New Flintlock....need some advice...

[Flatlander.54]

 Hopefully some of you Flinter guys will help me out here. Just got a new Austin&Halleck Flinter Mountain Rifle. Ive never owned or shot a flintlock before and Im wondering mainly about installing the flint. I have heard its best to use a strip of leather between the jaws and flint, and Ive heard its best to use a thin sheet of lead instead of leather. How bout some opinions here to help a guy out?

 Also, the face of the frizzen has 125 written on it in magic marker...im assuming this would be the width of the flint I would need for this rifle? As in, 1 1/4" wide?? Any help, coments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated fellas, thanks.

[PA-Joe]

Most people use leather. I like using a little superglue to hold the leather to the flint. I also like the cut agate flints. To determine the length of your flint - with the frizzen closed there should only be a gap of about 1/16th inch between the edge of the flint and the frizzen. Not sure what the 125 means. You will also have to experiment to see if your gun like the flint bevel up or bevel down. You can test this dry firing. Expect to break of few flints doing this test so buy extra. If you have a local ML shop bring your gun and try out different size and type flints.

You will also have to experiment with different combinations of powder charge, ball and patch thicknesses to see what works best. If you's is a new gun expect it to shoot high. The front sight is normally cut high so that you can file them down. Don't do the filing until your barrel has been broken in (50-100 rounds and it stops cutting patches) and you have a good grouping.

Welcome to the sport!

[roundball]

Hopefully some of you Flinter guys will help me out here. Just got a new Austin&Halleck Flinter Mountain Rifle. Ive never owned or shot a flintlock before and Im wondering mainly about installing the flint. I have heard its best to use a strip of leather between the jaws and flint, and Ive heard its best to use a thin sheet of lead instead of leather. How bout some opinions here to help a guy out?

 Also, the face of the frizzen has 125 written on it in magic marker...I'm assuming this would be the width of the flint I would need for this rifle? As in, 1 1/4" wide?? Any help, coments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated fellas, thanks.

FYI, Flint size is determined by the width of the Frizzen, and when ordering Flints, the size give is that of the frizzen width.
I believe the AH lock is the same size as my TC  Flintlocks and would probably use a 3/4" flint.
I have found that Tom Fuller hand knapped 3/4" Black English flints are hands down the absolute best in TC locks...tried all the others and they're not even close...I average 60-70 shots per flint in my TC locks.
(Flints in the 1+1/8 and 1+1/4"  range are normally found in the largest locks, like those used on large military muskets)

A suggestion aimed at making your entry into Flintlocks as enjoyable as it can be:  Read.
Nothing about shooting Flintlocks is "rocket science", but there are a few variables that have to be learned and once understood, you'll go deer hunting with one like it was a Marlin .30-30 and not even think twice about what you're bringing up to your shoulder.

Here's a few URLs of excellent articles you'll want to save and probably read several times.

http://blackpowderhunting.org/flint1.htm - top

http://www.hunting101.com/gunsandbows/muzzle/the complete hunter muzzleloading001.htm

http://members.aye.net/~bspen/flintlockfaq.html

http://members.aol.com/illinewek/faqs.htm


http://people.howstuffworks.com/flintlock2.htm

http://people.howstuffworks.com/framed.h...intlockfaq.html

http://people.howstuffworks.com/framed.h...faqs/tuning.htm

http://people.howstuffworks.com/framed.h...hart/jkuntz.htm

http://people.howstuffworks.com/framed.h...rg/cnc~lock.htm

http://people.howstuffworks.com/framed.h...ibha/flint1.htm

http://people.howstuffworks.com/framed.h.../wetflints.html

http://people.howstuffworks.com/framed.h...cml/basics.html

[Flatlander.54]

Thanks for the replies fellas I appreciate it. I measured the width of the frizzen and its 7/8", at least I know what size to look for now. Im still curious as to what the "125" means or meant when it was written on the frizzen face. Thnks for the links Roundball, I will deffinately check them out. While not new to blackpowder rifles, (I have shot percussion sidelocks for years) I am new to flintlocks and Im deffinately looking foward to the added challenge. Cant wait to see how Shoultz's system works in this slow twist barrel. Im sure Ill have more questions for you experienced flinters later on, thanks again for the head start.

[Buckskins & Black Powder]

More than likely a production number. My traditions for example has 85 stamped into the barrel, lock and stock. Heck even has the number on the nosecap.