loading from the horn

[whiskey]

I have been shooting muzzleloaders for almost 30 years and know the danger of loading from the horn. I always use a powder measure. I understand the reason for this but I have never seen or heard of a powder charge igniting from a spark or smoldering ember in the barrel. Have any of you?

 

[playfarmers]

No. but I don't want to see it.

 

[TN.Frank]

I always swab my barrel with a spit batch between shots so a spark being in the barrel to ignite the charge is just about 0% but I still don't/won't load from a horn or flask. I guess I'm just in the habit of using a measure.

 

Not quite the same thing, but I did see a powder horn spinning round a fellow like a rocket hooked to a strap one time!

He lived.

He did have a twitch when he left.

 

[Blivetmaker]

Lordamighty!!!
How long did it take 'till the powder was spent?
I bet you can think "IMDEADIMDEADIMDEAD!" quite afew time before you realize you are in fact still alive! :shocked2:

 

Loading from the horn is bad for your health. Captian John Smith messed up his romance with pocahauntas by loading from the horn. He was shipped back to England never to return. Remember IT ONLY TAKES ONCE!!!!!

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Loading from the horn rates as a thrill seeker's pursuit, AKA fool's errand.

 

[Pittsburghunter]

I am a lucky SOB. When I first started this sport in the 80's I had no one I knew that shot m/l so I was one my own. After aquiring the rifle I set off to buy the things needed to shoot it. One of them was a horn/flask and I settled on a CVA one which came with interchagable spouts of different charges. What you did was put your finger over the end of the spout open the valve let it fill, close the valve and pour the charge down the barrel from the flask!! I did this for years before getting a weapon that came with a manual that discouraged this behavour.

Anyhow I still use the same flask with the smallest spout to load my powder measures now and am very happy nothing bad happened in the old days when I was ignorant to flash ups.

 

[John Taylor]

I have never seen a horn go off but the best reason I can think of for not loading from the horn is you never know how much powder you domp down the barrel untill you seat the ball and say oops.

 

[Arrowstorm]

why would you even want to risk it?! and besides... if you load from the horn, how could you know if you've got the right charge you want?

with pyrodex, I couldn't see the horn blowing up because pyrodex burns a bit slower, but I use black powder, and I've seen that the slightest little spark would set that off, so I don't even keep my powder in the sun for very long. why would I even want to risk putting a horn full of it up to the muzzle?

not worth the risk. period.

 

[musketman]

I have never seen or heard of a powder charge igniting from a spark or smoldering ember in the barrel. Have any of you?

Neither have I, however, I bet when that concept was first thought of there were a few that didn't swab between shots and fired a few volleys prior to the horn blowing up...

Seems that in the heat of a battle, one would get careless towards black powder safety and this is when horns would start popping...

 

[guncobbler]

I remember an article in Muzzle Blasts about 10 years ago about tests to see how much damage a horn or flask blowing up would do. A little fuzzy on the results. Can't remember what or if they used to simulate hand and fingers around the flask... I like my fingers too much to even think about loading from the horn. GC

 

As I have said before, either there is a spark down there or there ain't. Or at least the strong possibility of it. Yet, you have fellas advocating and even bragging about how many shots they got away with shooting in a string without blowing down the barrel or swabbing between every shot. As was said above, it's a fools errand. Best use a powder measure that is not screwed to the flask spout.
Don :thumbsup:

 

[RiverRat]

Not quite the same thing, but I did see a powder horn spinning round a fellow like a rocket hooked to a strap one time!

He lived.

He did have a twitch when he left.

Wow.....I bet that fella was good with a hoola hoop :rotf:

 

[whiskey]

My original post about this was not to condone or suggest loading directly from the horn. I agree that is crazy. I was just curious about the prevelance of a powder charge being prematurely ignited. Seens extremely rare.
I have seen a powder horn blow up. The man was bruised pretty good but not injured too bad. His horn plug had fallen out and he was standing too near a fire and a spark got inside.

 

[Slake]

When I first took up muzzle loaders I learned with a bunch of kids {I took my sons} to a 4H Shooting Sports program.They teach run the spit patch in between shots to extinguish any left over burning embers and to keep the barrel cleaner for longer periods of shooting pleasure. It seems to make so much sense to me I have stayed with it. Loading from the horn or anything other than the measure was deemd not safe and was not done. I would think that the measure also helps keeps your shot placement consistant

 

[john12865]

It probably can be done and was done back in the day.
I've never done this but, I probably could do it and not have a problem.
I swab between each shot and take my sweet ass time between them. When I clean at the end of the day, there is actually very little to clean because of the field cleaning between shots.
I'm not a speed guy when it comes to loading between shots.
My gig is accuracy. I take paper plates and paint thumb tacks pink or orange and thumbtack the center of the plate to plywood. I shoot the thumb tack at 25 yards and the plate falls down. This is tree rat practice. I want to just remove the head.
If I just wanted to make lead fly in the air I'd buy those AK 47's or AR 15 things with the magazines. They can be fun but muzzle loading is more fun for me.
It may be 3 to 5 minutes between my shots. I'm not fighting Injuns here! :rotf:
My loaders are sighted for first shot accuracy. I never make a fowling shot to let the Tree rats or the big ground rats or pasture grizzly's know I'm coming. :shocked2: They already know that there is a single shot sniper in the woods :grin:
So for a guy like me, you could probably dump from the horn. I don't do it, but I'm sure that it was done.

 

[Brasilikilt]

The only time (I can remember) when I have poured directly from the horn is when I prime my flashpan

 

[reddogge]

In a woods walk, remember, always take off your horn or bag if attached before trying to start a fire with flint and steel. You may become a bomb.

 

[jderrick]

I've got a nice pretty horn that looks great hanging around me... empty....