blowing down barrel
- Thread starter patd3985
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I'm guessing for the same reason you cannot sell some legal items on eBay - Liability if something goes wrong.Richard Eames said:
Besides, it's not out of the realm of possibilities that some idiot is going to forget that he just loaded his flintlock, hit the butt on the ground, in an effort to blow down the barrel and shoot himself.
We know that many, many members of this forum have driven a ball home without putting in the powder first. How could that possibly happen? :wink:
try an experiment your self. After cleaning your gun and making absolutely sure you gun is unloaded, drop an inert powder down your bore. Use the volume of your regular charge. 70 grains worth or so. Then run a PRB on down the bore. Then blow down the barrel, see if any air exits the vent. Blow hard, get a trumpet player to try. How much pressure can s man blow? 10 psi? I doubt that much. Not enough to blow past a greased patch. Pull your inert load.
At an event you have to follow the ruiles or go home. Even if the rule is based on a silly emotion or a sillier requirement of an insurance company. The emoltional impact of any one who knows basiic gun safety seeing a gun in a mouth is shocking sight. So along comes the urban myth to discourage people from doing it. However it's just emotion that has nothing to do with fact
At an event you have to follow the ruiles or go home. Even if the rule is based on a silly emotion or a sillier requirement of an insurance company. The emoltional impact of any one who knows basiic gun safety seeing a gun in a mouth is shocking sight. So along comes the urban myth to discourage people from doing it. However it's just emotion that has nothing to do with fact
Not necessary. :wink:tenngun said:
We know that many, many members of this forum have driven a ball home without putting in the powder first. How could that possibly happen?
Talking, visiting, and not paying attention to what a person is there for.
I have been guilty in the past, I do not visit or talk during matches now.
I do not talk with anyone except a Range Officer unless they address me until a cease fire is called.
Talking, visiting, and not paying attention to what a person is there for.
I have been guilty in the past, I do not visit or talk during matches now.
I do not talk with anyone except a Range Officer unless they address me until a cease fire is called.
Didn't direct it at you just next in line. I met it as just s thought experiment any way.
IMO, blowing down the barrel sits a bad example for others, not as smart as we are.
Somehow, I have no problem imagining a few kids at a shooting range watching all of the shooters firing away.
Almost without exception they will watch the muzzleloader with his old fashioned gun pouring stuff down the barrel, sticking a rod in after it and then carrying it to the shooting line.
That's a lot neater than watching some guy in camo blasting shots downrange as fast as he can pull the trigger.
Then the muzzleloader fusses with the back of the gun, priming or capping it. Raises it up and BOOM! Vast clouds of smoke fill the area! What could be neater than that?
The shooter then carries his muzzleloader back behind the line and sticks the barrel into his mouth! With his jaws and eyes bulging, he gives a mighty blow. Why? Who knows, but it looks like fun.
Days later a few friends stops by the house and soon everyone is talking about the great fun of shooting a muzzleloader and the shooter sticking the barrel in his mouth every time he starts to reload.
It doesn't take the friends long to spy the loaded 12 guage defense shotgun sitting in the corner and practice this newly found enjoyment.......
I'm sure after reading this, Alden will have a tear coming to the corner of his eye thinking about "The Children".
Come to think about it, I might too at the thought of seeing some 12 year old's brains blown all over the living room because he or his friend saw someone who should know better, sticking his rifles muzzle into his mouth.
I guess this is why I am against anyone at a shooting range or around kids sticking the barrel of their muzzleloader in their mouth.
If they are out in the wilds, all by themselves, sure. Go ahead. Blow down the barrel.
Hell, they can even stick the muzzle someplace the sun don't shine as far as I care (although if they do, I doubt they will want to stick it in their mouth afterwards) but, hopefully they won't do it around others. Especially kids who don't know better.
Somehow, I have no problem imagining a few kids at a shooting range watching all of the shooters firing away.
Almost without exception they will watch the muzzleloader with his old fashioned gun pouring stuff down the barrel, sticking a rod in after it and then carrying it to the shooting line.
That's a lot neater than watching some guy in camo blasting shots downrange as fast as he can pull the trigger.
Then the muzzleloader fusses with the back of the gun, priming or capping it. Raises it up and BOOM! Vast clouds of smoke fill the area! What could be neater than that?
The shooter then carries his muzzleloader back behind the line and sticks the barrel into his mouth! With his jaws and eyes bulging, he gives a mighty blow. Why? Who knows, but it looks like fun.
Days later a few friends stops by the house and soon everyone is talking about the great fun of shooting a muzzleloader and the shooter sticking the barrel in his mouth every time he starts to reload.
It doesn't take the friends long to spy the loaded 12 guage defense shotgun sitting in the corner and practice this newly found enjoyment.......
I'm sure after reading this, Alden will have a tear coming to the corner of his eye thinking about "The Children".
Come to think about it, I might too at the thought of seeing some 12 year old's brains blown all over the living room because he or his friend saw someone who should know better, sticking his rifles muzzle into his mouth.
I guess this is why I am against anyone at a shooting range or around kids sticking the barrel of their muzzleloader in their mouth.
If they are out in the wilds, all by themselves, sure. Go ahead. Blow down the barrel.
Hell, they can even stick the muzzle someplace the sun don't shine as far as I care (although if they do, I doubt they will want to stick it in their mouth afterwards) but, hopefully they won't do it around others. Especially kids who don't know better.
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Things sure have changed since I was 12....
What we teach 12 year olds has also changed....So has what they learn.....
It seems that all that is taught to children today about guns....is dictated by one political party or the other, instead of anything of substance....
What we teach 12 year olds has also changed....So has what they learn.....
It seems that all that is taught to children today about guns....is dictated by one political party or the other, instead of anything of substance....
Most of my shooting is alone. When I'm on some one else's back yard I do fallow house rules, but I don't have to like it; and I dont :haha:
Quoted cause it is so dang right :thumbsup: Clyde
No opinion on what anyone else does with a muzzle (aside from pointing it at me :wink: ) but this discussion reminds why I shoot stumps in the bush and avoid crowds. Fond of folks but they are peculiar eh.
CrackStock
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I miss Paul Vallandigham. We sparred with each other at times, but he was a good guy and his loss is sorely felt.
"Hold the horses guys. There is way too much testosterone flowing about this issue.
In my black powder club, we allow shooters to blow down their barrels or swab, as they choose, at club shoots.
However, if we are doing demonstrations in front of the public( we used to do more than 10 a year!)we ask the guys to swab with a damp patch after each shot. The reason is because of kids and others who have NO experience shooting any gun, modern or ML, who may see us Blowing down the barrel, who do not understand the unique circumstance of ML guns that makes this a safe practice, and then do the same thing with a loaded gun. We made our own decision to be squeaky clean for public relations purposes, only.
It had nothing to do with safety.
I believe I once saw a new shooter in the club use a blow tube, because he didn't like the taste of BP! Then we showed him how to cup his hand around the muzzle to make a " mouthpiece " before blowing down the barrel, and he dispensed with using the tube immediately!
For years, I have taught Hunter Safety Courses( 25 years) and when I teach ML safety, I make a point of discussing the practice of blowing down the barrel with my students. I show them the alternate way of using a damp patch. I also talk about the historical record of battle field guns having many loads in the barrels, and the fact that battlefields were so noisy, and the men were so nervous and full of adrenalin, that they could not feel the gun recoil, even when it did go off. We call it " buck fever " with modern day hunters, who almost always report having no memory of recoil when they fired their gun at the game they took.
So, Please, lets not get at each other's throats over the practice. For the guys who were taught to use a damp patch after each shot, lighten up about the guys who blow, instead. For the Blow guys, lighten up, and use a damp patch if you are a guest at some club where those are the rules. It surely won't kill you!"
His was a voice of reason and his effect was calming.
CS
"Hold the horses guys. There is way too much testosterone flowing about this issue.
In my black powder club, we allow shooters to blow down their barrels or swab, as they choose, at club shoots.
However, if we are doing demonstrations in front of the public( we used to do more than 10 a year!)we ask the guys to swab with a damp patch after each shot. The reason is because of kids and others who have NO experience shooting any gun, modern or ML, who may see us Blowing down the barrel, who do not understand the unique circumstance of ML guns that makes this a safe practice, and then do the same thing with a loaded gun. We made our own decision to be squeaky clean for public relations purposes, only.
It had nothing to do with safety.
I believe I once saw a new shooter in the club use a blow tube, because he didn't like the taste of BP! Then we showed him how to cup his hand around the muzzle to make a " mouthpiece " before blowing down the barrel, and he dispensed with using the tube immediately!
For years, I have taught Hunter Safety Courses( 25 years) and when I teach ML safety, I make a point of discussing the practice of blowing down the barrel with my students. I show them the alternate way of using a damp patch. I also talk about the historical record of battle field guns having many loads in the barrels, and the fact that battlefields were so noisy, and the men were so nervous and full of adrenalin, that they could not feel the gun recoil, even when it did go off. We call it " buck fever " with modern day hunters, who almost always report having no memory of recoil when they fired their gun at the game they took.
So, Please, lets not get at each other's throats over the practice. For the guys who were taught to use a damp patch after each shot, lighten up about the guys who blow, instead. For the Blow guys, lighten up, and use a damp patch if you are a guest at some club where those are the rules. It surely won't kill you!"
His was a voice of reason and his effect was calming.
CS
AZbpBurner
54 Cal.
So, apparently it's OK to also point an "unloaded" muzzleloader towards face or cupped hands?
The entire controversy is silly. Moisture from blowing your barrel supposedly provides sufficient moisture to soften fouling. Pretty feeble rationale, unless you slobber like a dairy cow.
Swabbing seems more common sense and actually effective.
The entire controversy is silly. Moisture from blowing your barrel supposedly provides sufficient moisture to soften fouling. Pretty feeble rationale, unless you slobber like a dairy cow.
Swabbing seems more common sense and actually effective.
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many years ago, I saw a fellow who had rigged up a bit of clear plastic tubing and a little funnel gadget. the tube was about a foot long, and the funnel went into the muzzle and formed (sort of) a seal, so when he blew into the tube, all the air went into the barrel. I'm an advocate of swabbing, myself.
BPC shooters routinely use a blow tube at the breech end of the rifle for the soul purpose of softening the fouling in the barrel. that is one of the first things to acquire when you buy a BPC gun. same results, different ends is all.
I own several "blow tubes" for my assorted BPCR rifles and yes they work for their intended purpose. Yesterday was the first time I ever blew down the barrel of a muzzleloader. Why you ask? Well because of this thread of course would be the answer. I guess it was just the rebel coming out. I was all alone out in the middle of nowhere but I'm thinking there was a coyote not far away watching and saying to itself I can't believe he just did that :rotf:
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I've only got one BPCR, and I use a blow tube after each shot.
tac
tac
CrackStock
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AZbpBurner said:
I was quoting Paul. My own responses were a lot more pointed. I am not a fan of this practice.
CS
Rat Trapper
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I have my own range, and am not PC, so I can blow down the barrel all I want and do not have to answer to others. Anyone who has a problem with how I do things can pack up his stuff and get to hell off my range.
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Yes that's how it works, and if you're at a range or event that doesn't allow it, you can get the hell off their range.Rat Trapper said:
