Where do you live?
I grew up in New Mexico and tge dry air let me fire a lot, when I moved to the Ozarks the high humidity I found even with spit patches that gun started getting tight after five shots
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Pre ignition
- Thread starter Flintlock Whiskey
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I grew up in New Mexico and tge dry air let me fire a lot, when I moved to the Ozarks the high humidity I found even with spit patches that gun started getting tight after five shots
skwerleater
40 Cal
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I haven’t seen one, but a friend told me it happened to him while reenacting a battle shooting blanks.
YMMV?
TDM
Cannon
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Most things are possible but not necessarily probable. Pre ignition is not probable issue.
Your Mileage May Vary
In 55 yrs of burning the stuff I haven’t seen it happen.
Seen it twice in the past 30 years. Speed loading match. One was a drill using just blanks, so the action of ramming down the ball and paper cartridge was not there, so had no chance to scrub the bore even a little, which I think gave the ember a place to rest. Result was burned thumb and first finger on the shooter. Second was a live fire speed match, and the shooters were using very undersized ball to ensure that all 24 rounds would get launched without a jam, so again perhaps not much "scrubbing" action from the paper cartridge with the ball going down the musket, and it went off when the powder was poured ; not from ramming (thankfully). Finger burns were the result
LD
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I live in central Illinois, I actually think the higher humidity helps me shoot without wiping, no scientific proof just my opinion, I blow down the barrel, sometimes one time, sometimes more (just like BPCRS shooters do) and the more times the more it helps keep fouling soft if the atmosphere is dry, also in my opinion.
I do not care if the nervous nannies think it is unsafe, none of their business, I have been doing it for almost 50 years thank you very much and see no reason to stop. I used to win a lot of matches back when I could see so there is that as well.
If it gets a little hard to load, my next spit patch is a little wetter than the previous.
I like the simplicity of powder, patch and ball and refuse to add additional complications (did I wipe enough? what barrel napkins do you use?, what magic fluid do you wipe with?) BUT I do not tell anyone not to wipe their barrel between shots, that's their business, I am just not going to do it.
YMMV, As Backdraft said your mileage may vary, another way of saying, your results may be different than mine and that is OK, as long as we are both having fun shooting BP we can share the shooting line.
And an edit to get back on topic, never seen a cook off preignition or whatever you want to call it, nor has anyone I know, I will however continue to use a measure to dump powder down the barrel and not direct from the horn.
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Has anyone ever heard of a revolver blowing up because remnants of a paper cartridge was left glowing in a chamber? Ive been shooting them alot as of late and they are not nitrated, so they dont burn up entirely.
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Never seen it happen, never heard around here of it happening. I wipe between shots, and damp swab my cannon between shots. I'm not a fan of those kind of surprises.
stephenprops1
45 Cal.
The club I belong to has banned blowing down the barrel. I have never done it and I never intend to do that.
What is the reasoning behind banning it? Im seriously curious.
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Probably fearful of lawsuits because of the few poor souls who cannot remember if they should blow down the barrel AFTER or BEFORE firing.
I have no trouble remembering that.
I have no trouble remembering that.
With respect to the blowing down the barrel "controversy", there is the very unlikely probability of a hangfire going off as the shooter is blowing down the barrel. Yes, one should be quite certain that the round has been fired or not. However at many ranges, range officers need to enforce safety procedures that may seem excessive. At our range, the practice of wiping the bore with a damp patch accomplishes the extinguishing of any burning embers, softening the fouling remaining in the barrel and removing excess fouling from the barrel to keep the condition of the barrel consistent from shot to shot.
Using the best practices of sizing the jag to slide over fouling then bunching up to remove fouling, blocking the flash channel is avoided.
Using the best practices of sizing the jag to slide over fouling then bunching up to remove fouling, blocking the flash channel is avoided.
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Yep, the club I shoot at bans it as well but I do it anyway, (after almost 50 years old habits die hard) there is only one guy who says anything about it and he is usually not there, when he is I use a piece of hose and accomplish the same thing.
To each their own, as long as your having fun.
NMLRA bans it and lots of clubs do. It’s a matter of optics instead of safety.
I’ve done in near fifty years, but when I’m playing in someone else’s field I follow the house rules
Just did a public shoot in May. Entered the smooth bore they let me shoot with a rear sight and blowing down my barrel. Never said a thing.
On the other hand I shot a voo, and range master was almost having a stroke, and several guys told me the urban myth of the man blowing off his head, I followed the rules.
Robert Hienlien blue mud story comes to mind.
Silly ain’t worth a fight.
wolf power
32 Cal
Never seen it happen but could
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I have not seen this (kaboom from loading directly from horn) happen. In "War on the Run" a book about Roberts Raiders; his journals state that several times he had soldiers sent back to camp seriously injured from powder horn explosions. Now those guys were the original he-men in pitched running battles so loading safety was less important than getting a shot off. I recommend the book highly.
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Wow ! Some of these stories ! Scary stuff ! Any who ... Ive never seen or experienced any pre ignition but one story . I met a fella at a rendezvous and his whole side was horribly black and blue ....it was hot as Hades and we were all shirtless . He told me he was shooting his trade gun SNF he forgot to put the plug back in his horn . When he fired his gun a spark from the flint or the priming powder when down the spout of his horn blowing it up . I can't believe it didn't kill him . He said they'd been shooting awhile and there wasn't a whole lot of powder left. Scary $hit . Be safe folks .
stephenprops1
45 Cal.
It was banned before I joined the club. I was never given the reason. Most other places I shoot have banned it or deeply frown upon it.
