


Black powder is hydroscopic [absorbs water like a sponge] so keeping your powder dry was life and death for our ancestors, as was keeping the flash pan dry. So the saying, May you have good fortune and the Angels not piss in your pan.