Flintlock Fun - Manton SxS

[Jay Oliver]

I had to share some pictures from a hunt I did earlier this week. I don't muzzleload hunt/shoot as often as I would like(though a lot more than most), but I got out my John Manton flintlock sxs 16 bore made in 1818. Gosh did I have fun with this special shotgun. It was my first time hunting with it and I felt like I was stepping back in time. It didn't change how I shoot at all nor did I feel handicapped. I was shooting a square load of 2 1/2 drams of 2f Swiss and 1oz. of #6s. Ignition was fast and we took some nice shots.

All this made me want to do is go again, it was just too much fun I was impressed with the old flintlock. In the one picture where there is a cloud of smoke in front of me, if you zoom in you can see the Rooster I hit or was about to hit.

Those are my dogs as well. Such a great morning. My friend Bob was hunting with a percussion 14 bore and doing well and having a blast. I would love to do more of this, it is just so nice to get these old guns out and realize you can shoot them just as well as a modern gun.

[Jim DiSpagno]

Absolutely fantastic Jay. You outdid yourself.

[Reggie Bishop]

Wonderful pics! Is that a Chessie?

[Jay Oliver]

Thanks Reggie! That's Violet, she is a Golden Retriever/Irish Setter mix. She is wonderful as is my English Setter Chase

[Stephen Hodges]

Great fun Jay!!! Great looking Pups as well! And a flintlock to boot, way cool:)

[Rick Roemer]

Very nice hunt. Would you share the breeder of your setter? Looks to be Ryman type?

[Jay Oliver]

Thanks Rick! He is a Ryman and I got him from our very own Mike Koneski. He is an absolutely wonderful dog. Great in the field and a family friend at home.

[Rick Roemer]

Thanks that’s a very nice setter head. I’m assuming a male.?

[Jay Oliver]

Yes a male, such a great dog that usually gets anything he wants!

[Garry L Gordon]

Wonderful photos—thanks for sharing. When I see the loading and smoke, I recall Frank Forester tales of huge bags in a day. Interesting to contemplate the times, then and now. (PS Beautiful dogs!)

[Ben Evans]

Amazing!

[hugh rather]

Nothing like hunting with those flinchlocks.It requirws a whole new level of concentration.Wondeful Manton.Mr Nash would have loved it.

[Mike Koneski]

That is a beautiful Setter!! Just sayin'. :rotf::rotf::rotf::bowdown:

[Stan Hillis]

I've never hunted with flinters, but have spent many days afield with two 16 ga. double percussion vintage guns. I've killed a limit of doves with them a couple times and taken wild bobs.

I learned with the quail to squat quickly at the shot to try to look under the smoke and see if the bird fell. Doves are a hoot with a muzzleloader.

Beautiful flinter, and dog, Jay.

[Dean Romig]

Where did you hunt Jay?





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[Jay Oliver]

Thanks for all of the comment and I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. This was just too much fun and my New Year's resolution is to get these original muzzleloaders out more often as well as shoot black powder shells in my Parkers more.

Mike - Everyone loves the dog I got from you. He is both wonderful in the field and a family friend at home. And just such a handsome dog as well.

Stan - I enjoy percussion shotguns too. I have a Purdey 16ga made in 1838 that I need to get out and use. Just like with this flintlock, I am always amazed at how well these old guns shoot and they can be a lot more fun. On this day, I made some good shots and missed a few I should have got, just like if I was using a modern gun.

Dean - We were down at Markover. It was a great morning with some holdover birds and just a wonderful time. Too convenient and fun not to do it again soon(which I will!).

[Ed Hardy]

That is a gorgeous gun (and dog). I have a Manton SxS flintlock 12 gauge, and a Manton SxS 12 gauge percussion conversion. I haven't shot them but am now tempted to do so. Manton had a number of patents which were very innovative, including waterproof locks, and a faster ignition time. If you look at his barrels, the breech plugs were inset, so that the touch-hole was closer to the charge--shorter distance for priming powder and therefore measurably faster ignition time. The guns are works of art. Just lovely.

Ed

[Jay Oliver]

Ed, I agree, Mantons were "Cutting Edge" technology at the time. I do think you should shoot yours...they are just too much fun. It is hard to put into words how much fun it was and the feelings I had during this hunt with a flintlock. To be in the field with this 200+ year old gun was just wonderful.

Here is a picture of my two Mantons. The top one is a Joseph Manton, a 1814 20ga. converted to Percussion.

The bottom is the one a used in this thread. A John Manton 1818 16ga in it's original configuration.

Those brothers could make some nice guns!

They are wonderful and I always have a little too much fun when I shoot them at clays or hunting. I would love to get a group of us together for a muzzleloading shoot periodically. I think that would be a lot of fun and give people a chance to get their guns out more as well as introduce others into these remarkable early shotguns.

The one thing a think I am missing is a 12 or 10 percussion shotgun. Something I might use at shooting events when I might want to shoot for score.

[Ed Hardy]

I will post some pictures of mine when I get home from work. My Manton double rifle is cased but sadly the shotguns are not. Your last sentence is very risque--not something you need, just want.............I am pretty sure my wife doesn't think I "need" any of my guns, and certainly the Liberal government we are currently sentenced to once again is bent on banning all firearms ultimately, because they don't feel we "need" any.

[Jay Oliver]

Ed, yes please post pictures. I fixed my post by the way, you're right I do need one...

[David Livesay]

I will post some pictures of mine when I get home from work. My Manton double rifle is cased but sadly the shotguns are not. Your last sentence is very risque--not something you need, just want.............I am pretty sure my wife doesn't think I "need" any of my guns, and certainly the Liberal government we are currently sentenced to once again is bent on banning all firearms ultimately, because they don't feel we "need" any.

Sorry to hear about that.