How to load and shoot a flintlock rifle

[@dustyoldhat3543]

Please keep these type videos coming. I am in need of learning everything about flintlocks and am learning so much. Thank you.

[@duelist1954]

Will do!

[@110665]

What would the muzzleloader world do without you Mike..Ive been shooting and making flinters for 30 years but I still enjoy watching. I still can't understand why someone would rather hunt with an inline.🤔

[@veteranironoutdoors8320]

Because it’s cheaper, and made for dummies. Oh, and they can hype all these new powders, primers, scopes, and bullets and make bigger $$

[@duelist1954]

I can't cozy up to inlines either. I have nothing against them, they just don't float my boat.

[@tomcurran1538]

Maybe the in-liners want a scope. With the primer/ammo shortage, inlines and centerfires are becoming obsolete. I'm using my GPR flinter for all of gun deer season. You can't the smell of real BP.Same with the bow. I have never shot a compound. Last year I started using a long bow.

[@TiroeRicaricaWestern]

Yesterday I've enjoyed the full lenght of the video and today during my lunch break I've enjoyed this great recap on getting started on flintlock rifle shooting. The summary tables you put up in this video are just great and easy to follow. Thanks

[@earlshaner4441]

Thank you brother for sharing your thoughts and adventures and information on muzzleloaders

[@duelist1954]

Any time

[@earlshaner4441]

Thank you brother for sharing the details and information about muzzleloaders and the different classes of black powder and their uses and you answered a question that I had about the smooth bore muzzleloader and yes 3fff black powder can be used in the frizzen of the flint lock

[@rodneywhitfield5754]

Thank You 🙏 Mike Beliveau so very much. I mostly shoot my Ruger Old Armys, (so much for the gun they would always make…. They should in my opinion.. for what it’s worth…) I appreciate every article and video you make.

[@duelist1954]

Thanks! I'm glad you like them.

[@alexcarter2461]

I've been avidly watching your content for a period of time concerning flintlocks, I own three pedersolis, a Brown Bess, A charleville, and a Springfield. Watching your videos has given me the knowledge and how to for my muskets, I'm now able to effectively fire 3 aimed shoots a minute in any weather conditions! Thank you!

[@duelist1954]

That's excellent!

[@TheMwarrior50]

Yknow ive been looking for a comprehensive guide. Just got my first flintlock rifle a few weeks ago.

[@willbowden125]

Thanks for posting this I bought a Kentucky Rifle today so I’ve been looking around for informative videos on the subject and yours has been the most in depth one I’ve seen Instant like and huge thanks

[@knallis.hjemmelading]

Thanks again for the information that you provide you are a wikipedia in black powder

[@guyfox1206]

So after watching you video I got my flintlock off the wall and went out to try shooting it again this week end, I was having an issue with loading the first round was kind of hard to get down and very subsequent shot got more difficult, So per instructions I lubricated my patch with mink oil and it worked grate Thank you I really enjoyed shooting it! I should have realized it would need a lubricant I always lube over the bullet in my cap and balls, but I never put that together. Anyhow, seriously Thank You!!!!!!!!

[@rickyburton4642]

Thank you Mike! Thanks for all your videos!👍👍😎

[@mrdinme.4768]

Thanks for doing these Mike. These are very informative.

[@1.forestrunner]

I only use one powder, however the powder used for the priming pan I grind down. Either at home in a mortar or in the field in my coffee mug with the end of my knife. That finer powder goes then in the priming pan flask and is only used for priming.

[@oldschooljack3479]

Just a heads up for the new folks... Mike showed the Red Wings brand mink oil. I have never used it, so I can't speak to its formulation... But make sure you get 100% natural products. Some makers mix petroleum based products in with their mink oil. Trust me, that is a mess you do not want to deal with. Petroleum + Black powder fouling = basically asphalt. And you don't want to try to clean that out of your barrel.

[@BlaineNay]

I've always used black powder substitutes as the propellant in my flintlock and never had a problem. However, I do use real ffff black powder in the pan.

[@duelist1954]

Good to know.

[@tomcurran1538]

You're missing half the fun.

[@P61guy61]

Thank you for posting

[@duelist1954]

My pleasure

[@P61guy61]

@@duelist1954 you provide great information on som very interesting subjects. I look forward to cooler weather and black powder smoke.

[@raymondhindle7861]

Great video, Mike!

[@jeffreyrobinson3555]

Fun as always

[@Bill23799]

Thanks Mike for another great video. I have read in the Bernard Cornwell " Sharpe " novels that British riflemen would have pots of boiling water set behind the lines in a battle so that during a lull in fighting the men could pour the hot water down their barrels to dislodge the caked up fouling. If hot water was not available they would use their own urine to clean out their barrels. Of course if Bear Grylls was a Redcoat back then he would be torn between using his urine to clear his firearm or drinking it to survive.

[@duelist1954]

LOL!

[@MORiverFishing]

Hahaha good one

[@lucas-xg7dc]

this is awesome!!! this is making me want to get into guns

[@james_lessick892]

Another great video, thank you so very much 👌🤠👍

[@duelist1954]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@ulyrhee8123]

Very informative 👏

[@olskool3967]

great info for first timers Mike! also you need to tell them once they start they will catch an incurable sickness, black powder itious ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[@sailorjohnboy2325]

One of the biggest problem I see with new shooters at my buckskinning club is failure to fire. Frequently it seems to be caused by too much oil or clogged patent breeches. Maybe you could do a video for newbies.

[@mannys9130]

I've heard over priming is a cause of failure to fire and very delayed ignition too. The flame of the primer burns top to bottom, so a charge level with the flash hole lets the fire in immediately. I've also heard that a rim of gunk builds up in the corner of the breech face and chokes off the flash hole's exposure to the powder column. It may only be able to flash against 2-3 grains straight in rather than allow the flame to enter the chamber in a cone pattern. 🤷🏻‍♂️ I'm a noob too.

[@billmelater6470]

I had that issue with mine fore a while. I just make sure that I bring a .30 cal rod with a eye piece on it, wrap in a patch and swab the patent breach out out real good before shooting and when I need to swab the barrel on long range days. My rifle likes a decent clean out every 2-3 shots if I'm trying to get the tightest groups possible. If it's a cap lock like mine, touching off a cap right after isn't a bad idea either.

[@earlshaner4441]

Hi from Syracuse NY brother

[@aggonymephisto6963]

Hey mate, how does one get range out of their rifle? I have a TVM Flintlock in .45 grains, with FFFg powder and .440 ball w/ .010 patch. If I load it up to 60-70 grains of powder I'm struggling to push the bullet to 70m. Any advice on how to get better range?

[@saskafrass1985]

How many grains do you prefer for priming? With my priming tool each touch puts 1 grain. I measured it in my reloading scale out of curiosity. I like the guy with the unique powder horn for priming. I got an old brass pistol one and us it to fill my pan primer.

[@saskafrass1985]

Never mind. I have the same primer. I went to your part 2 video and counted 5 times you pressed down, and saw the pan level. Thanks for the video.

[@Bill23799]

Mike Bellevieux was a man......yes a big man. With an eye like an eagle and as tall as a mountain was he. ( Young folks wondrin what in heck I am talkin about )

[@bosse641]

Thanks.

[@TheShveyn04]

Oh my god! WOW! Thank you, so very much! 😊😊😊❤️️❤️️❤️️

[@duelist1954]

Any time!

[@TheShveyn04]

@@duelist1954 Yeah, i guess!

[@tangydiesel1886]

I do have a question from your previous video on napping the flint. What's the best way to do it? Or do you just put in a new piece? Thank you.

[@duelist1954]

I use the top of my knife blade. I’ll do a video on flints soon.

[@tangydiesel1886]

@@duelist1954 thank you!

[@mannys9130]

Hey Mike! I was under the impression that there was a "reasonable" powder charge range to use, but that it really wasn't possible to blow up a BP gun because the powder burns at the same rate regardless of pressure (unlike nitro) and the ball starts moving right away which increases the "chamber" volume making pressure harder to build as time goes on. The charge is also said to either get packed to the breech plug or packed against the ball which limits surface area that burns as the flame front propagates through the column. Is this wrong? I've heard people say you can jam 300 grains of BP into a .50 cal rifle and it's not really different from 100 grains. 🤷🏻‍♂️ They all say "You better pack that ball onto that powder though, because an air space will have people calling you Stumpy!"

[@duelist1954]

I have seen blown muzzleloader barrels, but they were India muzzleloaders that probably had flawed barrels. I saw a test done many years ago where they took a 12' barrel and threaded it at both ends,. Then they put a hefty powder charge into the barrel, and they screwed breech plugs to each end. They put a fuse into the touch hole and lit it. The barrel held together...all the gas came out of the touch hole.

[@johnduffant9694]

Swiss comes in two types blue label and yellow label what is the difference. Thanks

[@tomcurran1538]

I use Schuetzen a lot.Any opinion on that?

[@duelist1954]

Made by Wano in Germany.they have improved a lot in the last 20 years, but not as good as Swiss. It gives about the same velocity as Goex, but has more fouling. On the plus side, the fouling is more moist than Goex.

[@survivalscott6076]

would Olde Eynsford Black Powder FF work in a flintlock?

[@PilotSpOB]

With the mink oil lube for the patch, just run the patch on the mink oil cold and solid? Or melt it down and saturate the patch?

[@duelist1954]

Cold and solid

[@PilotSpOB]

@@duelist1954 thank you kindly!

[@wagon9082]

Good video

[@duelist1954]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@joepeltola52]

I have some powder in the old steal can. How old is to old to use if was kept dry.

[@duelist1954]

If it was kept dry, it will stay good pretty much forever.

[@bladeslinger1786]

Sorry to bother you sir. But I live in TN and I have been unsuccessful in locating and black powder for my flintlock rifle I have about 1/3 of a bottle my grandfather gifted to me when i got my flintlock and every site online seems to be out of stock. Do you have an suggestions for finding any?

[@duelist1954]

At the moment Buffalo Arms is the only place I know with powder, and they only have 1.5Fg Swiss.

[@bladeslinger1786]

@@duelist1954 why thank you sir I'll check them out right now

[@akodo1]

What type of black powder is used for 'squirrel rifles' aka ..32 or .36? Are thee actually historical? What granulation was used in muskets of the day? Brown bess being .72, was there a 1 F that they used? What about for cannons? How did soldiers handle needing a fine powder for the pan and a more general powder for the main charge? Was everyone just issued powder fine enough for the pan and any accuracy loss was 'who cares for smoothbore' or what?

[@richardpierce2150]

Cool

[@Slyassassin34]

got a traditions Kentucky flintlock as my first muzzleloader and I I'm having trouble keeping it rust free and getting it to go off every time. i am using pyrex 2f powder and sometimes it will go off four or 5 times no problem other times it will not go off at all.I clean it with soap and water dry it off then use rust patches I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

[@duelist1954]

Pyrodex has a higher ignition point than real black powder, so it can be un-reliable in a flint lock. What are you priming with?

[@Slyassassin34]

@@duelist1954 Started with 2f Pyrex then moved to 3f it got a little better but still not very reliable.

[@duelist1954]

@@Slyassassin34 If you are going to use Pyrodex in the main charge, you still need to prime with 4Fg real black powder. Pyrodex has too high an ignition point to be set off reliably from flint sparks.

[@Slyassassin34]

@@duelist1954 thank you it’s because of your videos I got in to black powder shooting keep up the good work good Sir

[@realist5665]

I think you should show the swab between shots, so the beginners know.

[@ilfarmboy]

I use a mix of Vaseline and beeswax works well your opinion?

[@duelist1954]

I stopped using wax in my patch lubes because it can build up in the touch hole. If you want something that is easy to get, and works great, try mink oil.

[@ilfarmboy]

@@duelist1954 thanks a bunch

[@Whitpusmc]

Would 80 grains of Pyrodex be too much for a .50 TN Poor Boy from Dixie Gun Works? It’s a percussion, not flint.

[@tomollie]

homemade powder always seems to miss the lists, why Mike?!

[@duelist1954]

This is a beginners tutorial. I doubt that they are making their own powder. But, if they were, how could I comment on it when the composition could vary with each person who makes powder?

[@independentthinker8930]

Sad Goex is closing

[@Bill23799]

Is Mink Oil made from Mink squeezings? I would think PETA would be protesting that .

[@mannys9130]

Spit lubing is yucky and seems like a great way to greatly increase one's ingestion of lead. 😸 That's like, breaking every firearm lead exposure rule out there. "Wash your hands after firing. Shoot in well ventilated areas. Don't chew gum, use tobacco, eat, or drink while shooting or before washing your hands. Don't touch your mouth, eyes, or nose before washing your hands. Dry tumble empty brass in a well ventilated area away from food prep surfaces. Clean guns in a well ventilated area and wear gloves to prevent solvent and lead exposure." Meanwhile, guys are shooting soft lead balls and sucking on a patch that they've touched every single shot. 😸😸😸

[@lhurst9550]

I've got a firearms question unrelated to this video. Don't do facebook. How can a person get you a question. Most youtube channels have an email contact but you do not seem to.

[@joncal4713]

Back in Daniel Boone's time people used powder Horn so did people in the Civil War

[@garydavis9887]

mike; ,, i can not afford to buy 25 pounds at a time from grafts,, who sells smaller amounts , shipped to Alaska ?

[@duelist1954]

Try Buffalo Arms

[@garydavis9887]

thank you !

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

@duelist1954 >>> 👍👍