How to empty horn?

[tom deinek]

Got a nice but partially filled horn in a trade. I won't use unknown bp. Horn appears to be from a kit and the spout channel seems too narrow and won't dispense the contents.

How do I safely empty the horn? Base plug both glued & nailed.

Do I enlarge the channel with a hand-held drill bit?

Thx,
Scaredy-cat

 

[rafterob]

Well, they had to get the powder in there some how right? Could be the powder is clumped and just not coming out. Try banging it against your hand a bunch and see if any comes out.

 

[hunts4deer]

Definitely don't run an electric drill into a filled powder horn.

 

[coloradoclyde]

The powder could just be "bridging"....poke a piece of coat hanger wire or similar into the spout while trying to dump it out....once empty you can inspect and enlarge if necessary.

 

[nhmoose]

Try a taper reamer. The have a cross piece to turn them not power. It will also taper the hole so a tapered plug seals it great.

 

[Katahdin]

Have you dumped any out so you can confirm what it is.powder or another substance?If some is moving around inside,it, there should be some you can dump out to check.
If I were me I would fill the horn with water them use a wire to break it up and dump it out.Take awhile to dry out but you would have the horn to use.It's winter so you have till spring for it to dry and rework.

 

[Zonie]

About the last thing I would put into any of my powder horns is water.

As was said earlier, the wire from a coat hanger should easily slide up thru the hole in the tip and loosen any powder that's in the horn so it will pour out.

An old "low E" string off of a guitar will also work.

 

[Toomuch51]

Try breaking it up with a piece of coat hanger wire first. Then once you have the old powder out if the spout is actually too small, 1/4" dia. should be about right - I would not try to go much larger, you would be best to use a medium rat tail (round) file to do the enlarging a little at a time till you arrive at an opening you are happy with.

 

[Katahdin]

Why? Get the crud out,let it dry out and go for it.Just like if you took a digger in the brook.Ever boil/water heat/lard, fry daddy, soften a horn?? same application. I would not hesitate.

 

[jethro224]

One time I had a horn that would let powder in but not out. The problem turned out to be a piece of "membrane" that acted as a one-way flap valve just inside the horn where the spout hole entered the main cavity. I managed to pull it out thru the spout with a wire bent into a small hook on the end. After that the powder flowed fine.

 

[Black Hand]

Definitely don't run an electric drill into a filled powder horn.

???
Do you honestly think it would be an explosion hazard? A spark would need travel a trajectory similar to the single bullet in the Kennedy assassination...

 

[Toomuch51]

Definitely don't run an electric drill into a filled powder horn.

???
Do you honestly think it would be an explosion hazard? A spark would need travel a trajectory similar to the single bullet in the Kennedy assassination...

A spark would not necessarly be needed, if you are not real careful built up heat can also cause ignition.

 

[Black Hand]

It is also unlikely you will reach ~570F, the ignition temp of Black Powder, by enlarging an existing spout hole with a drill...

 

[Katahdin]

Static electricity ????? 50---50 chance it could 'Blow up" Put water in it ,let it soak in then clean it out and then let it dry out and refill.If you ever soaked a horn to soften it so you could shape it or heated it in a Fry Daddy to shape a flat horn,,the difference is what???

 

[Black Hand]

Static electricity ????? 50---50 chance it could 'Blow up"

Old wives tale...

 

[Lonegun1894]

It is also unlikely you will reach ~570F, the ignition temp of Black Powder, by enlarging an existing spout hole with a drill...

I thought it was between 325-350F that was needed? Either way, you shouldn't get it that hot, but just a thought. If it was mine, I would go with the suggestion of a coat hanger wire and get to poking any clumps in there til it all flows out easy.

 

[nhmoose]

Static will not set off BP.

Worried about the drill bit creating heat use a sharp bit.

 

[Toomuch51]

Static will not set off BP.

Try again, this has been thoroughly debunked several times.

 

[Zonie]

You've confused me.

nhmoose said "Static will not set off BP."

You say "This has been thoroughly debunked several times."

What has been debunked? His statement that static electricity will not ignite black powder, or, did you misread his comment and think he said that static electricity WOULD ignite it?

Statement of fact: Static Electricity will NOT ignite black powder.

Here is a link to one of the posts on our forum that thoroughly discusses it complete with photos.
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/216296/

When you get to the post in the link, click on the red words "Experiment Link"

 

[necchi]

Definitely don't run an electric drill into a filled powder horn.

???
Do you honestly think it would be an explosion hazard? A spark would need travel a trajectory similar to the single bullet in the Kennedy assassination...

hunts4deer got it right,, do not use an electric drill.
There is no danger from "static" because of the drill,,
BUT
Many electric motors are run with armature, commutator and brushes as well as a blade designed to move air across the previous mentioned set to help keep it cool form the current passing at that point.(that fan sucks air as well as blowing it)
An electric drill does not create a single static discharge. It "run's" using a continued supply of current that creates friction and heat