Priming horn

[sarcasmn]

Hey folks,

I have been having a blast with my Lyman Deerstalker cap lock. Even took my first buck with black powder recently and the Lyman performed flawlessly. I am now getting into flint rifles. I have just finished building a GPR from a kit in 54 and my brother in law gave me a Thompson Hawken in 50, both in flintlock. I was wondering how you all carry your priming horn. Do I need to get a set? Do I just use one horn with 3f? Those of you the carry a priming horn in addition to a powder horn, how do you carry it?

 

[Wes/Tex]

Have actually tried all methods and without trying to dodge the question, I'd say prime with and shoot FFFg. That's the way it worked best for me. Two horns always seem to go "clack" at the worst time it was just one more thing to hang up a mesquite thorn while trying to be sneaky....but then, that's just me! :thumbsup:

 

[Rusty_Nail]

For hunting, I dont carry a priming horn, and carry a small flat horn in a coat pocket from Crazy Crow, for main charge. It holds about 1000 gr. And keeps down what I have to carry!

For priming, I carry one like this guy, which holds around 30 grains of 4Fg in the bottom, and dispenses 3gr. from the spring nozzle.

And has a 60-90gr powder measure on the top end. Goes around the neck when in the woods. Puts the measure, primer, and in the case of the one I am making now, a vent pick hole down in the lip of the measure!

I passed this one to a buyer of a gun I sold on here. Sorry the pic isnt the best!

 

[nwtradegun]

I prime with same powder and horn 3f that I load with.

 

[bpd303]

Because I prefer to prime with ffffG, I carry a small wood priming flask on a cord around my neck. It fits inside my shirt or jacket and has a vent pick attached.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I have done it all ways. Because I like to play at emulating the old style I carry two horns. I know it is argued that fine grain primer powder was not always used, I still like to do it that way. On the range I use a small primer. I make them from horn, wood, antler, whatever and have quite a few. Of course, the main charge comes from a covered can at the loading bench.

 

[Coot]

The easiest and likely most HC thing is to use one horn & the same powder to load & prime. If you really want to prime with 4f, a small spring loaded primer in a pocket does not complicate with more "stuff" hung on you & is out of sight. You will find advocates of the single powder is simpler school of thought and the 4f is faster school on the Forum. Only by trying can you decide what works best for you.

 

[Spikebuck]

A priming horn seems like a lot to carry for a very small need...volume wise. While mine isn't as compact as Rusty Nail's (I like that combo idea) I carry a small antler primer that I made along with some other antler items. The primer, pick, brush, and measure can be left on the ring alone and put in a pocket, or put on the leather strip and worn around the neck.


2013 17 by mdheaser

 

[Alden]

Neat items you made there too! But isn't the cleaning rod a little short?

:rotf:

 

[Rifleman1776]

A priming horn seems like a lot to carry for a very small need

My take on it. When in the woods hunting, I check my prime frequently. Occasionally, not often but it has happened, a branch or something will open the frizzen and primer will be lost. Or, I take a break or drive to another location. Then I must deprime and reprime. In fact, my primer does get used multiple times in a days hunt.

 

[rafterob]

That's for his philadelphia derringer.

 

[BrownBear]

I don't carry a priming horn because I prefer to use the same powder for both my main charge and prime. One less thing to carry, and in my hands anyway 4f isn't that much of an advantage. In fact, it's a disadvantage in our super-wet climate.

Of course, the horn I carry on hunts is smaller than lotsa guys use for "priming" horns, while their main horn is enormous. No fantasies here about fighting my way across the continent, so I only carry as much powder as I'm willing to risk in the wet. Turns out my favorite horn packs an even 1,000 grains of powder, yet it's about the size of half a banana. Even better for my needs in thick brush, it drops neatly into my shooting bag. One less set of straps to tangle in the brush.

No claims of historic accuracy in all that, but I can report high marks for practicality.

 

[Rifleman1776]

No fantasies here

:shocked2: Yer missing most of the fun. :rotf:

 

[Wes/Tex]

:shocked2: Yer missing most of the fun. :rotf:

Corollary: "What'sa matter, don't you want'a have fun no more!"

Each hunter eventually whittles down his overall 'tote' till he gets to the bare minimums of physical and psychological comfort. Some go like Spikebuck and some need a gun-bearer! Everybody else falls in their own niche.

 

[Rusty_Nail]

:shocked2: Yer missing most of the fun. :rotf:

Some go like Spikebuck and some need a gun-bearer! Everybody else falls in their own niche.

Gun Bearer, where can I get one of those? :rotf:

 

[Wes/Tex]

Change your name to B'wana and they issue you one! :rotf: :shocked2:

 

[BrownBear]

Yer missing most of the fun.

Nah. I get my fun out hunting, and not on the range or parade ground. Only opinion I have to sort through is my own. :rotf:

 

[Billnpatti]

Actually, I don't use a priming horn. I have a brass flask with a dispenser that puts out about 3 grains of 4f powder. I carry it in my bag. However, I do not always carry my flask. Often, I just use the 3f in my horn. I really can't tell the difference. The only reason that I use a priming powder is because a few years ago, I bought a can of 4f and then a can of Swiss Null B. Two pounds of priming powder is a lifetime supply so I use it when I am shooting at the range but when I am hunting, I just use 3f in my pan.

 

[Spikebuck]

isn't the cleaning rod a little short?
:rotf:

Whenever I cleaned my guns I found that only the bottom couple inches of the bbl were ever very dirty!!! :grin: :idunno:

 

[tenngun]

I've been shooting rock-in-the-locks since the mid 70s.I am so used to them I don't notice any lock time or pause tween triggering and gun shot.(unless I screw up and feed fake powder to my flinters)I dont think I would be able to tell if I used 4f to prime with.
Since I have some pounds of fake powder and I dont like the stuff,I got me a small copper flask that holds about 2oz of real powder.I throw a 20 grain base load then can prime with that same hand sized flask.Gives me about 35 shots.If you were just priming it would give you alost 200 primes.Its about the size of a large strawberry.