How many grains powder should I use to prime?
- Thread starter Grosvenor
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Mgbruch
40 Cal
As you become familiar with your gun, it will tell you how much to prime. A good place to start is with the pan half full. The cost to prime, alone, isn't worth worrying about.
Brokennock
Cannon
Don't overthink it.
I mostly prime with the same 3f powder I have in my main charge. Usually that means just enough to coat the bottom of the pan if I were to spread it out evenly. When I use 4f from one of those spring-plunger tip droppers I think it drops about 3 grains which has always been enough. My instinct is that if that isn't enough prime one isn't getting enough sparks.
Less is best... most folks use too much priming powder, just a thin line away from the flash hole works for me in any of my flintlocks.
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most new shooters of the flintlock use double or more powder in the pan than they should.
use as little as needed to touch off the charge.
any more than half a pan full will lead to a flinch from the flash, heat, and particle spray into your face.
use as little as needed to touch off the charge.
any more than half a pan full will lead to a flinch from the flash, heat, and particle spray into your face.
Don’t measure, but with most of my guns, seems pan maybe a quarter to half full is probably best. Something you have to figure out for yourself with your particular gun. If you are not sure, use less priming powder.
The amount depends on the particular size/type of pan. I keep the powder level in the pan jbelow the flash hole. I also use a 3gr brass pluger disperser. My smaller locks generally get 1 charge/3gr, my large locks, 2 charges/6gr. I try to be consistent, and, less is better then more. When hunting, I’ll routinely check the pan charge.
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Less is more, not always but sometimes I prime from the main horn and not a priming horn or charger.
And sometimes the powder comes out a little to fast and I get to much in the pan, when that happens you are better off to remove some of it, it is hard to believe but I think the ignition is slower when the pan is to full, scrape some out or tilt the gun and let it fall out.
And sometimes the powder comes out a little to fast and I get to much in the pan, when that happens you are better off to remove some of it, it is hard to believe but I think the ignition is slower when the pan is to full, scrape some out or tilt the gun and let it fall out.
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I never measure grains when priming. My primer is one of those small brass tubes that has the spring loaded dispenser on the end. two pushes in the pan is just the right amount of priming. I fill it with 4F.
Ohio Rusty ><>
Ohio Rusty ><>
A bess pan is pretty big, maybe it will hold five grains. Full is too much but even then that would be 1400 primes from a pound
I like about level with the bottom of the touch hole. I prime from a main horn
I like about level with the bottom of the touch hole. I prime from a main horn
flatcreek
45 Cal.
I cut the tube on my primer shorter so it only throws a bit over 2 grains and I find that is plenty for my small siler, the late ketland my want a bit more so I just give it a second quick jab.
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I prime my Bess with one of those spring plunger things on a small horn with 4F powder. Two strokes works fo me. Never measured it, but the pan is about half full. Never fails to fire, well almost never!
How is it unsafe?
Loading from your horn can be a problem, but that’s a little different.
Rock Home Isle
58 Cal.
Brown Bess is a wonderful place to begin…nice big rock lock, lots of beautiful sparks. I put just enough powder in the pan to fill it 1/2 way, or even a little less. Make sure the flash hole is around 0.060” to 0.058”, and you should get consistent ignition shot to shot. I’ve used my Brown Bess Carbine to take geese, doves, pheasants…rabbits, & squirrels…and 2 deer.
I have a set of 2 powder horns on a strap; the bigger one is my hunting horn with ffg, the smaller horn is ffffg, for priming. When I first started using flintlocks, (my Brown Bess) I primed with 4fg. It quickly hit me that That rock is so big, I could prime strait from the hunting horn. That 2 horn set doesn’t see much use these days, even with a little .32 calibre, I prime from the horn.
Whenever I’m in the field or at the range with a flintlock, I have a white muslin clothe draped at my waiste, over my belt. It’s a thin cotton muslin cloth. I use it, after each shot, to wipe the pan, the flint…also checking, at the same time, that the flint is still held firm…and the face of the frizzen.
I go through my loading routine, then when I put powder in the pan, I always pick the flash hole, before closing the frizzen…you want to use the pick to feel for the grains of powder, through the flash hole. It should feel gravely…
If you’re ever in the field hunting on humid days, or drizzly wet days, about every 15 minutes or so…dump the pan and go through your wiping routine with the cloth…the blackpowder residue will suck moisture out of the air, and quickly turn your pan into black soup, the face of the frizzen will become damp and wet, and the flint (especially the underside) will become damp as well. Anywhere there is blackpowder residue, it will absorb moisture and become wet. I always have that white cloth looped through my belt when shooting a flintlock.
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thank you for the tips! For now i'm just shooting at the range. If i can get a good/accurate load, i hope to take it deer hunting in the fall.
Brokennock
Cannon
Rock Home Isle
58 Cal.
AgreedOh come off it.
Charging the gun from the horn, sure, but priming? Give me a break.
