I flinch BAD shooting a flintlock! I shoot lots of heavy stuff(444, 45-70, 7mm Rem, 454 Casull) but I only flinch with this DAMNED flintlock. anybody got any suggestions other than to keep shooting it until I stop flinching?

One way that might help is to load your rifle as you normally do but don't prime. Have a friend prime it but have him not put priming powder in it every time. He just pretends to prime, closes the frizzen and steps back behind you. You proceed just as normal. After a few times of doing this he drops a charge into the pan. When it comes it will come as a surprise helping you elimanate to flinch. We use this a lot when working with younger shooters and centerfire or rimfire training. This method is mentioned in the coaches/instructor training for the NRA.
Also make sure that you're wearing safety glasses as that may make you feel a little more secure. I was always told that if you really want to become a good flintlock shooter to take it and shoot it exclusively until you master it. I know that when I shoot my flint that all of my other shooting improves as any little mistake that you make with a flinter is magnified on the target.

Thanx, I will try it. And I will fire it until my shoulder falls off.

Actually, the following was recommended to me:

Make a wood "flint" and install. The wood "flint" saves your frizzen and your flints. Used pre-revolution for training.

Dry fire until you know you don't flinch. This helps you overcome the training you've given yourself to flinch at "clues" the lock sends to you.

When you're statisfied that you aren't flinching. Put a real flint in and just shoot primes. That is without loading.

Once you get used to the action of the lock, go back to shooting.

For many, and I suspect you, it is as much the novelty of the lock as actually startling you that causes the flinch.

I was thinking that the primer ignition itself might be causing some of the flinch. As I recall there was a slight delay between teh primer igniting and the actual load firing. When I shot a flintlock( several times over the course of a summer) holding steady after the inital pop of the primer took some getting used to.

Are you wearing shooting glasses while shooting. Could be just fear of the flash.

[ 10-25-2002, 00:27: Message edited by: McD ]

You said "until my shoulder falls off"... it hurtin' you?

I flinch with my flinter too, unless I shoot a lot or can really concentrate on the shot.

The best flint shooters I know, "dry fire" a lot with a flash pan of powder and no charge.

Brent