Load, fire - reload fire sequence for percussion.

[Wolfbane]

Another question from a rank beginner here. During the fire sequence for a percussion muzzleloader do you at any time swab out the barrel to rid it of smouldering left over powder, which might cause an impromptue Chinese new year in one's face? I know the basic sequence, but could somebody here please post the drill they go through for load, fire - reload, fire. I know one starts by firing a couple of caps off, and I have a sequence for the load and fire written down, but I am very conscious about this being a realm of shooting in which I have no experience,

 

[Bob Riegl]

That's not an easy one to answer and avoid liability, except to say that using a good grade of powder your chance of getting your eyebrows burned off is very remote. Of course the admonition is to never, NEVER load the powder directly from the flask into the barrel---I would rather 60 grains of powder flash than 1/2 lb or more. There aren't any circumstances I have run into that would require me to reload that fast---the hope is that no smouldering is occurring. POWDER> GREASED PATCH > BALL > SHORT START > RAM HOME > PRIME OR CAP > FULL COCK > FIRE IN THE HOLE. If you feel you are starting to have a tough time loading, than it might be time to squirt a little Moose Milk on a patch, wipe the barrel, and go back to your firing sequence. Some (foolish people IMHO) blow down the barrel after firing a shot---I don't personally recommend that---if I want to blow down the barrel I use a blow tube I made for this purpose. Other than that I don't think you will run into any problems. In order that you don't "dry-ball" (forget the powder) I might suggest that you set up your loading station with the powder flask and measure first, grease & patch, ball, short starter and ram rod on the bench in that order---leave the percussion caps and/or priming flask on the firing line as you won't do the priming or capping until you reach the firing line. Everything is done at a half-cock until this point.And by the way I do not talk or encourage anyone to talk to me while I am loading, I pay very close attention to the loading process---as if my life depended on it---no B.S. :imo:

 

[Wolfbane]

Thanks Pasquenel, that is the basic sequence I had down. I am a bit particular about gun drills, so I wanted to know if I was missing a phase. The no talk talky thing sounds like a good idea.

 

[roundball]

Thanks Pasquenel, that is the basic sequence I had down. I am a bit particular about gun drills, so I wanted to know if I was missing a phase. The no talk talky thing sounds like a good idea.

Also, if you don't already do this, making a "witness" mark on your ram rod and range rod is a very useful thing to do. I make one complete load in the bore, then with the rod sitting down on the load, I wrap a turn of electrician's tape around the rod flush with the muzzle.

Then, if I get distracted in the middle of the loading sequence, I'll know immediately if I seat a ball and most of the tape disappears into the muzzle that I've forgotten powder...conversely, if the tape mark stops too high, I'll know I've double charged or double balled, etc.

I've seen some suggest making a permanent mark on a rod and that's fine if the loading components remain precisely the same forever...but the tape lets me easily adjust the witness mark whenever I go to the range and decide to shoot a different set of components that day, etc.

 

[Wolfbane]

Thanks roundball, I was clued in on that trick, thought the coloured insulation tape method of marking was not one i had thought of (me with several rolls of the stuff laying around :youcrazy

 

[Al Bateman 1]

Wolfbane...I'll more than second Pasquenel on the talking thing. With me being pretty new to this type shooting too, I find that I need to pay close attention to what I'm doing. When I'm alone...no problem my load, fire, reload routine is a breeze and life is good. BUT, let me start trying to pay attention to something else and sometimes er, uh, things don't work so good. I try to remember my little 7 P's routine;
Powder-Patch-Projectile-Poke(short start)-Push(rod)-Prime-Pull
Enjoy.
Al

 

At the range or when not in a hurry to get off a second shot, I do swab with a damp spit patch between shots. This serves two purposes: (1) kills any sparks and (2) keeps the bore fouling to a minimum, making shot to shot bore conditions similar for loading ease and shooting accuracy. I started this procedure with my first custom rifle (which I built) because at the time (pre-store-bought 'miracle' lubes) I was loading a tight patch/ball with spit or Crisco lube and HAD to swab to reload in my choked Green River barrel. Just got used to it. I have never found a lube that would allow me to shoot without swabbing at least every other shot out of that rifle....

 

[vradin]

I try to remember my little 7 P's routine;
Powder-Patch-Projectile-Poke(short start)-Push(rod)-Prime-Pull

This is great, Hope you don't mind if I borrow it for a range poster?

Since I get interrupted almost everytime I load, especially when at camp teaching, I have a few barrel plugs I use as indicators. I have a light colored long plug that indicates the gun has powder but no ball, and a short dark plug that is for an empty gun. On the rare occaission that I get interrupted between "poke and push" I just leave the short starter in the muzzle. Each gun also has an individual plug that gets a patch to hold it in the barrel when the gun has been cleaned.

This works for me at the range, and I've yet to dry-ball or not seat a ball, at least as long as I use the indicators.

 

[Al Bateman 1]

Vic...I don't mind a bit in the world, have at it eace:
Now that you mention it, I may make one my own self for use at the 4H firearms classes...Just don't ask about the TWO round balls with the pretty little screw holes in them that I left on my bench last weekend
Al

 

[Wolfbane]

Outstanding guys, this is a real help, the 7 Ps are now going to stuck to my gun safe and in the bathroom (a place on contemplation if ever there was one).

I thought damp swabbing might be a good idea, after all, the Royal Navy did it with its cannon.

 

[Mulebrain]

Wolfbane,

Check out my thread on the free Lyman manual. You will find the answers in there!

http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/ubbthr...p;page=0#159405

 

[Wolfbane]

Excellent Mule Brain. It is a Lyman I am getting too.

 

[Mulebrain]

Excellent Mule Brain. It is a Lyman I am getting too.

I try to help! In one way or another :haha:

Mule

 

[Wolfbane]

I need all the help I can get :youcrazy: