concussion from BP revolvers

[Rifleman1776]

Western stories are just that. Stories. But fun to read.

 

[springfield art]

I've read several times but have always been skeptical that in Wild West days when a gun fight would break out in a saloon that the first couple of shots would knock out all the flames from oil lamps lighting the joint.
I can certainly see how a couple of shots from a .44 would smoke up the place enough to make it seem as all the lights were out but I wonder/doubt that the concussion actually was putting the oil lamp flames out.

I kind of think the Movies have made us all think the Old West was just like that; saloons, gunfights, etc., but most people just had to work and make their way. It's TIRING to carry a pistol on a slanted-down belt all day! And expensive cartridges would get damaged rolling around the ground or saloon floor! That's all Hollywood! And, yes, real blackpowder is much more smoky than the movies, or they would not be able to film!

 

[William P Sepessy]

Skeeter Skelton did an experiment years ago in an abandoned adobe shack. He wanted to test the reported "Can't see anything" after several black powder rounds were fired in a confined space. He loaded up some black powder 44-40 rounds and let loose. He claimed to be able to still make out images, but "the noise lifted my scalp!!" I don't remember if Skeeter referenced an oil lamp, so now it will be my reading pleasure to track down that old article for the particulars.
Also, I attended a Cowboy shoot earlier this year where on one stage you had to fire 10 pistol rounds from a seated position inside an "outhouse". Unfortunately for me, that day I was using full load black powder 45 Colts. Even with hearing protection, the effect on my ears was certainly "memorable" and the concussion was very pronounced!

 

[M. De Land]

I've read several times but have always been skeptical that in Wild West days when a gun fight would break out in a saloon that the first couple of shots would knock out all the flames from oil lamps lighting the joint.
I can certainly see how a couple of shots from a .44 would smoke up the place enough to make it seem as all the lights were out but I wonder/doubt that the concussion actually was putting the oil lamp flames out.

I don't remember where I read this but it could have been from my days of reading Dads Louis Lamore books. I also used to read most all of Mike Venterino articles so I suppose I could have picked it up there if he ever did one on this.
I also was a fan of Skeeter Skelton articles.

 

[M. De Land]

Skeeter Skelton did an experiment years ago in an abandoned adobe shack. He wanted to test the reported "Can't see anything" after several black powder rounds were fired in a confined space. He loaded up some black powder 44-40 rounds and let loose. He claimed to be able to still make out images, but "the noise lifted my scalp!!" I don't remember if Skeeter referenced an oil lamp, so now it will be my reading pleasure to track down that old article for the particulars.
Also, I attended a Cowboy shoot earlier this year where on one stage you had to fire 10 pistol rounds from a seated position inside an "outhouse". Unfortunately for me, that day I was using full load black powder 45 Colts. Even with hearing protection, the effect on my ears was certainly "memorable" and the concussion was very pronounced!

Was the door closed, shooting out through the half moon ?

 

[deerstalkert]

i can attest that the discharge of any weapon inside the confines of a motor vehicle will make you wish you were as deaf before as you are after the fact!
will also make ears bleed, along with other parts of ones body involved in the shooting.

 

[rkg1]

I also read the article mentioned by Rusty Frizzen and the smokeless powder did not blow out the candle (as I recall it was a candle) but the BP did. I thought the article was done by the Bevel brother but it easy could have been Mike. It was some time ago.

 

[William Sublette]

I can confirm that shooting a flintlock out drivers side window of your deer blind turns the cab of your suburban into an instant Cheech, and Chong movie.

 

[JRL1164]

View attachment 165133




I can confirm that shooting a flintlock out drivers side window of your deer blind turns the cab of your suburban into an instant Cheech, and Chong movie.

The ole truck blind. I remember hunting with my grandpa parked out on a big pasture when it had become to difficult to climb a stand. Many good times in that cab.

 

[Huasser1]

Seems doubtful to me. If I wasn't married I'd try to replicate the scenario in my living room and report back to you

chicken?

 

[Crooked Creek]

Skeeter Skelton did an experiment years ago in an abandoned adobe shack. He wanted to test the reported "Can't see anything" after several black powder rounds were fired in a confined space. He loaded up some black powder 44-40 rounds and let loose. He claimed to be able to still make out images, but "the noise lifted my scalp!!" I don't remember if Skeeter referenced an oil lamp, so now it will be my reading pleasure to track down that old article for the particulars.
Also, I attended a Cowboy shoot earlier this year where on one stage you had to fire 10 pistol rounds from a seated position inside an "outhouse". Unfortunately for me, that day I was using full load black powder 45 Colts. Even with hearing protection, the effect on my ears was certainly "memorable" and the concussion was very pronounced!

During firing, were there any other discharges while shooting from an outhouse in the seated position?

 

[Dark Angel]

I've read several times but have always been skeptical that in Wild West days when a gun fight would break out in a saloon that the first couple of shots would knock out all the flames from oil lamps lighting the joint.
I can certainly see how a couple of shots from a .44 would smoke up the place enough to make it seem as all the lights were out but I wonder/doubt that the concussion actually was putting the oil lamp flames out.

Just a guess, but any pressure wave generated by a bp revolver that would blow out the flame of an oil lamp would rupture your eardrums.

 

[Snake Pleskin]

I had an unmenitonable 30-30 carbine go off in a closed room of about 12x12 size. Could not see for a few minutes due to concussion ,smoke, shock, and could not hear anything for about 6hrs!!!

 

[MLZ]

I've always doubted the possibility of a lamp or lantern with the flame shielded, but could see that happening with an exposed flame, such as a candle.

 

[TDM]

I've always doubted the possibility of a lamp or lantern with the flame shielded, but could see that happening with an exposed flame, such as a candle.

Yep, if the muzzle is anywhere close to an open flame you got a different story.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

I don't know about sound concussion, but if close enough the exhaust from a shot going out the barrel could blow one out. Remember those funky air cannons that were sold in the mid 1960's. pistol grip and a large round cyclinber with a spring loaded plunder and a funnel shape. The plunger when realeased would cause a puff of air to go out the funnel shaped "muzzle" and the TV ad showed a young boy mussing up his sisters hair from 20 ft away. Don't know if a black powder gun could produce the same effect.

 

[44Bro]

Don't be on the fore deck when the USS New Jersey is going to fire.

Don't be hanging over the parapet just under the Fire Control Director either,,,,,,,that muzzle flash is HOT.

 

[Bad Karma]

I don't know about sound concussion, but if close enough the exhaust from a shot going out the barrel could blow one out. Remember those funky air cannons that were sold in the mid 1960's. pistol grip and a large round cyclinber with a spring loaded plunder and a funnel shape. The plunger when realeased would cause a puff of air to go out the funnel shaped "muzzle" and the TV ad showed a young boy mussing up his sisters hair from 20 ft away. Don't know if a black powder gun could produce the same effect.View attachment 165382

It’s debatable if it would but the bullet would darn sure muss your hair…

I seriously doubt that pressure wave from a bp revolver would blow out lanterns. I’ve been in rooms large and small when small arms are being fired and the over pressure from modern military pistols is pretty mild. 5.56mm and 7.62 carbines are another matter. They will blow your hair back. Even so, I doubt they’ll extinguish any half decent lantern.

 

[SDSmlf]

This rumor of the lamps being blown out came from the Broken Branch Salon. Where a cowboy got in a gun fight and was hit good and hard. His last words were "Who's dimming the lamps".

You almost got the story right. That Cowboy’s name was Dandy Don Meredith and what he sang on Monday nights was ‘Turn out the lights, the party's over’……

 

[viking]

Hello, I am a retired lead miner and and have some insight to concussion. Concussion is more than just blowing wind ,after all that is how we broke the rock in the ore. Concussion is more like a vibration that can make wind of course and blow your hard hat off. You can feel the concussion. P.S. it bothered some of the other miners but always gave me a charge, I liked it.