Loading from the horn

[Gene L]

I don't do it and don't even carry powder in my horn, since I'm going to first measure it anyway.

Our ancestors probably eyeballed it and possibly a few lost hands to this practice, although I've never heard of such.

My powder is in a tin can, from there to a brass flask, from there to a brass measure, from there to the barrel. Horns look supercool, though.

I don't sit at the cool kids table, I guess.

 

[George]

Horns look supercool, though.

In today's world, that's the only thing that's really important.

Spence

 

[Grenadier1758]

You're cool enough Gene.

Ancestors probably did measure their loads. Most likely it was be pulling a ball from the pouch cupping it in their hand and pouring powder from the horn to just cover the ball. The thumb is placed on the ball and the powder is poured from the hand into the muzzle. The patch is pulled from the mouth to have ball placed on the patch and rammed to the breech.

With practice, you can pour a pretty consistent load from your horn to the palm of your hand. Cuts down on a lot of excess gear.

 

[coloradoclyde]

If you put a spout measure on a horn , there's really no difference between that and a flask.....

Sometimes I use a flask and sometimes I use a horn.... It really doesn't make a difference....

Unless you're talking about pouring directly into the barrel ....which is a No-No...

 

[Artificer]

Here is the earliest account I know of about pouring powder over the ball in the hand. It also seems his vent hole was large enough to be self priming.

James Audubon, c1810, describing his host preparing to go raccoon hunting:

"”¦ He blows through his rifle to ascertain that it is clear, examines his flint, and thrusts a feather into the touch-hole. To a leathern bag swung at his side is attached a powder-horn; his sheath-knife is there also; below hangs a narrow strip of homespun linen. He takes from his bag a bullet, pulls with his teeth the wooden stopper from his powder-horn, lays the ball in one hand, and with the other pours the powder upon it until it is just overtopped. Raising the horn to his mouth, he again closes it with the stopper, and restores it to its place. He introduces the powder into the tube; springs the box of his gun, greases the "patch" over with some melted tallow, or damps it; then places it on the honey-combed muzzle of his piece. The bullet is placed on the patch over the bore, and pressed with the handle of the knife, which now trims the edge of the linen. The elastic hickory rod, held with both hands, smoothly pushes the ball to its bed; once, twice, thrice has it rebounded. The rifle leaps as it were into the hunters arms, the feather is drawn from the touch-hole, the powder fills the pan, which is closed. “Now I’m ready,” cries the woodsman”¦.
Journals, Vol. 2, (1972 reprint), page 492.

We also know that tinned Iron powder measures were used by some riflemen and some of those who used smoothbores.

I sincerely doubt if they loaded directly from the horn EXCEPT for the most dire emergencies like combat or possibly a large enough predator or animal that was charging them and they could not otherwise get away.

Gus

 

[Gene L]

I've read the cupped palm measuring technique. Problem with me is my palms are either sweaty or greasy from patch lube.

I'm quite sure our ancestors loaded from the horn when they had to...combat. A lot of early accounts deal with measures...apostles, for an early example, although how and to what extent these were filled is anyone's guess.

I'm ashamed to say my horn hangs with my shooting bag upon my fireplace...both unused. They look great hanging there!

 

[omarick1948]

ALWAYS USE A SEPERATE POWDER MEASURE!.....PERIOD!

There were a lot of our forefather's who lost fingers, hands or face's! Now that's being PC/HC!

 

[Gene L]

I think we're all in agreement on that, horner75. Chancing on losing a finger by speed-loading from a horn isn't done when the stakes are a missed deer but might be worth it when faced with an enemy who will certainly take your life and tomahawk you if you have an unloaded weapon.

Loss of a member, like a finger, is almost a stereotype of the South. Not from gunpowder, but from chainsaws, farm equipment, etc. Luckily I have all my fingers and all 12 toes.

 

[jethro224]

My powder is in a tin can, from there to a brass flask, from there to a brass measure, from there to the barrel.

My powder is in a tin can, from there to a [strike]brass flask[/strike]horn, from there to a brass measure, from there to the barrel.

Why not use your horn?

 

[tenngun]

We have lots of measures from the past, even adjustable marked off in grains or half drams.
The Cajun Chef Justin Wilson used to do a cooking show and would pour 1/2,1 or 2 teaspoons in his hand, then tablespoons or 1/4 cups. Every now and then he would take his hand thrown teaspoon or two and pour it in to a teaspoon measure, it was always spot on.
I bet some one loading in hand could learn to throw within 10 grains of the same charge measure to measure. That's a little loose for Friendship, but Bambi or Bulwinkle couldn't care less.

 

[Gene L]

My powder is in a tin can, from there to a brass flask, from there to a brass measure, from there to the barrel.

My powder is in a tin can, from there to a [strike]brass flask[/strike]horn, from there to a brass measure, from there to the barrel.

Why not use your horn?

The counter question is why use a horn? Don't see any advantages of a horn nowadays. Mine is hard to fill and doesn't do a single thing a flask doesn't do.

Am I missing something here?

 

[Stumpkiller]

I simply keep a bone or horn measure hanging from the neck of the horn. It's the only thing I carry that hangs loose from either the horn or shooting bag. And even that I tuck into the strap or behind the bag. No problem.

 

[Gene L]

I loaded my horn...took about 3/4 of a pound or less. I have to admit it makes me more PC...slightly. I'm still wearing a T-shirt and blue jeans.

I'll use a section of bamboo for a measure. My cowhorn tips are for use in something else.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Gene, It's not really about being PC or HC.....
It's about developing a connection and appreciation for the past....The way things once were....capturing that brief fleeting moment in time....A simplistic and primitive connection....Knowing that such methods are just as effective as anything modern produced today...

Any argument against a horn could also be transferred to muzzleloaders themselves.....
It's not about the argument.....it's about the "want"..... :grin:

 

[Gene L]

I'm still learning how to connect to my past. Our past, actually. My family past was cap-lock firearms, but back before my oral history must have been flintlocks. Maybe before, a matchlock. Back at the Battle of Agincourt, a Langston was listed as an archer, although I don't know he was related to me. (The records are there for perusing.)

No disadvantage to using a horn to store powder that I can see.

 

[coloradoclyde]

The guy who invented "pellets" was also confused about horns...... :haha:

 

[coloradoclyde]

One's connection does not need to be a direct lineage to his or her own past.......One simply needs to appreciate that which they enjoy.... :grin:

 

[omarick1948]

We have lots of measures from the past, even adjustable marked off in grains or half drams.
The Cajun Chef Justin Wilson used to do a cooking show and would pour 1/2,1 or 2 teaspoons in his hand, then tablespoons or 1/4 cups. Every now and then he would take his hand thrown teaspoon or two and pour it in to a teaspoon measure, it was always spot on.
I bet some one loading in hand could learn to throw within 10 grains of the same charge measure to measure. That's a little loose for Friendship, but Bambi or Bulwinkle couldn't care less.

You missed the joke that Justin Wilson was playing on his audience and that's why everyone laughed when he did the trick. When he quickly dumped the palm load of salt or whatever into the spoon. It filled the spoon, but a lot of it went on the ground. That way he could show that he had (at least) a full measure in the spoon.

 

[omarick1948]

It's a scientific fact, that loading from a powder horn, makes all game taste much better and your gun shoots straighter. That is why everyone should own several custom powder horns for each gun they own!

Rick....... :rotf:

 

[jethro224]

My powder is in a tin can, from there to a brass flask, from there to a brass measure, from there to the barrel.

My powder is in a tin can, from there to a [strike]brass flask[/strike]horn, from there to a brass measure, from there to the barrel.

Why not use your horn?

The counter question is why use a horn? Don't see any advantages of a horn nowadays. Mine is hard to fill and doesn't do a single thing a flask doesn't do.

Am I missing something here?

:idunno: You're the one who brought the subject up. Kinda sounded like you were interested in using a horn but don't.

As to being hard to fill... look at my replies in this recent topic. Not hard at all. http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/300017/

If you're using a flask anyway, you're doing all of the same steps. Why not just get a dispenser spout for your factory powder can and save a step?

If all you ever do is bench shooting there is no reason you really need a horn other than

Horns look supercool, though.

and the connection to the past that CO Clyde mentioned.
If you hunt, shoot woodswalks, or otherwise shoot from the bag a horn works very well for the purpose. A horn on a strap over your shoulder is very easy to carry and convenient for reloads. A well constructed horn is air and water tight.
Would you trust your flask to keep your powder dry if it got dunked under water?
A horn can also be a work of art.