Getting back into the hobby, maybe a stupid question.

[Darth Scaber]

I have an Italian kentuckian .50cal after loading and seating the ball, my flash pan will be full of powder. Is this normal/safe/problematic? I'm using fffg powder, just because it's all I could get. Touch hole fits a 1/16" drill bit snug. When I load it, I do wack the **** out of it a few times to be sure it's seated. It seems to shoot just fine other than priming itself.

 

[reddogge]

l shoot 2F out of .50s. That may solve your problem. Otherwise, put a toothpick or something in the touchhole when you load.

 

[wiscoaster]

l shoot 2F out of .50s. That may solve your problem. Otherwise, put a toothpick or something in the touchhole when you load.

Ditto these reccos.

 

[Rifleman1776]

First: seating the ball so hard is not necessary and that is probably not a factor into the issue of powder escaping into the pan. If you have a touchhole liner I suggest you purchase another and try using a smaller hole. This game often (always ) fussing, fiddling and experimentation to get yer fire gun dialed in properly.

 

[Winterhawk]

Otherwise, put a toothpick or something in the touchhole when you load.

If you want to look PC, use a feather.

 

[IanH]

1/16" is about right but it shouldn't self-prime very easily with 3F. I think you're whacking it too hard with the rammer. 3F is fine for that caliber, some prefer 2F, either works perfectly.

 

[deerstalkert]

my latest build has a liner with the flashole a snug 1/16th. goex fffg doesn't self prime. Swiss fffg does.
i just look to see and if its primed i figure it's one less move i have to do. one thing i have noticed is goex fffg needs a touch more prime than Swiss. just the vagaries of this addiction.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

my flash pan will be full of powder

Full of powder maybe too much. try 1-1.5 grains only.
A pan charger is a great thing to have.
Dixie Gun Works has them cheap, of you can get just the tip and make your own from an antler.
A controlled amount of powder is needed.

 

[deerstalkert]

Johnny is correct. i find any more than that just flashes my face more. good way to develop a flinch.

 

[snakebit]

The ATF might come looking for you for having a semi-auto flint lock.

 

[waksupi]

The vent is too big.

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

If you want to look PC, use a feather.

They didn't have toothpicks in the old days?

 

[Secesh]

I always found that a charge equal to the bullet diameter to be most accurate.

 

[Secesh]

I have an Italian kentuckian .50cal after loading and seating the ball, my flash pan will be full of powder. Is this normal/safe/problematic? I'm using fffg powder, just because it's all I could get. Touch hole fits a 1/16" drill bit snug. When I load it, I do wack the Cranberries out of it a few times to be sure it's seated. It seems to shoot just fine other than priming itself.

I would use 3f and try a new flash hole liner. 3f is perfectly fine in a .50

 

[Grenadier1758]

I have an Italian kentuckian .50cal after loading and seating the ball, my flash pan will be full of powder. Is this normal/safe/problematic? I'm using fffg powder, just because it's all I could get. Touch hole fits a 1/16" drill bit snug. When I load it, I do wack the Cranberries out of it a few times to be sure it's seated. It seems to shoot just fine other than priming itself.

Yes, it can be a problem because you are whacking different amounts of powder into the pan, so your charge is different from shot to shot. Having different charges for the main charge is detrimental to accuracy on target, but it is not a safety issue. Are you using Swiss 3Fg powder? As noted, the Swiss is finer than GOEX or Schuetzen 3Fg. The Swiss powder will flow through the touch hole, while GOEX will not. This can be solved by leaving the vent pick in the touch hole while loading. Block the touch hole and use about a half pan full of priming powder which can be your 3Fg powder.

Go shooting and enjoy the experience.

 

[morehops52]

I have read many times about plugging the touch hole when loading whether it's a with pick or a turkey vulture wing feather.
Then add your 4f pan powder. From tests I've read here, the difference in ignition between 3 & 4f pan powder is a few milliseconds. Not a big concern off a bench but maybe with a quartering 10-point. If you are concered about "Self priming" being a safety issue then you could put a patch in the pan with the frizzen holding it like I do

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I always found that a charge equal to the bullet diameter to be most accurate.

Unfortunately, if one is going for deer in some states, the states often mandate a larger load than the caliber when hunting deer. For example the minimum load for deer in Maryland is 60 grains, even if one is using a .45 caliber rifle.

LD

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

I never thought the states regulated powder charges on muzzle loading guns. They don't in Iowa. I had a .45 that's most accurate load was .45gr. That's what I loaded. That load will break a deers back. I also have a friend that shot a large buck right in the front of the chest and dropped it on the spot with the same load with a .45.
It says a lot about the oppressive state of government when they start telling you how to load your gun.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I never thought the states regulated powder charges on muzzle loading guns. They don't in Iowa. I had a .45 that's most accurate load was .45gr. That's what I loaded. That load will break a deers back. I also have a friend that shot a large buck right in the front of the chest and dropped it on the spot with the same load with a .45.
It says a lot about the oppressive state of government when they start telling you how to load your gun.

EXACTLY.... 60 grains of 2Fg is a bit "light" if one is using a 1 ounce ball in a Bess, and a bit stout when one is using a 90 grain .390 in a .40 .
They also require 40 grains and a 6" barrel if one uses a handgun, so only one or two revolvers will hold that much and have the long enough barrel, limiting the folks to single shot handguns.

LD

 

[Indy Durtdigger]

EXACTLY.... 60 grains of 2Fg is a bit "light" if one is using a 1 ounce ball in a Bess, and a bit stout when one is using a 90 grain .390 in a .40 .
They also require 40 grains and a 6" barrel if one uses a handgun, so only one or two revolvers will hold that much and have the long enough barrel, limiting the folks to single shot handguns.

LD

You should try meeting the BP handgun requirements for Indiana. That I know of/have been able to find Pedersoli is the only company that makes one that does. I picked one up last year on clearance. A rather junky and unpleasant to shoot affair to be nice about it.