Quote:
Originally Posted by HardDrive
Jeff, I wouldn't take a pot shot at an animal. I'll be at the range tomorrow. I did some redneck engineering on the sights. We shall see.
100% reliable? It doesn't sound like there is a cap lock rifle on earth that is 100%. I would guess I had 10-15% failure to fire yesterday. In all instances, the second cap set it off. As long as Mr Deer sticks around an extra 15 seconds and listens to me curse and fumble for a new cap, I'll be fine.
Gun dad is using is a well sorted inline with a scope. Supposedly a tack driver at 100yrds. The last deer my dad shot was 20 ft away. The last one I shot was about 40ft. The hunting we do is up close.
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Actually, when I said "100% reliable" I was referring to accuracy, as in no flyers. Many loads that are approaching optimum will continue to throw a flyer well out of the group. This is obviously not acceptable from a hunting rifle.
Now that you mention it, though, 100% reliability of ignition is expected from the caplock. (I would not accept a 10%-15% failure to fire from the flintlock.) This is all a part of the learning process - there are techniques for achieving utter reliability with the caplock, and getting damn close to it with the flintlock. And I'm talking in the field, in the wind and rain, exposed to the elements. Not under the roof at Kenmore.
The source of your ignition issue is your choice of propellant. Pyrodex is much more difficult to ignite than real black powder. We can't even use it in the flintlock for that very reason. Pyrodex is also the reason for all of the modern 209 shotgun primer ignition systems. One thing you can do to help your situation a bit is to switch to musket caps. This will require a new nipple and, of course, musket caps. I bet Adventure Sports might have both.
Either that or you can switch to black powder. The antiquated ignition system of your Hawken was designed around it, and works quite well with it. If you choose this route, your dad will have to purchase some and have it waiting for you - you can't fly with black powder anymore. I'm not sure you can even buy it around here anymore, so if you want some to try, that could be a problem.
Tell you what - I want to see you get this thing sorted out, so, if you would like, I could meet you at Kenmore tomorrow. The gate doesn't open until noon (and I'll have a hard time getting out of work much sooner than that anyway), so if we are there when they open, that would give us all afternoon to get this thing sorted. I'll even bring a pound of black powder to try. How does that sound?