Why I Like the Flint Lock and Tips On It

 I'll start by saying, I will ONLY shoot copper, brass, or wood (yes wood) from a flint. I would not want lead in the environment or the food I will eat. That was one reason I shoot flint. The second, is there is no primer made of lead or any other primer. I find the activation mechanism fascinating and appealingly raw, organic and primative - a stone on steel to make a spark to light the pan. No cartridges or scopes - just a toob, a stock, some sights, and the lock mechanism.

The powder is potassium nitrate, suffer, and wood charcoal. 

With a flint lock, you need black powder, not any substautes; these are fine in percussion or cartriges, but the flint lock needs real bp as it is sensitive to a spark, the latter needs a fire flash, like a smokeless case primer . 

Make your own bp and avoid lead meadia in milling with brass or copper. Lead media used in commercial bp can get into the bp and thus into the enviroment when shot.

To cary a rifle is a pain if you aren't used to it; even if you are, you should be carrying a pack and it may help you to see how I cary my flinter using the straps of my pack to hold the weight. With this hold, I am still able to access the rifle quickly for use. 

Basic napping skill is a must. Buy some chert and nap your own flint. Keep it sharp and the edge flat flush with the fizzen.

I used to nap a flint, then vice it in the lock to check if it is flush with the fizen. Flush it up on the side of a knife or the barrel before you vice it and then straighten it in the lock.

Use a thick leather to hold the flint.