Hawkens 50 cal flintlock firing inconsistently

[54calNE]

Hello all! Have a friend with older Hawkens 50 cal flintlock not used in a long time (it was his father's). He is having problems getting the gun to fire consistently. He says it only goes off about 1/3 of time. Ports are clear and he has tried both flint and artificial flint without much difference. He has both told to change frizzen or to file present frizzen (rough surface up). He hasn't tried either yet. What are your guys/gals thoughts?
Mark

 

[ligonierbill]

One or more of these:

Touch hole plugged or too small
Too much powder in the pan
Flint needs a new edge
Flint is loose in the cock
Mainspring is weak
Rust in the lcck internals
Frizzen needs rehardened

I'm sure folks can add to this list.

 

[54calNE]

thanks much! I'll the information along!!!

 

[Oliver Sudden]

Is he using black powder or a substitute?

 

[l.cutler]

I'll second the question on the powder, Flintlocks just won't work well with the substitute powders.

 

[54calNE]

not sure what he is using, I'll ask him. Thanks. We're in NYS and I can't find black powder anywhere. Where do you guys order/recommend? I been using Triple 7 in my New Englander 54 Cal which is a side hammer. Only use my Goex FFg for "special" occations.

 

[Hawg]

Nothing will work in a flintlock but real black. You can put a 10 grain starter charge of real black in first and prime with real black but there is no sub that will work by itself.

 

[mehavey]

We're in NYS and I can't find black powder anywhere...

Having done it as a kid,* I wonder if simple home-made BP will work as both pan and starter charge (?)


* Hasn't everyone?

 

[4V50 Gary]

If it's throwing sparks, it's not the frizzen.

Make sure the flint contacts the frizzen. If not, readjust. As suggested by ligonierbill, it may need knapping.

As for black powder, mail order it. Maine Powder House, Track of the Wolf, Dixie Gun Works.

 

[RC20]

Is it the Black Powder charge or the Frizen pan that needs the BP?

I would think 4F would have best odds of ignite in Frizen regardless of main charge.

 

[Hawg]

Is it the Black Powder charge or the Frizen pan that needs the BP?

I would think 4F would have best odds of ignite in Frizen regardless of main charge.

Both. 3F and even 2F will work in the pan. They may give a little slower ignition but the main charge has to be real black also. The only way you're going to get a substitute to work is with a starter charge of real black under the main charge and real black in the pan.

 

[mehavey]

Hawg is correct.

While a Pyrodex in the pan "may" (or may not) ignite from steel shaving/sparks from the frizzen,
its flame front transition through the tiny flash hole is insufficient to reliably ignite that same
Pyrodex on the other side.

An aside:
While as RSO at our club a couple of months back, I had a similar discussion w/ a gentleman who
was using Pyrodex in the pan, and pellets in the barrel. He was insistent that the gun/instructions
said to use that.

It was a long afternoon . . . .