Internal source of Ignition when pulling a ball?

[roundball]

If a vent or nipple is sealed before pulling a ball with a proper ball puller attachment, what would be an ignition souce inside a ML bore that could ignite powder?

 

[Claude Mathis]

If a vent or nipple is sealed before pulling a ball with a proper ball puller attachment, what would be an ignition souce inside a ML bore that could ignite powder?

None that I can think of, but it's pretty hard to pull a ball without letting air come in through the vent.

 

[Rebel]

Yea, with no air you get a pretty good vacumm.

 

[rudy parnell]

There must be some more background to this post but I have not seen it. I will simply offer you this...I have seen only a few grains of powder sprinkled into the spark channel fire a mislayed ball out the muzzle. That is to say remove a projectile that was loaded without powder. Don't know what the experts say about this practice but I have done it once myself. Of course, you need to insure that there are no obstructions. Otherwise, you have just made a bomb. I have seen the bullet puller work also. It is best to remove the nipple all together and slick up the barrel with crisco or some lubricant. Sure you probably knew this ; just trying to help. Adios!

 

[bob1961]

the few times i had to pull a ball it went without a hitch....but ya have to have a good screw to do so....one that will bite into the lead real good....i also made a holder to hook on so i can pull the rifle backwards that i clamp on to the bench at the range that also holds my rifle up right and not fall side ways off the bench................bob

 

[roundball]

If a vent or nipple is sealed before pulling a ball with a proper ball puller attachment, what would be an ignition souce inside a ML bore that could ignite powder?

None that I can think of...

That's the way I see it...I see a lot of manufacturers mention 'killing' the powder charge first but I suspect that's more of a liability statement than anything else.

But if the vent/nipple is protected (better word than sealed) from any sort of external ignition, I don't know of anything going on inside a bore while pulling a ball that could cause ignition
::

 

[Stumpkiller]

That will be up to the CSI team or the coroner to determine after your death.

Why risk it just to give Loki a chance to prove you're mortal?

No one ever got shot with an unloaded gun. LOTS of folks get shot with guns they assumed were unloaded.

If you are pulling that ball because the attempts at firing it were unsuccessful, there is always a chance that it is in a "hang-fire" condition and you are just re-aligning the sights while it finishes the process.

Didn't we go over this one last fall? :haha:

 

[roundball]

If you are pulling that ball because the attempts at firing it were unsuccessful, there is always a chance that it is in a "hang-fire" condition and you are just re-aligning the sights while it finishes the process.

Now in that case I agree it would be prudent to pull the vent or nipple and work some fresh powder in there to bloop it out...been there/done that...probably safer that way.

But I was mainly thinking of pulling a load following a day's hunt where I haven't fired a shot...I used to do it 2-3 dozen times a season with the ball puller screw attachement...mainly use compressed air now, but occasionally will be somewhere and need/want to use a ball puller...with a clean dry powder charge, and protected vent/nipple, don't know how it could be ignited internally.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Oh, I do the same thing. But, I always take the precaution to keep the muzzle controlled and the vent feathered (though I do skip wetting the charge because then it doesn't pour out as cleanly).

Do as I say, not as I do.

 

[arcticap]

One possible cause of ignition in the barrel might be from sodium. When it contacts water (moisture) it is highly volatile. It is an ingedient in saltpeter and may be a byproduct of burnt black powder as well.
There was a recent show on the National Geographic channel that was debunking spontaneous human combustion. A famous case where a woman "spontaneously" caught on fire while at the beach was explained. She came in contact with sodium from fireworks residue that was present from having been previously displayed on the beach and when the sodium contacted moisture, her pant leg acted like kindling and caught on fire. She survived. :shocking:
I also believe that there could still be some air trapped in the barrel in between the granules of powder and possibly leaking past or at least present at the round edges of the ball where ignition may initiate, even if the vent or nipple is blocked.
Moisture might form from condensation, (spit patch?) or as a byproduct from shooting.
While the chances might only be one in a million, there must be a reason for the safety protocol of rendering the powder inert prior to pulling a ball. Expelling the ball with pressure from behind would seem to be the safer alternative. :redthumb:

 

[roundball]

One possible cause of ignition in the barrel might be from sodium. When it contacts water (moisture) it is highly volatile. It is an ingedient in saltpeter and may be a byproduct of burnt black powder as well.
There was a recent show on the National Geographic channel that was debunking spontaneous human combustion. A famous case where a woman "spontaneously" caught on fire while at the beach was explained. She came in contact with sodium from fireworks residue that was present from having been previously displayed on the beach and when the sodium contacted moisture, her pant leg acted like kindling and caught on fire. She survived. :shocking:
I also believe that there could still be some air trapped in the barrel in between the granules of powder and possibly leaking past or at least present at the round edges of the ball where ignition may initiate, even if the vent or nipple is blocked.
Moisture might form from condensation, (spit patch?) or as a byproduct from shooting.
While the chances might only be one in a million, there must be a reason for the safety protocol of rendering the powder inert prior to pulling a ball.

Given all those concerns and possibilities, loading repeated shots at the range would seem far more dangerous than pulling one single ball from a clean dry barrel...
:shocking:

 

[Claude Mathis]

Given all those concerns and possibilities, loading repeated shots at the range would seem far more dangerous than pulling one single ball from a clean dry barrel...
:shocking:

Good point. And, when pulling the ball, you should have the barrel pointed away from yourself. Much safer than loading. ::

 

[Slamfire]

If I need to pull a ball with a charge in the barrel, I want to get all the water in through the nipple hole that I can. And I want as much powder to pour out the same hole as I can possibly contrive. Even at that, I want to spend as little time as possible with my hand/arm in front of the muzzle as I can manage. I tried a pellet in a sidelock once, studied out the problem, then did it just that way. I didn't think of putting some loose powder down the nipple hole, and since I don't plan on usin' pellets any more am just glad I got away with the method I used. Now I make sure I'm dry balled before usin' a ball screw. :winking:

 

[Pittsburghunter]

You ever think of using a t-handle on one end of a range rod and your puller on the other? once you screw the ball puller onto the ball find a tree or something that allows you to wedge the t- handle in with the muzzle pointed in a safe direction and then you safely pull the gun backwards with all your body out of the way. :thumbsup:

 

[musketman]

You ever think of using a t-handle on one end of a range rod and your puller on the other? once you screw the ball puller onto the ball find a tree or something that allows you to wedge the t- handle in with the muzzle pointed in a safe direction and then you safely pull the gun backwards with all your body out of the way. :thumbsup:

That's the way I'd do it if I ever need to, why expose yourself to the muzzle any more than necessary?

Chances are people are going to be mad and upset at themselves when this happens (because it happened), so everyone needs to keep a level head and think through this minor set back and no one will get hurt...

 

[rudy parnell]

DITTO! I learned something here and will not forget the trick with the T handle. That part about controlling the emotions will also come in handy. Thanks. :agree: