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zrifleman said:Wick---That story sounds like it started with "once upon a time". In both cases why didn't the powder ignite when it was first poured down the barrel? It would have to set there long enough to put patch, ball and ramrod down the barrel. Another scenario I have heard is setting off a charge by rapid compression of powder charge with patch/ball. A friend says he witnessed that at a match. Don't know if that is possible?
All I can say is that I saw the scars, and have no reason to believe either lied about it. In both cases, both men were loading rapid fire. As mentioned, if an ember were under some fouling, then things could liven up when the ball is forced down on the powder. I always blow down the barrel before reloading. It used to be a common safety measure until recent years.
I don't believe you could build enough pressure to ignite the powder from compression with a patched ball. Confederate soldier Sam Watkins mentioned in his book, "Company Atch", that at the battle of Kennesaw Mt., many muskets on their side, were going off as they were being loaded in heavy rapid fire. He thought the hot barrels set the charges off, I think it was embers in the fouling, and that the hot barrels might have been supporting the embers. Now, that may not be a perfect example because of the paper cartridges envolved, but I just feel uncomfortable if I don't either blow down the barrel, or wipe it with a wet patch, before reloading.