powder in the pan ignites powder in chamber

[GregLaRoche]

I have been under the impression, that the sparks from the burning priming powder ignited the powder in the chamber. I have experienced keeping the touch hole open and using the minimum of priming powder shortened the delay between, when the frizzen is struck and the gun goes off.

I recently watched a video and it was stated, that it was not the sparks from the burning priming powder that ignited the powder in the chamber, but the radiant heat from the burning powder, that caused the ignition. Will someone care to elaborate on this concept?

Thanks

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

impressions correct

 

[GregLaRoche]

Is it the sparks or the radiant heat that ignites the powder?

 

[Rock Home Isle]

I agree with impressions...

 

[M. De Land]

A well tuned flint lock will fire over 50 percent of the time with no powder in the pan so I believe it is safe to say it's the hot sparks that are initiating the chamber ignition and the more powder burning the more sparks and heat to insure the ignition.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Its the radiant heat from the burning powder in the pan going through the touch hole that ignites the charge most reliably. Yes, about 10% of the time you will ignite the main charge with no powder in the pan. Often there is a grain or two of powder near the touch hole that starts burning sending a blast of heat into the main charge.

I had a failure to fire. So I knapped the flint to restore a sharp edge. I wanted to see if I had sparks when the flint scraped the frizzen. Pointing the loaded gun in a safe direction, I pulled the trigger. Its sort of funny how time just slows down at the most unusual of circumstances. I watched the lazy sparks sort of dance around in the pan and then I saw what might have been a grain or two of powder that one of the sparks landed next to. Slowly a ball of orange burning powder started to glow. Then I felt the recoil of my fowling gun against my side. The ball bouncing around in the trees down range. I turned to the onlookers and said, "Yup, got spark now."

 

[S.Kenton]

Your first impression was correct, think of your pan charge like a fuse of sorts. It’s the burning powder in the pan... the sparks of it.. that ignites the main charge. Radiant heat won’t ignite it.... unless it’s glowing red hot.

 

[GregLaRoche]

Ok. Now we have two different view points. How do we determine which is right?

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

oh come on now....good grief!

 

[S.Kenton]

the radiant heat is caused by the burning embers, the embers have to come into contact with the priming powder or main charge. So actually both thoughts are correct.

 

[GregLaRoche]

I’m not trying to start a conflict. I would just really like to know the truth. I believed one thing until yesterday and now I think I was wrong. I hope someone can bring in some knowledge to find the right answer.

 

[Livbucks]

Fire lights other stuff on fire. I dont think it's any more complicated.

 

[GregLaRoche]

You don’t need a flame or even a spark to ignite something. Take the example of lighting a piece of paper on fire with the sun and a magnifying glass.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Ok. Now we have two different view points. How do we determine which is right?

If you get near instant ignition, your theory is correct.

I hope that @Larry Pletcher can get on this thread and straighten us out.

 

[Phil Coffins]

If you relied on burning powder to light the main charge you get the fuse effect as others have said. A flash of heat travels at a much higher speed thus the quick ignition we all seek.

 

[S.Kenton]

You don’t need a flame or even a spark to ignite something. Take the example of lighting a piece of paper on fire with the sun and a magnifying glass.

But in this case... you do, your talking about igniting priming powder in your pan... with sparks, or tiny bits of molten embers.. definitely not sun from the magnifying glass..

 

[GregLaRoche]

I found out about the theory of the radiant heat igniting the powder on a gunsmithing video call Anvil.
it’s mentioned at 9:15 in the video.

 

[GregLaRoche]

You are igniting the priming Powder with sparks, but it is the radiant heat from the burning primer powder that creates the radiant heat, that finds its way into the chamber. It’s not like a fuse burning. At least that is what I think this theory is suggesting.

 

[S.Kenton]

Powder has to be ignited by the tiny bits of molten embers coming from
The flint... from there the main charge has to be ignited from one of those tiny molten embers ( if there is no powder in the pan) or from the ignition of the priming powder. It’s as simple as that. Thanks for the thread...

 

[GregLaRoche]

Yes, of course the powder in the chamber is ignited from the burning of the powder in the pan, but what is actual mechanism that makes it happen? Is it the radiant heat from the burning powder or sparks and embers finding there way through the touch hole to the powder? That is the question I hope can be answered.