Blowing down the barrel?

[roundball]

"...seen a few redundant subjects TG. I'm noticing a few myself now.
recently, I've begun wondering if perhaps it's not time to step away for a while..."

Don't want to hijack the thread, but I agree and have also noticed it...figure it's a learning curve that's climbed through and then plateaus when the rate of new interesting discoveries slows down...but existing folks start into a new area of interest and begin asking questions, and/or new folks show up an asking legitimate questions, etc, like the one that started this thread...and we have to try and help, eh

 

[TANSTAAFL]

To avoid accidents, there is no such thing as an unloaded gun, period.

 

[bnail]

"...seen a few redundant subjects TG. I'm noticing a few myself now.
recently, I've begun wondering if perhaps it's not time to step away for a while..."

Don't want to hijack the thread, but I agree and have also noticed it...figure it's a learning curve that's climbed through and then plateaus when the rate of new interesting discoveries slows down...but existing folks start into a new area of interest and begin asking questions, and/or new folks show up an asking legitimate questions, etc, like the one that started this thread...and we have to try and help, eh

you're right roundball, an honest question deserves a sincere answer. there is the give-and-take element. . . but the arguments are fun too from time-to-time :winking:

 

[jderrick]

Hey, sorry folks, I hadn't seen that there was an earlier thread on this. :redface: My bad, but thanks for all the info.

 

[Rebel]

Hey, don't worry about asking a queston over. We are all here to help. The main thing is to get correct info out to all, including newcomers.

 

Roundball, Ol' Sadie is a Hawken with a patent breech. I don't think the style breech has anything to do with it. On this subject, I think all of us old experienced shooters who have our own methods based on our own beliefs may as well agree to disagree and shake hands and keep talking about something else. I think the pros and cons have already been discussed yet one more time.

 

[roundball]

Hey, sorry folks, I hadn't seen that there was an earlier thread on this. :redface: My bad, but thanks for all the info.

Not at all...this site would become a dull sterile place if all we did was sign on and search archives...IMO, you can ask any question you want, whenever you want, as often as you want

 

[Voyageur]

I've read the threads on this and thought the topic might be a dead issue because of its age.

I've seen one position where the folks say they are going to do it and others say that it was a safety problem, that they'd taught safety since who laid the rail and they didn't want any of those folks anywhere near them.

Being as how I've taught firearms safety many years to law enforcement (I'm retired law enforcement) as well as Hunter Education & Bowhunter Education to local citizens, I have my own views on this topic.

But that is not what I wanted to say... I just didn't want some of you trying to beat me over the head with with 'Firearms Safety' rhetoric instead of answering questions.

I noticed that a concerned member named 'Fred'(I think) asked a question that no one answered. Instead of tracking it down and quoting, I'll simply ask it again in my own words:

Just who was blowing down the barrel of a muzzle loader and blew out his brains? Don't give me your viewpoint, your interpretation of what's right or what has been passed down in your family.

Just tell me so I can know... Just who was blowing down the barrel of a muzzle loader and blew out his own brains?

 

[strongarm]

I was always told blowing is to make sure all the fire and sparks are out before dumping another charge down the barrel.

Charge + Spark = ramrod through hand.

Ne's pas Monsieur?
:rotf:

 

[bnail]

Hey, sorry folks, I hadn't seen that there was an earlier thread on this. :redface: My bad, but thanks for all the info.

don't sweat it sir! Honest questions deserve answers, ESPECIALLY about safety. :thumbsup:
The "Barrel blowing" debate is an interesting topic. people seem pretty pasionate on both sides.
for my part, I'd like to know, is it a tradition founded in history or Hollywood? :hmm:

 

[hobbles]

Hey. I was reading a book about muzzleloading and it mentioned and illustrated using your mouth to blow down the barrel after firing to keep fouling soft. I saw a similar action on a recent documentary.

Is this standard operating procedure in black powder?

Mornin jderrick
I have always blowin down my barrel AFTER a shot but have NEVER put my mouth on it,, nor have I ever had my face in front of the barrel while doin it, I bet a lot of boys do it the same way,, from the side,,,

 

Tradition in my case. I was taught by the Old Colonel how to load and care for a muzzleloading firearm. I never saw this in a movie. Maybe this time Hollywood is actually showing accurate tradition. :grin:
Don

 

[roundball]

"...Being as how I've taught firearms safety many years to law enforcement (I'm retired law enforcement) as well as Hunter Education & Bowhunter Education to local citizens..."

Since you made this comment about yourself for some purpose, I'm curious to know which firearms safety standard you teach:

Do you teach people to point muzzles at their head?

Do you teach people not to point muzzles at their head?

 

[Mike Brooks]

COOL! :thumbsup: I didn't take a peek at this thread till it got 32 posts....then my curiostiy got the best of me. :yakyak:
To blow or not to blow, this is the question. I used to blow, but then the NMLRA said it's bad and if they catch you blowing you get kicked off of the range. So now I don't blow.
I never blew my head off when I was a blower and my gun hasn't blown up since I became an anti-blower. My gun doesn't seem to care one way or the other. :haha:

 

[sniper68]

Intresting responses, and all without any hostility.. Here's my two cents, for what it's worth.
I'm a die hard blower, my reasons that have nothing to do with embers or moistening the fouling. Take some fouling from the barrel, put it in your hand and try to soften it by by blowing or breathing on it, it ain't gonna change, especially with one breath !! There ain't no embers left after ya shoot a round. A blank might be a different story, although I don't think so .. If there were to, for some reason to be an ember, one breath of air may be just as likely to flair it up, as put it out !!!
The "SOLE" reason I blow down the bore before I pour the charge, is to make sure the air way is clear. This ain't necessary on a flint (just Habit for me), as picking the vent will take care of that. I always blow when shootin percussion, to make sure the flash hole in the nipple is clear, especialy after wipeing the bore. Any other reason is pure Hollywood to me. To error on the side of safety I will not argue with those who preach against it, it's a different world today than what I was raised in. Ya can't be too safe!!! Especialy when teachin others... :thumbsup:

 

[Claude Mathis]

I wonder how long it will take for this topic and many like it to get to the point that they will recieve no replies at all?

There will always be those that reply. Ask any instructor how many times he's had to answer the same question. The point is, it's not the "same question" to the person asking it. :grin:

 

[Runner]

I would refer you to the video they show on the tube where a cannon cooked off while the guy was ramming the charge because of an ember still in there after it was fired. If the pictures of his body being blown down the hill don't convince you, nothing will.
I used to blow between every shot. I cupped my hand around the end of the barrel and blew into my hand. There is nothing remotely dangerous about it. I would suggest that anyone that doesn't know if their gun just went off will not be safe to be around no matter what procedure he uses. No one is attempting to say that you should blow down someone elses barrel, or down the barrel of a gun you just picked up. No one is even saying to blow down your own without checking. Everyone has said, right after you fire it.
I don't blow now because I patch between each shot with a wet patch and a dry patch on each side. The patch pushing air out the nipple does the same thing.

Yes, I teach people to point the muzzle at themselves and to look down the barrel. It is hard to inspect the bore with a bore light without doing so. Your never statement is like all never statements. It doesn't cut it in the real world.
This is just another stupid NMLRA rule. If I decide to do so, I will. I don't ask permission to eat my own cooking either, and that is a lot more dangerous than blowing down the barrel of a gun I just fired!~

 

"...Being as how I've taught firearms safety many years to law enforcement (I'm retired law enforcement) as well as Hunter Education & Bowhunter Education to local citizens..."

Since you made this comment about yourself for some purpose, I'm curious to know which firearms safety standard you teach:

Do you teach people to point muzzles at their head?

Do you teach people not to point muzzles at their head?

My hope was that we were all gentlemen here and having a friendly conversation on an important topic. I also hope these two questions were not meant to be antagonistic. If not, I apologize for this post.
Don

 

[roundball]

The so called 10 commandments of gun safety, as well as the primary NRA safety pracices both dictate disposition of muzzle direction.

You made a point in this thread of being a firearms instructor, implying that you should know about these things, but it was not clear what you intended by that statement.

I simply asked what you teach regarding muzzle control...ie: do you teach pointing the muzzle of a firearm at one's self? Or not?
:thumbsup:

 

[Big John]

NMLRA,NRA and many shoots that I hold don't allow it. I specifically announce at my shoots that is not to be done, otherwise the culprit will have to surgically remove a size 13 steel-toed work boot from his a++. I'm also an NRA/NMLRA Instructor.