roosterf106
32 Cal.
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2013
- Messages
- 7
- Reaction score
- 0
Last weekend I was firing up a .58 Zouave rifle. While on the benchrest, I typically...for 40 years now...leave a powder horn to the right, on the table, about 18" away from the gun, and forward to the gun. Flint, percussion, always the same. I ALWAYS make sure the horn is plugged, and facing away. Never had a problem. I make the horns myself with bison horn, oak base plug hand fitted, and sealed with epoxy, and 4 to 6 small screws securing the base plug. After building the horn, I check it with suction to be sure it's airtight.
This horn was full of FFG, about a half pound of it.
I fired two shots with the percussion Zouave and reloaded.
Upon firing the third shot, there was an explosive flash...blinding...and I stumbled off my seat. My glasses were burned, hair on fire...I was sure the gun had exploded, but it was the powder horn. The explosion was instantaneous with the discharge of the rifle. There was no hint of a delay.
I have 2nd degree burns of my face and the backs of my hands. Pretty lucky considering.
The lesson? I examined the horn. It was split longitudinally. The base was secure, the spout plug was still in where it was supposed to be.
But there was evidence of a stress crack at one of the screws at the base, and it looks like this is where the ignition was. The Zouave will often spit a telltale spark off to the side, and somehow...in a "perfect storm"...it landed on that exact spot and "BOOM!" The horn had been in storage for a year, and I think it simply had a minor defect that I did not see.
I have heard about gun range powder horn explosions, but they are always because the shooter left the cap off, or was careless with a "powder trail" spilled on the table. Not true with me. I religiously re-plug my horns, and blow away any loose powder, no matter how little.
So a word to the wise...to my fellow shooters. Always expect that everything will go wrong. Keep the horn and priming devices well out of the way.
And, no. I have no apprehension about shooting. I will be at the range this weekend again, only a little bit more careful. (And all of you will be happy to know that the Zoauve was uninjured in the blast)
rooster
This horn was full of FFG, about a half pound of it.
I fired two shots with the percussion Zouave and reloaded.
Upon firing the third shot, there was an explosive flash...blinding...and I stumbled off my seat. My glasses were burned, hair on fire...I was sure the gun had exploded, but it was the powder horn. The explosion was instantaneous with the discharge of the rifle. There was no hint of a delay.
I have 2nd degree burns of my face and the backs of my hands. Pretty lucky considering.
The lesson? I examined the horn. It was split longitudinally. The base was secure, the spout plug was still in where it was supposed to be.
But there was evidence of a stress crack at one of the screws at the base, and it looks like this is where the ignition was. The Zouave will often spit a telltale spark off to the side, and somehow...in a "perfect storm"...it landed on that exact spot and "BOOM!" The horn had been in storage for a year, and I think it simply had a minor defect that I did not see.
I have heard about gun range powder horn explosions, but they are always because the shooter left the cap off, or was careless with a "powder trail" spilled on the table. Not true with me. I religiously re-plug my horns, and blow away any loose powder, no matter how little.
So a word to the wise...to my fellow shooters. Always expect that everything will go wrong. Keep the horn and priming devices well out of the way.
And, no. I have no apprehension about shooting. I will be at the range this weekend again, only a little bit more careful. (And all of you will be happy to know that the Zoauve was uninjured in the blast)
rooster
Last edited by a moderator:
