Double load of black powder

[chipper c]

I lost my focus at the shooting range over the weekend :yakyak: and put two 70 grain black power charges on top of each other. How I caught the mistake :idunno: I think I saw some powder dust puff out of the muzzle witch seemed out of place.Pulling the ramrod I check my height mark witch told me I did add a second 70 grains. Shaking out the barrel there it was 140 grains of black powder, with patch and ball in hand I am glad I did not ram them home on top of it.Lesson Learned for me stay focused :thumbsup:

 

[Stumpkiller]

Best time to find it is before. :hatsoff:

 

[George T.]

A double at 70 grains would be pretty noisy!

Dry ball a couple of times and you will be able to call your self a seasoned MLR shooter!

 

[Eljay]

Oops! A marked ramrod is a wonderful thing!

 

[jamesthomas]

Oops! A marked ramrod is a wonderful thing!

Yes sir! I ALWAYS check my load with my ramrod. It has 2 marks on it. A plinking mark, 50grns. And my hunting mark, 70grns. Anything different the ball gets pulled and the powder removed. You can never be too safe when dealing with blackpowder shooting. I don't want to deal with ringed barrels, split stocks, or bruised shoulders.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I lost my focus at the shooting range over the weekend

That is the key. Staying focused on what you are doing is very important. However, it often can be difficult when bystanders are asking questions, another shooter is having problems, somebody's untended spoiled brat runs out onto the range....etc.
However, even if you had loaded a ball on top of the double charge the worst that would have happened would be a big scare, recoil and bad shot. But, glad you were vigilant enough to catch it. We all learn from incidents like this.

 

[C Barker]

A-men, brother! :bow: I even have a third mark to show me when nothing is in it.

 

[Ron_T.]

If you've been shooting muzzle loaders very long, we've all had "interruptions", usually friendly ones from another shooter, which I've found (for me, at least) to create a perfect "situation" wherein we either dry ball, double load the powder or do something else that we shouldn't have done.

Until I learned this "lesson", I think I was the "dry-ball king" of our Long Rifle Club.

Now, if I'm in the middle of reloading and someone starts talking to me, I just smile and say, "My friend, I'm loading just now and I don't wanna goof up... so give me a minute and I'll be glad to chat with you."... and I turn away, ignore the individual and keep on loading my rifle.

While doing so might make me seem "simple-minded" to some, it's better than dry-balling or double-loading (powder) which is truly more embarrassing.

Once finished, I leave the rifle sitting in the "cradle" I've made for reloading purposes at the range which I attach to the shooting bench with a large, strong C-clamp and I leave my range rod down in the rifle's barrel which, to me, means the rifle is loaded and ready-to-shoot as soon as I pick it up with the muzzle down range, step to the firing line and put a percussion cap on the nipple.

Since I began doing the above, I haven't had a single case of "dry-ball-itis" which I consistently had almost every time I was interrupted while loading! :thumbsup:


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

 

[Trench]

I think I double loaded my .36 once to 80gr of 3F. It was during a club shoot and no one was talking to me. I knew something was wrong when my rifle actually kicked.

Good thing you caught it ahead of time. :thumbsup:

 

[Zonie]

I use the same technique of dealing with people when they want to gab while I'm loading.

Most of them are totally understanding and the few that aren't I don't want to talk to anyway.

 

[rafterob]

Haven't ruined my barrel yet with those accidental 140 grain loads. But you sure know when you've done it. usually everyone else at the range is looking in your direction also. You know, I once had a one eyed dog named Jack........now where was I?

 

[Rifleman1776]

Don't ever try talking to a slug gun shooter while he is reloading. :shocked2:
Those guys can give a dirty look that will burn the eyebrows off yer face.
Back at camp they actually act like regular people but on the range they are more focused than brain surgeons and super-serious about their reloading technique.