Wet flintlocks in Montana winter woods

[PT7]

The producer of this video is a member of the MLF I'm on. Mr. Ducet created an excellent video, capturing the enjoyable experience of making smoke in the Montana winter woods.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjQKIjJz8D8

I think a person watching this could almost feel the friendly warmth of fire and laughter of friends. I sure would enjoy an outing like this in such a beautiful setting. Much fun ado about much smoke being made!

Hope you enjoy the "experience" also.
PT7

[BigAl52]

This guy makes one of these about every year PT. There fun to watch for sure.

[PT7]

This guy makes one of these about every year PT. There fun to watch for sure.

Yes they are, Al. Ducet posts them in the "General Muzzleloading" forum which is kind of a catch-all forum. I've not been there often since it's not topic-specific forum, and I have missed these videos. Got to check there more often.

And I'm always amazed at the incredible natural beauty of the Northwest. My cousin moved in 2019 from just outside of San Francisco, and bought a 20-acre spread in Cocolalla, ID. That's about 3-1/2 hours due west of where this video was made in the Kalispell, MT area. I'd like to visit my cousin someday and again spend time in the Northwest. Quite a few states to check out for firearms transport (via car) from MO to ID. It would be worth it though.

PT7

[RanchRoper]

Count me in. Kalispel is close.

[Mistered]

Yep looks like a GREAT time!

Not nearly as 'authentic' (but in the 'spirit') the pic below is me on a ML hunt a few years ago not too far from home!

Yea I know, goofy looking hat but it was all I had in the motorhome when I went and it kept my ears warm!

ML.jpg (59.83 KiB) Viewed 5036 times

[PT7]

Count me in. Kalispel is close.

Definitely closer for you, RR.

MapQuest tells me that from KCMO to Cocolalla, ID would be 22 hours driving time covering 1,614 miles. I'd guess to keep my lower back from withering away in my VW Beetle the drive would be at the least 4 days, but more than likely 5. When I visit family in southern WI, I drive two days at about 350 miles/day. At a younger age, the whole trip to WI in one long day was a hop-skip-jump, but no longer that easy.

[PT7]

Yep looks like a GREAT time!

Not nearly as 'authentic' (but in the 'spirit') the pic below is me on a ML hunt a few years ago not too far from home!
Yea I know, goofy looking hat but it was all I had in the motorhome when I went and it kept my ears warm!

Keeping the ears warm is more important than "authentic," Ed. Your hat is fine. In the MT woods video I can't go without covering my ears like a number of folk did. So some of those more HC hats wouldn't work for me.

I have a faux-fur grey Russian Trapper hat, which is actually too warm to wear for most of the KCMO winter days. But I have used it at the muzzleloading range on colder, windy days. Today we're under that arctic blast that just moved in from the north, and temp started out at 3* this morning. I plan to get out in the back yard and work on a bird feeder today. So the faux-fur will be my topper.

[North Country Gal]

Enjoyed the vid, too. Although I'm a long way from the West, now, I grew up in the west and miss it, every day. If you want wet winter woods, though, come on up to northern Wisconsin, but bring your snowshoes. You won't get far without them. Running close to three feet of snow, right now, and a lot more winter to come. Par for the course, up in this country. We don't call it snow country for nothing.

[RanchRoper]

The period stuff is part of the fun for sure. Looks like a great time.

[BigAl52]

I havent gone that far with my interest and involvement in makin smoke but I sure do admire those that do. Those guys that have mastered shooting flinchlocks as I call them are guys I really admire. Thats not an easy thing to do and it takes hours of practice with a good quality lock and knowledge of that lock. Theres also much to be said about the flint in that lock and how to keep it sparking for dependable ignition.

[RanchRoper]

Cool when hobbies and lifestyles mix together.

[RanchRoper]

Been watching a bunch of these videos today, very cool. I want to just live like that, except I might not be tough enough. And I'd be by myself because my wife couldn't watch Jeopardy there.


Canadian dealer has a good selection...assume percussion are the cap models.

https://marstar.ca/product-category/fir ... li-musket/

Also interesting is that the Cabelas Canada website sells Hawkens and says no firearms license required to purchase a flintlock.

[PT7]

Been watching a bunch of these videos today, very cool. I want to just live like that, except I might not be tough enough. ~~~ Also interesting is that the Cabelas Canada website sells Hawkens and says no firearms license required to purchase a flintlock.

I'd say you have a "head start" on that lifestyle, RR. You spend a lot of time on horseback, outside in not the friendliest climate. There surely is some toughness already there from those years' experiences.

As I watched the video I posted, the Montana club shot only flintlock rifles. Most of those folk seemed to really have their guns shooting well. I've never shot a flintlock (Al has), but from what I've read and seen at my BP range is that it appears to take more time to learn how to use that lock. I chose to start with a percussion firearm, which was recommended to me as simpler to learn. I like it. Maybe sometime I'll get to shoot a flintlock.

Can you also get a percussion model in Canada without a firearms license as allowed for the flintlock? I was pleased that when I bought my Trapper it came directly to my front door without any paperwork required to be filed. A very nice surprise....an easy and enjoyable purchase. Shooting BP for me, as you know, has been a great change of pace, which I really like.

Sure glad you've enjoyed viewing some of those videos. They are cool .
PT7

[dave77]

Back when I was shooting black powder I got to shoot a friend's flintlock several times. Definitely more of a challenge than a percussion cap rifle, you really have to concentrate on holding on the target after pulling the trigger, there is a noticeable wait for the main powder charge to go off.

[PT7]

Back when I was shooting black powder I got to shoot a friend's flintlock several times. Definitely more of a challenge than a percussion cap rifle, you really have to concentrate on holding on the target after pulling the trigger, there is a noticeable wait for the main powder charge to go off.

Good point, Dave. That was very noticeable in the video. When you shot your friend's flintlock, were you aware of the "flash" in front of your eyes when the powder ignited? Seems to me that it would make "holding on the target" even more of a challenge. Either that, or it happens so quickly it just might be negligible. As I noted earlier, the folk at the flintlock woods shoot for the most part handled their rifles well --- loading, aiming, firing. I would have liked to see some of the target results to get the full picture.

[RanchRoper]

Need a license for percussion models. That's what I would prefer anyway.

[dave77]

I don't remember the smoke from the pan being a big deal but it has been over 20 years since I shot it. Both my friend and a couple other guys were better shots with their flintlocks than I was with my percussion rifle although that was probably at least partly due to weight. My friend had a swamped barrel so was noticeably lighter and better balanced than my rifle. I started with a more modern, shorter BP rifle and was a better shot with it.

https://www.google.com/search?client=fi ... ped+barrel

[dasmoeturhead]

I imagine flintlocks are a bit more challenging than cap and ball. I'll stick with my percussion smoke pole. I need to get my old carcus to a Rendezvous soon. I wonder if my skins still fit. Hmmm might have to work on that belly.
I'd be solo like RanchRoper. For the same reason. Lol.
You definitely have to respect a flintlock shooter.

[mlrifleNY]

Been shooting flintlocks for decades and hunted with them just as long. Used to shoot with the New York State flintlock team and had a ball. A good flintlock will not have a perceivable delay when fired, if it does it is not setup right. A lot of work goes into making one work right.

Jim

[dasmoeturhead]

Been shooting flintlocks for decades and hunted with them just as long. Used to shoot with the New York State flintlock team and had a ball. A good flintlock will not have a perceivable delay when fired, if it does it is not setup right. A lot of work goes into making one work right.

Jim

I imagine it does. I've been deer hunting, and even after snapping off a few caps before loading, when a buck did come into view my rifle failed to ignite. I can see how a flintlock would be even harder, particularly on a hunt.
One must respect those men and women who's life depended on that rifle or musket to go off. We have it so easy now. That's one reason I hunt with a BP Rifle. It's a freaking challenge. It's hands on. Anybody can hunt or shoot a center bore rifle, and pretty much expect it to go Boom when you pull the trigger. Not so much with a Flintlock or BP Smoke pole. If all goes right, when I squeeze the trigger on ole' Bull Thrower, that animal is going down.