Traditional Muzzleloading Association
Traditional Firearms => Flintlock Long Guns => Topic started by: BlackPowderManiacShooter on April 23, 2026, 10:11:44 PM
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Shooting a Lyman's Great Plains Rifle Upside down with amazing results !!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTxQVWMLk7E
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Tried that with a Bess one time a LONG time ago because a guy bet me that it wouldn't go off upside down.
So, I rolled it over and held it in a right handed shooting position.
So far, so good.
I pulled the trigger and indeed it went off.
But my left arm felt like a mule had kicked me.
And my shirt sleeve was smoldering.
Evidently, the vent lined up perfectly with the inside of my left bicep and a 90 grain charge does produce a lot of pressure out the vent.
That was a one and done happening.
By the way, I did have an interesting bit of blue tattoo marks on the arm as well.
Only did that once.
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This goes down as number#1 on my list of things never to do with a Flintlock.
:Doh!
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Tried that with a Bess one time a LONG time ago because a guy bet me that it wouldn't go off upside down.
So, I rolled it over and held it in a right handed shooting position.
So far, so good.
I pulled the trigger and indeed it went off.
But my left arm felt like a mule had kicked me.
And my shirt sleeve was smoldering.
Evidently, the vent lined up perfectly with the inside of my left bicep and a 90 grain charge does produce a lot of pressure out the vent.
That was a one and done happening.
By the way, I did have an interesting bit of blue tattoo marks on the arm as well.
Only did that once.
Yikes...! That was a string of strange bad luck!
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This goes down as number#1 on my list of things never to do with a Flintlock.
:Doh!
I've tried that with every flintlock I have. The method works on all of them, even the Pedersoli, Lymans and Tradition's factory guns.
Thanks for watching my friend.
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I imagine it would be handy to know how to do that, especially if one were taking a break while elk hunting by standing on your head. Should an elk happen to walk by it would be most convenient to just grab your flinter and pop the big guy. Else, I have no idea why one would ever want to do that.
I notice the reason why your method works better than mine is that you hold your rifle with the butt over the shoulder rather with it into you shoulder. That would make a big difference in the geometry of things. Good move.
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I notice the reason why your method works better than mine is that you hold your rifle with the butt over the shoulder rather with it into you shoulder. That would make a big difference in the geometry of things. Good move.
I didn't think of that while making this one.
Regardless.....start at the 5:30 time stamp on the one below.
This is one where I hold it "closer" to the ol' heart:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvvs4rJ2ewc