Main Charge Powder in the Frizzen Pan

[French Colonial]

Nope. Not at all. But I do leave the frizzen open after firing, blow down the barrel to hasten the burning of any embers, watch the smoke come out of the vent and repeat until there is no more smoke. Then I reload and prime the pan, close the frizzen, cock the hammer and fire away.

My comment about the powder leaking into the pan was intended as a simple caution; namely, do not cock the hammer before reloading — because you might have powder in the pan even though you did not prime it.....

And I agree with all of that, I blow down the barrel as well but I do it to keep the fouling soft not because of embers.... but we do it exactly the same.

After thinking about it awhile I would guess loading with the frizzen closed is actually slightly more dangerous than with it open. The chance of the hammer falling being very slightly more likely than a spark of any kind finding its way into the open and exposed vent.......like, where would said spark come from?