Main Charge Powder in the Frizzen Pan

French Colonial · Nov 4, 2024

beyu said:
Nope. Not at all. But I do leave the frizzen open after firing, blow down the barrel to hasten the burning of any embers, watch the smoke come out of the vent and repeat until there is no more smoke. Then I reload and prime the pan, close the frizzen, cock the hammer and fire away.

My comment about the powder leaking into the pan was intended as a simple caution; namely, do not cock the hammer before reloading — because you might have powder in the pan even though you did not prime it.....

And I agree with all of that, I blow down the barrel as well but I do it to keep the fouling soft not because of embers.... but we do it exactly the same.

After thinking about it awhile I would guess loading with the frizzen closed is actually slightly more dangerous than with it open. The chance of the hammer falling being very slightly more likely than a spark of any kind finding its way into the open and exposed vent.......like, where would said spark come from?

hanshi · Nov 5, 2024

I've found that at 1/16" the liner hole will sometimes allow a few kernels of Goex 3F to spill into the pan when the gun is reloaded. Enough pressure is generated when seating a prb to blow out kernels which otherwise wouldn't move. To prevent this I use a small feather to plug the vent when reloading.

Swiss 3F is closer to Goex 4F in kernel size so the vent hole should be plugged to keep the finer powder from "puffing" out. I prime with either 4F or 3F depending whether or not I'm out of 4F. Either works just fine.

Swiss 3F makes a very good main charge in my .32, but I still prime with something else. Swiss is costly and I have a fair supply of Goex and Graf's already. Fact is old age and bad eyes have made me a crummy shot anyway.

Terrier · Nov 6, 2024

hanshi said:
I've found that at 1/16" the liner hole will sometimes allow a few kernels of Goex 3F to spill into the pan when the gun is reloaded. Enough pressure is generated when seating a prb to blow out kernels which otherwise wouldn't move. To prevent this I use a small feather to plug the vent when reloading.

Swiss 3F is closer to Goex 4F in kernel size so the vent hole should be plugged to keep the finer powder from "puffing" out. I prime with either 4F or 3F depending whether or not I'm out of 4F. Either works just fine.

Swiss 3F makes a very good main charge in my .32, but I still prime with something else. Swiss is costly and I have a fair supply of Goex and Graf's already. Fact is old age and bad eyes have made me a crummy shot anyway.

I’m facing the same problem with Swiss…. A lot more leakage. I guess I’m simply going to have to start plugging the vent during reloading. I hate having to add a step to the process, tho. I may try Swiss 2F and see what happens with that.

Main Charge Powder in the Frizzen Pan

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French Colonial

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hanshi

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Main Charge Powder in the Frizzen Pan

Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:

French Colonial

62 Cal.

hanshi

Cannon

Terrier

40 Cal

Similar threads

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