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>Hello - >I am contemplating buying a smoothbore flintlock, and >am looking for some opinions on the various patterns >out there. I'm not a reenactor or trekker, just a guy >looking for something to challenge myself with this >fall and winter. So, I'm less inclined to worry about >if a piece is PC or not. Heck, the T/C Hawken flinter >I inheireted from my dad is nowhere near PC, what with >the Lyman peep sight and all. But it sure is a riot >to shoot, and that's what I'm looking for - something >fun to shoot. > >Which, I dunno, "breed" has the most user-friendly >ergonomics? French? British? Land Pattern? Baker? >M1816? I mean, when you pull up on a target, which >feels the most natural? I know, sort of a subjective >question, and a 18th century musket is not a Lefever >SxS. But I don't have acess to anything to handle and >compare, and want to ask questions first. Lots of >questions. > >Caliber is not so much of an issue. Sure, a .75 will >have a little more bump than a smaller ball, but I am >blessed with sufficient mass to absorb recoil. I'd >probably run it with birdshot most of the time anyway. > >Is there any appreciable difference in the speed of >different locks? Durabiltiy? Reliability? >Water-resistance? Weight? The just-plain-cool factor? > >For what it's worth, I'm leaning towards the Ranger >pattern, the shorter barrel being a mite bit handier >in the cedar swamp when on snowshoes. Or a Ship's >Carbine. Or ???? and a 24t bi-metal hacksaw blade - >just kidding.

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