Confused about Powder Horns

[Rifleman1776]

No matter what kind of powder container you finally choose, NEVER EVER LOAD DIRECTLY FROM YOUR CONTAINER, use a powder measure. Don't be an idiot. The danger from loading directly from your powder container are far too great and the results are far too disasterous. Do not do it!!! Always, always, always use a powder measure.

Amen.
I think this thread should be closed by the mods.
It is scary shocking that some so-called experienced shooters have advocated a very dangerous practice.
When I had my ml shot I refused to sell flasks because of the danger factory.
Flasks were originaly devised for use by the military where firepower and speed were more important than the safety of individual soldiers.
There is very good reason why the use of flasks on ranges is prohibited.

 

[Rifleman1776]

No matter what kind of powder container you finally choose, NEVER EVER LOAD DIRECTLY FROM YOUR CONTAINER, use a powder measure. Don't be an idiot. The danger from loading directly from your powder container are far too great and the results are far too disasterous. Do not do it!!! Always, always, always use a powder measure.

 

[DUSTY 14]

my horn has the spring loaded measure end added to it by myself. i have a 15gr. end that feeds nicely into any powder measure i am using that day. for my pistol i do the finger on the end thing but then load into my measure that i carry for my rifle. the horn never touches the end of the barrel on anything. like my body parts where they are now.

 

[xbowman]

Be careful with thos brass spring loaded flasks. 3 years ago after shooting several thousands of shot, the valve on mine didn't close. It blew up right next to my right upper arm and I still have Goex black powder visible. I don't trust ANYTHING with black powder near my body today. I now use 35mm film canister that I load before going to the range or at the range.

In the day they used horns, because that's what they had to keep powder in that worked for them.

Roundball showed a picture of the one that blew up on me and the only think that was found was the center tube.

Be care and think safe.

 

[garandman]

All my powder goes back into my dry box, with the lid closed, while I'm shooting - flask, powder bottles, everything.

Percussion cap cans are closed up, etc.

The only thing that gonna go boom on me is INSIDE the barrell.... :thumbsup:

My powder flask is the cheapy black plastic one - but I drilled out the valve so that powder flows more freely...

I load my percussion rifle from powder tubes of pre-measured charges, and my revolvers from a adjustable powder measure.

 

[gizamo]

No matter what kind of powder container you finally choose, NEVER EVER LOAD DIRECTLY FROM YOUR CONTAINER, use a powder measure. Don't be an idiot. The danger from loading directly from your powder container are far too great and the results are far too disasterous. Do not do it!!! Always, always, always use a powder measure.

Amen.
I think this thread should be closed by the mods.
It is scary shocking that some so-called experienced shooters have advocated a very dangerous practice.
When I had my ml shot I refused to sell flasks because of the danger factory.
Flasks were originaly devised for use by the military where firepower and speed were more important than the safety of individual soldiers.
There is very good reason why the use of flasks on ranges is prohibited.

I would 2nd your suggestion... Or at a minimum, have Roundballs suggestion of pouring directly into a muzzle from a flask suggestion removed from the thread.

That is just a dangerous practice,.... if not deadly.

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

The person who pours directly from the flask/horn into the barrel,,, IS AN IDIOT.

:slap: :slap: :slap: :slap: :slap: :slap: :slap: :slap: :slap: :slap: :slap: :slap:

That is the kind of information that will save a life, maybe even your own.

:hatsoff:

 

[dbutch]

Your shooting Pyrodex..please remember this propellant absorbs moisture the minute you open the container.
This should be a consideration for use and storage.
If your loading from a brass spout :youcrazy:
sorry!...your not welcome in my camp.
Nearest hospital is 30 minutes away!
Nice knowing you!

 

[MSW]

what makeupsmoke said ... please, if you're going to do the 'Darwin Award' thing, go a few points down, and let me know so i can remember that important hair appointment ...

talking to cops and EMS folks makes me fuzzy tongued, and i will make coffee and help doing windows, but i draw the line at cleaning up someone else's blood...

 

[Leatherbark]

A simple, inexpensive alternative until you get a better feel for what you ultimately want to do is use a brass powder flask. The brass nozzles are interchangeable in different sizes to serve as powder measures.

Just hold your finger tip over the end of the spout, press the spring loaded valve button to let it fill up with powder, release the valve button and then pour the spout full of powder down bore.
(or just fill your own powder measure from the flask)
I have these flasks in range boxes filled with Goex 4F as a convenient re-supply source to refill pan primers after every range session.

They run anywhere from $18-$22 bucks.
Here's one at Kittery up there in Maine. http://www.kitterytradingpost.com/product.php/pid/2/sid/6/tid/34/prodid/10868

I would not recommend anyone use the brass tube type flask. They are too strong, thick walled, and will not burst until the pressure is higher than if it were a horn with a pinned in base plug.
I won't use them.
The higher the pressure the worse the injury is likely to be in the unlikely event it has a "fast fire". Also powder horns are not good conductors of heat or electricity.
Gluing in powder horn base plugs is a bad idea for the same reason, is increases the pressure before something "vents".
I have a brass tube primer I really liked but I stopped using it for the same reason.
I am sure this is one reason that traditional powder flasks are so thin.
Also its a very bad idea to load from direct from the flask.

If someone thinks this hype I suggest that they test a simple nailed base horn, a horn with the base epoxied in and a brass tube flask see which one is the most "explosive" and throws fragments with the greatest force.
The more its contained the more destructive BP will be. For example a full case of BP in the current plastic bottles, fuse a center bottle and set it off. At most 4-5 others will fire, the rest are just scorched (a guy I know bought a bunch of powder that a distributor had tested in this way blackened labels and all).
The plastic fails at low pressure and the explosion is low order, a fast fire... Contain it too much and it starts to work "better".

Dan

+1. I took the screw in plug out of my brass primer and put a cork in it. So in the event it is ever ignited it will hopefully blow out the cork and scorch me instead of implaling me.

Bob