Muzzleloading Myths

[Shadowalker164]

If you leave an air gap of any size between the top of the powder and the bottom of the bullet, when you pull the trigger it causes the barrel to explode, destroy your eyes and fingers and kill the people either side of you. This is true because I read it on the internet. If mentioned enough times it becomes the truth.
This does not apply to those shooters who load their bullets 1/16” in front of their cartridges.

As I understand it, a ball part way down the barrel acts like an obstruction. I suppose the closer to the charge, lessens the effect. But I have always been told pack the ball snugly.

 

[Art Caputo]

How about you can "season" a steel barrel like you do with cast iron?

IMO, the ability to “season” a barrel like a cast iron frying pan has much to do with the grade/type of steel(iron content) that the barrel is made. My only ML that has the appearance/behavior of being genuinely seasoned is my Western Arms, Santa Fe Hawken which is over 40 years old, and, only cleaned with warm soapy water, stored/lubed with 3 in 1 Oil. The grade of steel appears to be different from most all my other muzzleloaders which generally clean bright.

 

[Sparkitoff]

The "Pipe Bomb" theory seems to be a myth. If you don't seat a projectile all the way down tight against the powder the barrel will not suddenly blow apart. Using an inexpensive rifle (Traditions Deer Hunter) I purposely loaded a full charge, but pushed the ball in only as far as the short starter would allow (about 5-inches). Even with 100-grains of 3F Goex, the ball blew out of the barrel with no harm to the rifle (or me!). This has been demonstrated on YouTube and elsewhere by other people may times too.

In an unmentionable, a squib that sticks the projectile in the barrel and then if "fired" again with the second projectile a full load and the squib stuck - can and will blow up the barrel. I've done this too, but not on purpose!

Maybe if you loaded your ML fully and then inadvertently put a second projectile in that was partially seated - maybe that would blow up the barrel. Just having a single projectile in the barrel off the powder ain't gonna blow it up though.

 

[Shadowalker164]

Good to know, thanks

 

[Flintandsteel]

The pipe bomb theory is NOT a theory. That same ball, placed about 6” above the main charge would have indeed damaged the barrel.
It may not explode, but can for sure put a RING in the barrel.
Ive done it myself, in a smoothbore.

 

[APG]

If I tried what those guys did at the 3:45 mark, my viewers would crucify me.

Are you referring to them pouring powder straight out of the container or filling the barrel all the way up? I'm thinking everything they are doing is pretty dangerous.

 

[TFoley]

Ran into this interesting photo some years back…..Just about everything one could imagine…but no short starter…
View attachment 182839

That's because the short starter is the first few inches of your ramrod, and the longer starter, often used next, is a few more inches of your ramrod.

 

[Uncle Miltie]

Didn't false muzzle guns use a short starter of sorts?

Different animal. Clarke's Patented Loading Muzzle was developed to start a cloth patched bullet straight in a choked bore. The guide (piston) starter was used to load the bullet central with the axis of the bore and get it past the choke. Loading muzzles were not used on roundball guns until Friendship shooters started using them, making them for use with new barrels or re-cutting original slug and picket rifles to use round balls.

 

[senseisugarbear]

I've loaded tons of powder,But I wouldn't presume to answer CONCLUSIVLEY, But I do think that the shooters we're not so concerned with being so P/C or H/C,, as they we're the Period And not yet History...Be Safe>>>>>>Wally

 

[chorizo]

These guys did the full barrel load of black and two round balls (if I recall correctly, I watched it yesterday…brain is getting old). Anyway they did that and other things (using smokeless powder in a ML). Fun to watch…they destroy a couple guns.

At the first failure, it does give you a great view of the CVA style breech plug/drum assembly

 

[ronaldrothb49]

I have read articles on the manifest of goods being taken to rendezvous included pan powder so it would seem that different grades of powder goes back around 200 years. As far as a short starter goes the same people who claim it isn't HC are walking around with a rifle where the barrel and lock are made from High carbon steel. The butt plates and trigger guards are made from lost wax castings.

 

[Mikekj]

Back in the 70's where little reliable info was around, I was cautioned against using a plastic shampoo dispenser for powder as a static spark could set it off.

And now it is sold in plastic containers.

 

[1BadDart]

Different animal. Clarke's Patented Loading Muzzle was developed to start a cloth patched bullet straight in a choked bore. The guide (piston) starter was used to load the bullet central with the axis of the bore and get it past the choke. Loading muzzles were not used on roundball guns until Friendship shooters started using them, making them for use with new barrels or re-cutting original slug and picket rifles to use round balls.

I was thinking "monkey see, monkey do", or someone seeing a false muzzle gun being loaded and that little light in his head coming on, thinking "something similar to this would make loading my ball easier".

 

[springfield art]

While we strive to be as traditional as possible in our hobby, some more than others, there are a few elements that are very important today that didn’t exist 200 years ago, some not even a 100 years ago.
Take powder for instance, we spend a whole lot of time discussing the merits of 4F, 3F, 2F, 1 1/2F, and 1F. To the best of my knowledge in the 18th century there were only 2 grades of powder, coarse cannon and rifle grade. I’m no expert at this and I’d like to know the timeline of our modern grades. I’ve read that 4F didn’t originate until the 1930’s, curious if that’s true. Another myth is the use of a short starter. I’ve read that there’s no evidence of its use prior to the early 20th century (1920’s & 30’s). What’s your opinion of this and other “Myths”.

I agree on the short starter and BP was not easy to come by back in the trading post days. I agree with your post.

 

[ORBushman]

On an occasion when powder had be sent to him he was pleased to find the shipment contained a packet of fine French powder.

That was called "Snuff". You know how those Frenchies were!

 

[Red Dirt Dave]

The one myth I can personally debunk is that "The first time you try shooting Black Powder you'll be hooked forever."
It took me two tries.

 

[B P Maniac Shooter]

Are you referring to them pouring powder straight out of the container or filling the barrel all the way up? I'm thinking everything they are doing is pretty dangerous.

That's exactly what I'm talking about. If I poured straight black powder down the barrel from the container with no measurer of any kind in a recently fired gun, my viewers would crucify me!
Those guys can get away with that since they have 2 million subscribers.

 

[TDM]

Stuff like that might catch up with those fellas one of these days.

 

[Eterry]

While we strive to be as traditional as possible in our hobby, some more than others, there are a few elements that are very important today that didn’t exist 200 years ago, some not even a 100 years ago.
Take powder for instance, we spend a whole lot of time discussing the merits of 4F, 3F, 2F, 1 1/2F, and 1F. To the best of my knowledge in the 18th century there were only 2 grades of powder, coarse cannon and rifle grade. I’m no expert at this and I’d like to know the timeline of our modern grades. I’ve read that 4F didn’t originate until the 1930’s, curious if that’s true. Another myth is the use of a short starter. I’ve read that there’s no evidence of its use prior to the early 20th century (1920’s & 30’s). What’s your opinion of this and other “Myths”.

In England there were multiple grades of Black Powder. I have a book on double guns made from 18th through 20th century, and among other interesting info is a sheet of velocities with the different grades of Powder from a Major Gun firm.
It appears to have been a big thing then, to some people, same as today.

 

[Eterry]

Didn't false muzzle guns use a short starter of sorts?

Most did. Ned Robert's fine book on muzzleloading has wonderful pics and descriptions.
The False Muzzle was cut from the existing barrel, then pinned to align the bullet into the bore, IIRC.