powder horn usage

[pepperbelly]

Tomorrow I will be picking up a few more items. One of them is a handmade powder horn. Is there anything in particular I should look for in a horn?
Exactly how do I use it? I mean, do I store the powder in it instead of the can (Goex FFg) or is it just for the day's sue at the range or hunting?
To load my rifle would I pour into the horn, use that to fill the flask, and use the flask to fill the measure then into the barrel?
Hopefully this weekend I will be able to send some 1/2" balls downrange and make some smoke.
The sales guy at the shop I am going to is a member of our private shooting club. He is the one telling me about the handmade rods and horns they sell, so I am pretty sure they are well made. The prices on this stuff is about what TOTW, Cabelas abd Bass Pro sell theirs for.

Jim

 

[brushbuster]

thats a loaded question :: ::
the powder horn was used to store powder for use in the field,since powder was sold in wooden casks(don't know the weight).
the powder horn either had a measuring tube with a valve much like a flask(later period)or they measured their powder with a brass or horn measurer attatched to their possible bag or horn i.e they poured powder from the horn into the measurer,dumped the measured powder into the barrel ,patch,ball,seat prime, aim ,fire,repeat.
when fighting injuns,they would pour right out of the horn :youcrazy:,spit the ball down the barrel ,rap the butt on the ground or a log to seat the ball :nono:,prime and fire .

 

[Stumpkiller]

In my own experience, I find a horn that holds about one pound of powder (or 80 shots, which ever is smaller) is ideal. That's about a 10 or 12" length, depending on the diameter at the base plug. More than that and it is klunky and cumbersome to carry and pour from. (ALWAYS pour into a measure and not the barrel directly, unless under attack :winking. I attach a measure to the neck with a 6" +/- strip of leather so it's always handy. When hunting in damp weather I like to wear mine inside my outer layer, and too long a horn makes that impossible.

I prefer a seperate strap (that is, not attached to the hunting pouch) and set so that it rides just above my elbow, allowing me to tuck it under my arm when bending down or hurrying and that keeps things from shifting and klunking together.

I fill mine after every use so I know it's always ready to go. When the militia bell rings I don't want to be sorting around for stuff in that precious first minute. ::

I have one I made into a F&I War style scrimshawed campaign horn, about 16" long with a flush base plug, that holds about two pounds of powder. Beautiful aged white double-curl horn. It hasn't been outdoors in years. Too darned big and heavy.

 

[pepperbelly]

I already have the cylinder flask and measure. The horn will be easier to carry in the field. I just wondered if I should transfer the powder back into the can after the day's over, or if the horn was good enough to store powder in. I usually only get to get out on the weekends, and with the holidays even that's tough to do, so the powder would sit for a little while, if that makes any difference.
Jim

 

[Stumpkiller]

If the base of the horn is well sealed (I rub mine with beeswax to fill any gaps) and the tip plug fits tight it is a good powder storage method. I leave mine in full-time.

You just have to shoot it up on a regular basis so your stock stays fresh. :thumbsup: It will keep for months in the horn, depending on your home's humidity, probably.

 

[pepperbelly]

Stumpy, will you tell my wife that I need to go shooting more ofter- just to keep my powder fresh?
I'd appreciate it!
Gracias amigo,
Jim

 

[swank]

Pepperbelly-
Thats a great idea, although my pop still tries to convince my mom that once you crack the seal on a fine bottle of Sippin whiskey you have to drink it within a month or it will go bad. :crackup: Mom doesn't buy that line, but who knows maybe my wife will bite on the powder thing. NOW.. :hmm:if someone can just come up with an excuse like that for arrows, maybe I can spend more time sitting in a tree and shooting the smokepole :redthumb:

 

[pepperbelly]

I passed on this horn. I had misread the price and I can't justify $75.00 right now.
I did see some at TOTW for about $20.00. Are these worth it, and are they useful, or should I wait until I can spend the extra money?
Jim

 

[Rebel]

Try www.freetrappers.com. Mike has some good prices, and is a great guy to deal with.

 

[pepperbelly]

Rebel your link doesn't work even when I remove the extra period.
Jim

 

[Rebel]

Sorry bout that. Try e-mailing Mike at [email protected] Hope that will get you in touch with him. His Phone # is 1-877-403-3957 tool free. There is a chance he has gone out of business. Haven't talked to him in a while.

 

[Old40Rod]

Here are my thoughts, humbly presented....

1. No matter how you load, do not pour directly from the horn or flask into the barrel, even if you are under attack. If you are under attack, run away. :: If you pour directly from the horn into the barrel and there are any lingering embers from a prior shot, you will be doing the attacker's job for them. If things have really hit the skids, cup a hand, pour an approximate powder charge into it and load the powder that way. Loading directly into the barrel from the horn or flask will also get you in serious trouble with range masters, other shooters, etc. I always remind myself that doing something incredibly stupid in the presence of a group of armed people is generally not a good thing.

2. You typically don't need both the cylinder flask and the horn. A horn and a measure is really enough. Pour the powder from the horn (or flask) into the measure. I only use my cylinder flask (in place of the horn) when I'm running out just for a few shots to test something.

3. I put a Tresso spring valve (like the one that is probably on your cylinder flask) on my trail walk horn for easy (and safe) pouring into the measure. I would recommend a spring valve if you are new to BP shooting and you are not being judged on totally authentic gear. They are less than $10.00. It may not be PC and lots of people get along fine with wood plugs, but I have spent too many hours helping friends find lost fiddle key stoppers on muddy logging roads, wheat stubble fields and other nether regions. I tell them to strike a match on the ground and follow the smoke trail back to where they lost it :winking: It also can be darned inconvenient to be several miles from your rig and discover that your plug string broke and you have just dumped most of your powder on the ground.

4. When you are done shooting for the weekend, empty the horn back into the can unless you think it got wet or some other contamination occurred. There is probably less chance of humidity causing problems with your powder if it is in the can. You could probably let it sit in the horn for a long time (as I'm sure the old-timers did), but it is relatively easy to pour back and forth between the two. If you find it difficult, get a funnel or can spout.

:m2c:

 

[brushbuster]

just to clarify ,i was not!!!! advocating pouring directly into the barell.(danger will robinson) :youcrazy: :nono: :shake: :no:thats why i put those critters in my post.
im not upset ..i just wanted to make sure that was understood eace:

 

[Grenadier1758]

The TOW horn is probably worth the $20. There may be some fit issues and the horn won't be scraped as thin as might be for a slightly more elegant horn. You may not be able to select right or left side carry. Non the less, such a horn can be made to work.

You will want to make the horn water tight. A good coat of bee's wax around the base is a good start. The wax can be melted and then it will flow into the tiny gaps at the base of the horn. For protection you will want to wax the horn any way. You should be able to scrape down the spout a bit to make the spout thinner.

You may want to leave some powder in the horn. There are some small beetle that eat horns and the sulphur from the powder seems to deter them. The best solution of course is to use your horn often by shooting a lot.

And while you are looking at the October Country site for possible bags take a look at their horn.

October Country

The price of $75 for a custom horn is a bit steep, but is not really out of line for a top quality horn.

 

[pepperbelly]

The cylinder flask I bought holds 5oz of powder.
How much is that in grains? If I shoot around 80gr to 90gr how many shots per flask is that? (.50 percussion)
I'm not sure there are any rondevous around here. I mainly wanted the horn for the "fun factor", not for any real practical value.
I do want a possibles bag so I can carry my stuff when walking and shooting away from the range. I also want a bag for the round balls (I can't figure a way to word that without smiling).
I have been told many, many times to not pour from the flask into the barrel. Thanks for telling me again. Safety always comes first!
My plan is to pour from the can or horn into the flask, flask into the measure, measure into the barrel.
Jim

 

[Rebel]

A small leather ball bag with a spout that is large enough for a .50 cal ball to go through and a stopper is real handy for dispensing 1 ball at a time. They are easy to make. I have used brass, wood and antler to make the spots out of. File a groove in one end, place that end in the bag and tie it around the groove with a stip of leather lacing.

 

[pepperbelly]

Rebel that sounds better than what I had in mind. I figured on trying to find something like my old marble bag- leather with a drawstring.
Jim

 

[silverfox]

The next time I'm in the Ft. Worth area we'll try to get together an work on a few of your acct. ball bag, horn etc.
A little hands on makes thing clearer than trying to figureing out what one is writing sometimes.
Merry Christmas Fox

 

[pepperbelly]

Are the powder horn "kits" worth trying, or are they the same as the finished horns?
Getting together is worth a try, but don't count on it. I have my wife, a 17 year old daughter and a 3 year old daughter. There's so much estrogen around that it destroys free time.
Is Tandy leather still around?
Jim

 

[brushbuster]

The cylinder flask I bought holds 5oz of powder.
How much is that in grains? If I shoot around 80gr to 90gr how many shots per flask is that? (.50 percussion)

jim

there are 7000gr per pound of powder.doing the math according to your load you should get about 27 shots from that flask :shocking: