Loading from the horn

[Billnpatti]

Horns are fine and quite safe when used properly with a measure. They are no more inherently dangerous than any other container. I have fixed volume measures for each of my rifles and can attach the appropriate measure to my horn with a thong. As a matter of fact, I have several horns so I seldom have to change measures, I just pick the correct horn for the rifle that I will be carrying.

As for the several references to our ancestors not measuring the powder charge when their lives were in imminent peril, I have not doubt that those stories were factual but they have little bearing on how we carry and use a horn, or any other powder container today. The chance that we will ever be chased by an enraged Native American intent on killing us is ever so slight so it is of only historical interest and has no bearing on how we should load our guns today from a horn. Whatever your container, always use a separate measure to measure your powder charge for your rifle or pistol.

No offense was intended, nor should be inferred, to those who cited the practice of our ancestors having to load on the run for their lives. Thank you for sharing that historical fact. I simply wanted to point out the safety, or lack thereof, of doing this and to admonish against any of us doing it. :surrender:

 

[tenngun]

Similar to cartridges. I have used them, and mastered four shots a min. I saw a Ted Springer get six. That was in the early 80s. It has been years since I would prime a gun before I would load it.
My boat in the navy had a peace time maximum depth, and a war time max. Most war planes have a peace time envelope and a war envelope.
I never have had to shoot at a blue belly, red coat or pesky *****. I spect I will use a measure.

 

[Grenadier1758]

The last stanza of the song is till true today.

Spence

Overloaded with patents of quackish invention,
A cure for bad shots is their honest intention:
but false to their purpose they greenhorns entrap
And render them worthy--a patent foolscap.
Derry down, etc.

I'll have to save this song for my files.

 

[54ball]

As for the several references to our ancestors not measuring the powder charge when their lives were in imminent peril, I have not doubt that those stories were factual but they have little bearing on how we carry and use a horn, or any other powder container today.

You make a valid point on how we use and load our guns today.

One point I want to make is that there is no confirmed step by step description on how Kenton or Wentzel loaded their rifles on the run. For all we know, they did use measure or maybe palmed the powder.

Riflemen and light infantry troops in later (slightly later 1800-1812) periods were expected to load and fire their rifles or muskets on the move. Light infantry and muskets with the aid of cartridges, rifle troops with cartridges and loose ball, measured from the pouch and horn. These troops were trained to use the rammer on the move. Practice and speed this up, you are getting close to a run with a measured and rammed load.
All this "They simply poured powder down the barrel and spit a ball on top of it when the Injuns was a chasin 'em" is modern or even period conjecture.

Think about it for a moment. What's harder to do at a dead run, palm or measure or trying to ring the muzzle of a longrifle with with your horn spout?....Spitting the ball down the bore....OK Whats more difficult and awkward, turning a rifle with a 40 inch to 48 inch barrel around, sticking it in your mouth and spitting a ball down the bore or spitting the ball in the palm and palm loading the ball?

We really don't know how they loaded on the run. They may have measured or palmed this is just as likely as pouring down the muzzle, maybe more so.

 

[crockett]

I've always sort of figured on the run they loaded from the horn but their lives were in greater peril from the hostiles chasing them. All the frontiersmen seem to have carried powder measures. There are also a fair number of references in diaries, etc. of someone blowing off fingers or hands from loading directly from a horn. I'm mostly interested in the mountain man era and there might be 3 accounts of fingers being blown away from loading from a horn. I think at any given time there may have only been around 300 mountain men in an area so 3/300 is 1% which seems pretty significant.

 

[FishDFly]

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.

How did you get 12 toes????