Pat, I'm glad you're still alive and I hope you didn't give up Muzzleloading shooting. Sometimes accidents happen in our hobby, like in many other hobbies. Thank you for being willing to share your experience in a graphic manner, and everybody needs to take a good look at that and let it sink in. Of course they cannot feel the pain, nor relate to the healing and relearning to use your hand, jaw, etc. that last a lifetime. Having been involved with Artillery reenacting in years past, I had some close calls. One involved an 18 pdr with a rough bore. I was #1 man and was ramming a 1 1/2 lb powder charge home when the bag broke open. The ramrod stopped about 1 foot short of the breech. I felt the hair stand up on my neck. The summoned safety officer ordered the charge dumped on the ground in front of the gun and wetted with canteens of water. Upon firing the next round, the powder on the ground ignited, and I was in a ball of flame about 12 feet in diameter. My 16 year old daughter, working on a cannon 3 guns away, saw me silhouetted against the flame and thought I was fried. The heat was intense, but I was not burned, being a few feet away in reality. Our Captain had lost most of his right hand in a premature discharge on a 12pdr Napoleon years before. He was right handed and had to learn to do everything left handed. He freely exhibited his hand to new gunners as a caution to not hurry, and be careful and aware. I retired from Artillery after about 4 years, thankfully still intact. Cpl. George Briggs, 1st Arkansas Light Artillery, Confederate.
