Black powder BOOM

[ab44]

Heres a little story about how to get a black powder tattoo. I was at shooting bench with an 1858 4 1/2-5 inch pocket style Remington 44 cal. I usually have paper pre rolled cartridges and loaded up. But there was one free 44 ball loose so I used my flask and loaded as as usual (without paper cartridge) Now I usually put the flask off to the left hand side of my gun and me but for some unknown reason I laid it on the right side. Closer to gun. Now here is the curious part I laid it with the tubr facing me and gun not pointed ahead. Oh I can hear you guys now about Fate and black powder. Now I have a box cardboard with 30 rounds of paper cartridges left way off to left side. As well I had decided to sit (old guy with sciatica bugging me ) at bench making the gun about six inches from the flask. I crack off three rounds and the fourth and BOOM. A stray spark managed to fly from muzzle and down the tube on flask and a few black powder bits residue from load were there. They blew and then the flask blew, ripped open and the flash lit my cloth laying on bench, sunburned my hand. Oh its's not over yet. The fire and flash jumped into cartridge box an burned 30 rounds. BOOM BOOM Big BOOM. They did not shoot as no compression just burned up and gave me a sunburn as well. I am backed up from bench by now and my buddy is yelling What the ... are you ok. Yes lets clean up and call it a day. So watch out with black as this set of positions had to be just so to make it work. It could have been worse. Take care guys.

 

[Edm]

Glad you are ok. And sorry the price of powder being what it is made that an expensive show. At least it didn’t set off a tin of caps…

Seriously, thanks for reminding us . Most people wouldn’t admit they aren’t perfect.

 

[CuNosecap]

Thank you for sharing your story. Good reminder.

 

[springfield art]

Heres a little story about how to get a black powder tattoo. I was at shooting bench with an 1858 4 1/2-5 inch pocket style Remington 44 cal. I usually have paper pre rolled cartridges and loaded up. But there was one free 44 ball loose so I used my flask and loaded as as usual (without paper cartridge) Now I usually put the flask off to the left hand side of my gun and me but for some unknown reason I laid it on the right side. Closer to gun. Now here is the curious part I laid it with the tubr facing me and gun not pointed ahead. Oh I can hear you guys now about Fate and black powder. Now I have a box cardboard with 30 rounds of paper cartridges left way off to left side. As well I had decided to sit (old guy with sciatica bugging me ) at bench making the gun about six inches from the flask. I crack off three rounds and the fourth and BOOM. A stray spark managed to fly from muzzle and down the tube on flask and a few black powder bits residue from load were there. They blew and then the flask blew, ripped open and the flash lit my cloth laying on bench, sunburned my hand. Oh its's not over yet. The fire and flash jumped into cartridge box an burned 30 rounds. BOOM BOOM Big BOOM. They did not shoot as no compression just burned up and gave me a sunburn as well. I am backed up from bench by now and my buddy is yelling What the ... are you ok. Yes lets clean up and call it a day. So watch out with black as this set of positions had to be just so to make it work. It could have been worse. Take care guys.

You are correct, and thanks for posting this information. Black powder seems to 'come alive' and 'have a mind of it's own' once it's ignited! As I stated recently here, our familiar WW1 and WW2 grenades had only 4 oz. of Black powder in them, and look at the trouble they could cause!!

 

[Okie Hog]

Glad that you're OK: Thanks for posting.

 

[2 shots]

murphy that s.o.b.

 

[Sam squanch]

My flask or pre loaded containers are left on my loading table about 10 yards away from my shooting bench. I need the exercise anyway.

 

[maillemaker]

Here is my black powder tattoo from a cookoff while I was pouring powder down the muzzle. Fortunately, we train to pour the powder while holding the cartridge tube by our fingers off to the sides of the muzzle.

The spots have faded but are still visible years later.

 

[ab44]

By the way those little flecks of Black can be dug out or pricked out with a nice small needle. I know I have picked a couple of them out. Enjoy the shooting life. If you are cheap and bother saving them they still shoot lololol

 

[ab44]

My flask or pre loaded containers are left on my loading table about 10 yards away from my shooting bench. I need the exercise anyway.

That is where mine will be from now on LOLOL

 

[ab44]

Thank you for sharing your story. Good reminder.

Gun was ok had one round left which I cracked off before going home. Needless to say the gun range looked like the civil war with a massive cloud of smoke. Take care .

 

[Thingamajiggy]

Good reminder, glad you're ok. Thanks for posting.

 

[Colonial Boy]

Thanks, that’s a great reminder.
I’ve been shooting black for 79 years and thanks to great teachers have never had a problem, but I’m still ultra careful.
Closest was when a buddy ashed his cigarette into a near full 1/2 lb tin of Curtis and Harvey 3F, fortunately only dead ashes fell in. Was one of the old blue tins and as I was in Korea would have had some explaining to do, if not facing something worse.
Don’t remember taking the lid off but someone may have out of curiosity, there were 5 of us sitting in the tent having a few illicit beers. Needless to say I never left a tin out again.

 

[Whitworth]

Heres a little story about how to get a black powder tattoo. I was at shooting bench with an 1858 4 1/2-5 inch pocket style Remington 44 cal. I usually have paper pre rolled cartridges and loaded up. But there was one free 44 ball loose so I used my flask and loaded as as usual (without paper cartridge) Now I usually put the flask off to the left hand side of my gun and me but for some unknown reason I laid it on the right side. Closer to gun. Now here is the curious part I laid it with the tubr facing me and gun not pointed ahead. Oh I can hear you guys now about Fate and black powder. Now I have a box cardboard with 30 rounds of paper cartridges left way off to left side. As well I had decided to sit (old guy with sciatica bugging me ) at bench making the gun about six inches from the flask. I crack off three rounds and the fourth and BOOM. A stray spark managed to fly from muzzle and down the tube on flask and a few black powder bits residue from load were there. They blew and then the flask blew, ripped open and the flash lit my cloth laying on bench, sunburned my hand. Oh its's not over yet. The fire and flash jumped into cartridge box an burned 30 rounds. BOOM BOOM Big BOOM. They did not shoot as no compression just burned up and gave me a sunburn as well. I am backed up from bench by now and my buddy is yelling What the ... are you ok. Yes lets clean up and call it a day. So watch out with black as this set of positions had to be just so to make it work. It could have been worse. Take care guys.

Wow, old Murphy at work again. Glad you're OK.

 

[maillemaker]

By the way those little flecks of Black can be dug out or pricked out with a nice small needle. I know I have picked a couple of them out. Enjoy the shooting life. If you are cheap and bother saving them they still shoot lololol

I like keeping them as a reminder.

 

[Carteret Kid]

Also, never tend the campfire with your powderhorn hanging from your shoulder strap.

 

[le125verne]

I have followed my Mama's directives most of my life. Keep you mouth closed and your ears open. You will learn a lot by osmosis without the hurt.
While in re-enacting, I have seen fellows prepping BP blank charges near the campfire with ex-military cans wide open. I left pronto fast while giving advice to move the powder can away from the fire.

 

[ab44]

Thanks for replies glad to help. It is true "Murphy at his best" everything just had to be in the right place at the wrongest time. lol Needless to say it looked like the civil war there for ten minutes cloud of smoke was huge.. Good shooting guys.

 

[ab44]

Wow, old Murphy at work again. Glad you're OK.

Thanks for replies glad to help. It is true "Murphy at his best" everything just had to be in the right place at the wrongest time. lol Needless to say it looked like the civil war there for ten minutes cloud of smoke was huge.. Good shooting guys.

 

[Eutycus]

Was the flask loaded?