Need ideas for a Flintlock primer

[omarick1948]

I do not see any danger in priming from the main horn if an ember was left the bang would likley have occured during the loading of the main charge and if a prime did end up with a bang it woud still be a good one with a priming horn,but the chances are pretty remote than an ember could still be there after loading and that it would jump thru the touchhole to the pan,anything still there probably came out the hole when the load was compressed,plus the time elapsed from shot to prime is another limiting factor. I would have no concern about priming from a main horn myself.

I think TG is correct in his comment and safety is a main concern to everyone!....I think that measuring a priming charge in a seperate measure is a bit of over-kill, but I see no problem, if someone wants to do it!...Hey!, to each their own! If I just fired a shot and THEN primed my pan BEFORE loading the main charge. Yes, I might worry about the gun discharging. But who does it that way? In almost 40 years of shooting these "Rocklocks" and from the beginning. I was taught to load main charge and then wipe pan and frizzen with my hand and then prime with powder!
If you ever stood beside a flintlock shooter and got a blast from his vent hole when the shot went off. You know, that there's alot of force and pressure, that comes out of that tiny vent hole and I don't think it would be possible for any ember to stay alive in that pan! I have never seen or heard of such a thing happening except maybe in an urban legend. I would be more worried about forgetting to put my powder horn stopper back into me horn during shooting!

Rick

 

[paulvallandigham]

I wipe my flash pan, the underside of the frizzen, the flint-both top and bottom, and any other surfaces that have BP residue on them as a result of the flash from the prior shot. I assume that everyone shooting flintlocks knows to do this. If you don't-- and I didn't once--- You get condensation in that residue- even if its not raining--- which can put out the sparks of your next shot before they reach the priming powder in the pan.

I don't understand how debris in the main horn is going to pose a safety problem if you use the horn to directly prime the flashpan. It may foul the pan a bit, but if it can get out of the mouth of my horn, its too small to be of concern in the pan. :thumbsup:

 

[Skylinewatcher]

Thats exactly my point. The man said he is new with a flintlock. I felt it my need to warn him of loading anything from the main horn except from a measure. But I see the usual argument hunters have shown up. So I'll do this, Problem Child, I maintain it is dangerous to load your iron from the main horn. I don't base my life on books and take it as holy word because it isn't recorded anywhere that it’s perfectly fine to load your pan from the main horn. I would use a measure for until you became accustom to your flintlock. Especially, if you have others who depend on you. I’d take the safe way if it was me.

 

[mazo kid]

Priming horns are becoming a thing of the modern passed and some experts even think that what we thought as priming horns, were actually bag or pocket horns. Many Flinter's today, prime using their main charge powder horn!....Makes sense, as you only need one horn and no extra equipment hanging from you! Rick

Rick, I also agree with you. I do use the small primrs though, depending on the situation. They are handy to deposit a small, consistent, measured amount of powder in the pan. In a hunting situation I prime from the main horn, even though it is sometimes a little messy and I spill powder or get a bit too much in the pan. It's just that I have over a pound of ffffg powder to use up!

 

[omarick1948]

Thats exactly my point. The man said he is new with a flintlock. I felt it my need to warn him of loading anything from the main horn except from a measure. But I see the usual argument hunters have shown up. So I'll do this, Problem Child, I maintain it is dangerous to load your iron from the main horn. I don't base my life on books and take it as holy word because it isn't recorded anywhere that it’s perfectly fine to load your pan from the main horn. I would use a measure for until you became accustom to your flintlock. Especially, if you have others who depend on you. I’d take the safe way if it was me.

This is a forum! All M/L Forum members are allowed to express their own opinion and comment and just because their opinions or comments don't agree with your criteria or statements, doesn't mean you should resort to rude comment or name calling!

Rick

 

[Skylinewatcher]

Didn't mean to rile you none there horner75. However, if you find what I have said rude and name calling you have very thin skin. I wanted my point across as to the danger I feel of loading with the main horn. I know this is a forum and I figured to make my point clear to the man asking the question before all of the record, history book, and scientific manual quoting started. I done that, and a mans right to his opinion is a two way street.

 

[paulvallandigham]

People Create Safety problems for themselves by taking " Shortcuts".

If you don't wipe after every shot, you leave the chance of an ember smoldering in the bottom of the barrel-waiting to ignite that powder charge.

If You don't clean the residue from the flash pan after each shot, you leave open the possibility for an ember to be there, and worse, you leave a compound of dirt that is known to be HYDROSCOPIC- that is, it draws moisture from the air and will foul your priming powder eventually.

You don't want glowing embers around the mouth of that powder horn- either the main horn or that priming horn-- just like you don't want people smoking around any open powder can, or horn.

If you don't take the steps to put out the cigars, cigarettes, or pipes, you have created a safety hazard for you, and those around you.

If you don't take the steps needed to douse any possible ember that might be left in the bore, or clean the flashpan with a spit dampened cleaning patch, you CREATE a possible safety problem.

I have taught Hunter Safety Course for almost 30 years now.

In all those years, examining reports of hunting "Accidents", and interviewing people first hand who have been involved in such incidents, I have yet to find any Accident that did not involve a violation of at least 5 of the 10 Commandments of Gun Safety. That includes accidents with MLers, and related equipment.

A violation of even One of the commandments can lead to an accident, but people generally are working DARN HARD to cause the accidents that get reported- because of injuries, or death. Thankfully, people seem to subconsciously understand that there are dangers anytime you are dealing with any kind of firearm, or powder. We have seen a steady decline in hunter Safety accidents since WWII, and nationally, accidental shootings are at their lowest Rate since before 1927.

IF you have any doubt about what you are doing is SAFE or NOT, STOP. Don't do it, until you have talked to someone more experienced than you, who is willing to show you the proper way to do whatever it is. ( "When in Doubt, DON'T!" ) Nothing you are doing with any firearm- save perhaps when your life is immediately being threaten-- is worth the risk of injury or death to yourself or others , so that you have to SHOOT.

An international forum like this gives everyone a source of information about safety issues, and that is a terrific public asset. We old guys may not all agree all the time, but on safety issues, any disagreement tends to be about technical concerns, and not basic concepts. :hatsoff:

 

[larry wv]

I use one of those 3 grain plunger types a good bit. I just like to watch it operate. :idunno: :redface: Larry Wv

 

[paulvallandigham]

I have one of those plunger primers, and have used it. They clog up in any kind of humidity, fairly quickly, so keep that in mind when you choose to take them into the field. On Dry, sunny days(with a breeze blowing to keep the humidity down) they are wonderful tools to use. :hatsoff:

 

[CrackStock]

I think that what people do at an organized range and out in the field would likely vary somewhat. I like to only carry the bare minimum powder to an active firing line. This limits the possible consequences of any unforeseen situation.
A small priming container is what I want and I like to use a fairly uniform prime, so a measure or measuring valve is best.
Out in the field, I just carry my main horn and use it for both prime and load.

CS

 

[BrianL]

Deer Leg Bone charger

Haven't tried it yet

 

[Capt. Fred]

I use a little primer. I've got a plunger type and a little antler one. It is probably my imagination but FFFF does seem faster to me.

I never put my main powder horn anywhere near my gun when loading. Just a habit that keeps me comfortable.

 

[hoochiepapa]

There's some very nice art work on this thread.
Way to go, guys! :hatsoff:

 

[cal.43]

I made that one

 

[hoochiepapa]

OK, I'm not too familiar with African beasts, but isn't that impala or some such?

 

[LRB]

OK, I did the math. Priming a pan after loading the gun, and having a still live ember in said pan, works out to 997,578,000,000 chances to one. After thinking over those figures, I will never, ever again, prime from a main horn. The risk is just to great. I will also look into buying property with a cave large enough to live in, so as not to be exposed to the outside elements of life in general. I have noticed over the years, life always ends up in death. Why do we bother?

 

[tg]

Whatch you talkin' 'bout Wick? you trying to say I ain't gonna live forever, I would have to go with the majority of veteran flintlock shooters on this one as for the safety aspect of priming from the main horn, which with many is not much bigger than the huntng horn, this is the first time in 40 years I have heard the practice questioned for safety reasons, but everyone has their own opinion ant the right to share it be it valid of not, those asking the questions have to look at all the sources and presentations and make their own calls on a case by case level, hopefully based in common sense, logic and the vast experience available here as guidelines.

 

[Skylinewatcher]

To all of you who showed your work, I loved it all. I would be proud to carry any one of those measures. Great work! :hatsoff:

 

[Skylinewatcher]

Ok, everybody stop what you are all doing. We're all going to do things exactly like the way a few on here does it. These people are now the the ISO of ML shooting and if you do it different, you're stupid and don't know what you're doing. You will now start putting your clothes on the way they do it. You will adjust your auto mirrors the way theirs are adjusted. You will consume exactly the same amount of toilet paper that they do per week. You will rename your children and pets, and part your hair the same as theirs. Paint your house the same color. Do not offer suggestions, but do insist your way is the only way. Finally, you will not, under any circumstances, practice reading comprehension. I'm ready for my new life now....teach me. For the last time, I (for the whole of this post "I" refers to the poster, which is me) load my pan with a measure, not the priming horn, not the main horn, but from the measure, the measure, the measure. I (see definition of "I" above) Pour the powder from the horn into the measure, the measure, the measure. I then pour the powder into the pan, the pan, the pan, from, you got it, the measure. "I" do this, the OP doesn't have to and nobody else does either. The question was asked and I posted what "I" do. Not what everybody needs to do. Only what "I" do. If I ruined selfconfidences or upset you place in this world, maybe caused cats to start wedding dogs, I apologize. However, this evening "I" will prime my pan from a measure, a measure, a measure with powder poured from my horn and yes the sun will rise on the morrow. :grin:

 

[LRB]

Easy pard. No one singled you out. But if priming from a measure as a safety proceedure, or even for an accuracy reason, the practice is null and void. By common sense if for no other reason. You are certainly free to do as you think best. By the way, I use a flat priming horn myself, with 4fg powder, unless at a juried event, or am in a hurry. I sincerely do not understand your rant. :v :idunno: