Touched off my first smoke pole in 1968. Never had nor seen such a calamity. If there is a way to force an error in this world, our species is sure to find it.
Anyone ever experienced burning embers in your barrel after a shot?
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You can’t make any thing fool proof as fools are too ingenious
Nope. Not yet anyway. That's why if you see someone pouring powder from a powder horn or a powder flask directly into a muzzle loader barrel, yell "STOP!" and run like hell.
The only thing harder than learning to play the 5 string banjo at our age is finding a new wife who likes flintlocks.
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I DO blow down the barrel of my Charleville after each shot and watch for smoke to come out of the vent. Smoke always comes out the first two times, and sometimes even the third. I blow again a fourth time to verify there is NO MORE smoke.
My logic is — (good or bad) that if there is no smoke, there is nothing smoldering in there.
My theory is— Blowing air down the barrel causes the embers to burn faster until there is nothing left to burn.
AND I would NEVER be blowing down the barrel of a LOADED gun — much less looking down there in the first place. LOL
My logic is — (good or bad) that if there is no smoke, there is nothing smoldering in there.
My theory is— Blowing air down the barrel causes the embers to burn faster until there is nothing left to burn.
AND I would NEVER be blowing down the barrel of a LOADED gun — much less looking down there in the first place. LOL
troy2000
45 Cal.
I'm coming to the end of twenty+ years with a natural gas utility company, and a safety-related issue that was pounded on for my whole career was, "stay completely away from any synthetic materials whatsoever." Our coveralls were 100% cotton, as were the outer shells of the fire resistant jackets we were issued.
One year we had a safety stand-down at work, and spent eight hours on safety-related issues. At the end of the day, they handed out brightly-colored tee-shirts with the company logo and a safety slogan on them. Shirts made of 100% Rayon - which is extremely flammable, and melts and clings to your skin in the event of a fire....
This has been interesting reading. So to draw a conclusion about burning embers in a barrel:
It can happen, but it is quite rare. However, when it does happen, it’s usually because people are rushing the reloading process.
It can happen, but it is quite rare. However, when it does happen, it’s usually because people are rushing the reloading process.
I cannot, will not advocate blowing down a barrel.
Do I turn the vent or muzzle into the wind? Sure, but I aint sticking my gob over a muzzleloader for nothing!
Do I turn the vent or muzzle into the wind? Sure, but I aint sticking my gob over a muzzleloader for nothing!
Gordoncourtney
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I digress for a moment, my apologies ,
Why do we say round balls Balls are round.....guess it just sounds nice. One could say extra round balls , lead balls. Patched lead balls, Perhaps we differentiating between round footballs and oval rugby balls Do you say round baseball balls across the pond , Golfers maybe a bit more intelligent than us They don't mention round golf balls, as the know they are round, but is that the right word , one should say I "loads sperical lead patched balls". No replies from English teachers please, we can sort it out ourselves.....not got up yet rain tumbling down in UK, nothing better to do than write a load of rubbish. I wish you all well.
Ps lost it on the forum string. but I used to shoot 12g slugs and 1.25oz balls that's around 560grains I recall. Modern nitro guns , They were mighty powerful if they hit something.....but at 1400 ft sec. They are only like 2400 ft lbs of energy, I was quite surprised at the low power, my little 400 g bullets from my 450-400 at 2125 ft sec double produce 4100 ft lbs more than enough for elephant or rhino. I always wanted a flintlock .5BMG ...it's possible
. I see some talk of patched balls at 1800 ft lbs sec is that the norm, and will it work with .5" patched balls , interesting topic
Why do we say round balls Balls are round.....guess it just sounds nice. One could say extra round balls , lead balls. Patched lead balls, Perhaps we differentiating between round footballs and oval rugby balls Do you say round baseball balls across the pond , Golfers maybe a bit more intelligent than us They don't mention round golf balls, as the know they are round, but is that the right word , one should say I "loads sperical lead patched balls". No replies from English teachers please, we can sort it out ourselves.....not got up yet rain tumbling down in UK, nothing better to do than write a load of rubbish. I wish you all well.
Ps lost it on the forum string. but I used to shoot 12g slugs and 1.25oz balls that's around 560grains I recall. Modern nitro guns , They were mighty powerful if they hit something.....but at 1400 ft sec. They are only like 2400 ft lbs of energy, I was quite surprised at the low power, my little 400 g bullets from my 450-400 at 2125 ft sec double produce 4100 ft lbs more than enough for elephant or rhino. I always wanted a flintlock .5BMG ...it's possible
. I see some talk of patched balls at 1800 ft lbs sec is that the norm, and will it work with .5" patched balls , interesting topic- Joined
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Nope. Been shooting BP since the late '60s, so I guess there's time yet.
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Guess it is hard since that's a banjo
and wives can be funny about manly décor.
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I'm pretty new at shooting muzzle loaders but blowing down a barrel is a clear violation of rules one and two in the cardinal rules of gun safety. I don't think I could bring myself to do that.
Are those four rules somehow waived for muzzle loaders? I thought they applied to firearms of every type.
% correct.I've lost count just how many firearms that were thought to be "empty" have killed folk!
Ironically, many folk that talk discouragingly towards the use of 4f probably say nothing when they see someone blowing down a muzzleloaders barrel!
zimmerstutzen
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I had it personally happen twice in 40 years of shooting, the first twenty in matches. The first time, I was still new and got some nasty powder burns on my fingers, when the next charge ignited while I was pouring it in the barrel. That was an experience that sticks with you. Had it happen again when I was using up powder that spilled in the shop and I swept it up and used it for plinking anyway. May have been some particles of saw dust or something in it. I Did not get burned that time, because it was cold and I was wearing gloves.
Only happened once must have been 30 years ago and I still have the burns scars . It was the first load after capping off a full flask exploded above my head and I was burnt down one side for which I found out that loading from the flask can be dangerous so take heed
Feltwad
Feltwad
I'm coming to the end of twenty+ years with a natural gas utility company, and a safety-related issue that was pounded on for my whole career was, "stay completely away from any synthetic materials whatsoever." Our coveralls were 100% cotton, as were the outer shells of the fire resistant jackets we were issued.
One year we had a safety stand-down at work, and spent eight hours on safety-related issues. At the end of the day, they handed out brightly-colored tee-shirts with the company logo and a safety slogan on them. Shirts made of 100% Rayon - which is extremely flammable, and melts and clings to your skin in the event of a fire....
Gotta love the Purchasing Department.
I was trained to blow down the barrel for this reason. Later, it was pointed out to me how bad this practice was. Thinking at the time, yup, I do not want to put the muzzle of any firearm up to my mouth. It was a reality check. I have a friend who bought a rubber bulb puffer that was for dusting film negatives to use instead of his face!
Yes, I have seen a cook off as well. We also only load from a measure.... my horn holds a pound. It would be no Bueno if that went up in my face...
Yes, I have seen a cook off as well. We also only load from a measure.... my horn holds a pound. It would be no Bueno if that went up in my face...
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Can't be good!
I think the idea was to fan them and burn them out, also to soften fouling.
Blowing down an empty gun is not in anyway a safety violation. It might look bad, but no more unsafe then blowing a trumpet.
I do it, won’t tell anyone else to do it, but won’t take being told it’s a safety issue.
I think we may have heard this all before on this forum.
Now shooting a paper cartridge the right way is to my mind much of a safety issue.
The most important steps are:
1) don’t hurry… your not defending a line
2) keep your body out of the way when loading
3) never load from flask or horn
4) don’t hurry
5) take your time
6) speed is the device of Satan go slow, there is never a call to load quick.
I do it, won’t tell anyone else to do it, but won’t take being told it’s a safety issue.
I think we may have heard this all before on this forum.
Now shooting a paper cartridge the right way is to my mind much of a safety issue.
The most important steps are:
1) don’t hurry… your not defending a line
2) keep your body out of the way when loading
3) never load from flask or horn
4) don’t hurry
5) take your time
6) speed is the device of Satan go slow, there is never a call to load quick.
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