Traditions Side Lock Percussion - Flintlock - Manual (Page 21)

2. After this interval, place the hammer at half-cock with the gun point-
ed in a safe direction, remove the percussion cap from the nipple and
insert a nipple pick or fine wire deeply into the hole of the nipple to
ensure that the hole is not clogged. Slap the barrel on the lock side to
force powder into nipple area.
3. Place another percussion cap on the nipple, set hammer on full-cock
and with the gun pointed in a safe direction attempt to fire again.
4. If ignition still does not result, wait another minute, and with the gun
pointed in a safe direction, set hammer at full-cock and remove the
fired percussion cap then remove the nipple.
5. Introduce a small amount of powder into the nipple hole by slapping
the left side of the gun with the palm of your hand in attempt to
induce the powder as far into the barrel as possible.
6. Reinstall the nipple.
7. Set hammer at half-cock.
8. Install a new percussion cap on the nipple, set the hammer on full-cock
and with the gun pointed in a safe direction attempt to fire again.
N. Misfire - Flintlock Models
(Spark ignites primary charge in the pan but main charge does not ignite):
1. Keep the barrel pointed upward and toward your target. Wait at least
one minute. By doing so, you will make sure you are prepared for the
chance of a delayed ignition, also called “hangfire”.
2. After this interval, set the hammer at half-cock and, with the gun
pointed in a safe direction, tip the frizzen forward to expose the pan.
3. Insert a nipple pick or fine wire through the touch hole in the side of
the barrel to ensure that the ignition channel is not blocked.
4. With the palm of your hand, slap the lock side of the gun in an to
attempt to induce the powder to be as close to the pan as possible.
5. Recharge the pan with 4fg powder.
6. Close the frizzen, set hammer on full-cock and attempt to fire again.
Note: Given their level of technology, a misfire is more prevalent with flintlock
models than with percussion models. Two or three attempts may be necessary to
ignite a stubborn load. Also, flints and frizzens do wear out over time and should
be replaced.
Note: If the above techniques do not work, the charge must be removed from
the barrel. First use the ramrod marking test to first see if powder was indeed
installed before the projectile. If the muzzle is positioned between the
unloaded and loaded marks on the ramrod, it may be that powder was not
installed before the projectile. Another possibility is that there was too much
11