Rendezvous safety questions.

[noahmercy]

Being as how I've never attended one, I'd like to know as much as possible before I actually show up at one. A couple of the many questions I intend to annoy y'all with is this: On the firing line, what safety equipment is mandatory? I understand that each ronny' is an entity unto itself, but do most require hearing protection and eye protection for those on the line? Are there "range officers" to ensure the competitors maintain safe muzzle direction? Is there a rule regarding charging from a horn or flask? (I believe this is a no-no, but enlighten me.) Use of a capper mandatory?

If there is a standardized book of rules and regs for rondies, feel free to point me that way, otherwise I'll be pestering y'all from time to time. :winking: I don't want to trek into camp a filthy pilgrim, y'know!

 

[Ohio Joe]

The rendezvous I attend don't really have a "set in stone" load of safety rules... If you want to wear hearing and eye protection that is up to you.

You can not load directly from the horn. You may only load at the firing line, or loading area... You may only prime or cap on the firing line...

We are no longer allowed to blow down our barrel to help keep the powder fouling moist, and to make sure the vent or nipple port is clear, so you almost have to load up after you've taken your shot and wait with a loaded rifle that is not primed until your turn comes around again. Depending on the competition of course...

I'll admit that I usually get a few warnings from the "safety dog soldier" about blowing down my barrel. Usually he dosen't catch me ... It's hard to teach an old dog new tricks after almost 30 years of blowing down the barrel after my shot.

Best thing to do is ask about the safety rules at the doin's your at. Abide by them and everyone is happy... I am getting better about not blowing down my barrel... I think? :hmm:

 

[Ohio Joe]

I might also add that when kids are shooting or throwing hawks and knives, they must have adult supervision...

 

each voo is different but as a rule you dont load unless your on the line and at our voo we ask that you dont load unless you waiting your turn at a target .
as to blowing down the barrel ,,,,, this is a big gripe season at many shoots .
and this is my take on it ,
I do i and i will continue to do it as i feel its more of a safety issue if you dont . i have a lot more to say on that subject but im sure you all have heard the whys and why nots before so i will let it go from there .
Its one of those rules that

 

I'll admit that I usually get a few warnings from the "safety dog soldier" about blowing down my barrel. Usually he dosen't catch me ... It's hard to teach an old dog new tricks after almost 30 years of blowing down the barrel after my shot.

Ain't thet, the "damned truth" (use'ta be, "they" wanted you to blow down the barrel, now "they" don't :haha!!!!!!!

YMHS
rollingb

 

[noahmercy]

Thanks for all the replies, fellers! It sounds like mostly common sense. Just like any other shooting sport, I assume it's a case of CYA when it comes to muzzleloading.

And maybe a dumb question, but could a fella' put a piece of tubing on the nipple and blow it out that way without incurring the wrath of anyone?

 

Some fells use a "blow tube" to blow down ther barrels (tube be'n long enuff thet ther head ain't in line with the bore)!!

YMHS
rollingb

 

Noah Mercy,.... Be'ns I'm blind'n all, I jest noticed yore from Sheridan,.... them fellas in Sheridan and Buffalo, are a great bunch'a fellas to shoot with, I don't think yore gonna git hollered at if you make "slight grievences"!! :haha: :haha: :thumbsup:

YMHS
rollingb

 

[noahmercy]

Rollingb, I'll do my best to ignore that "great bunch" comment, seein' as how you're a neighbor and all! :thumbsup: And you being just over the mountains from me, maybe we'll bump into one another sometime. It's always nice to put a face to the names on these confusers.

 

[JeffS]

Just for the record, is the "no blowing down the barrel" rule in place so nobody eats a ball in a moment of extreme carelessness, or is there another reason? The club I shoot with has that rule also, but I havent heard why. I assume it is so we dont make extra holes in our heads, but is there another reason?

Also while Im at it, does blowing down the barrel really help with fouling? I have never tried it. Im pretty new to this, only have fired my GPR about 160 times or so.

Thanks, Jeff

 

Supposedly 'bout 10-12 yrs ago, some fella tried blow'n down his barrel after a "hang-fire". The NMLRA then made a rule for all ther sponored shoots, thet no one was allowed to do it anymore.

YES!!.... moister from yore lungs DOES soften BP foul'n!!

YMHS
rollingb

 

[Ohio Joe]

It does seem that a lot of "Non-NMLRA" sponsored events want to incorporate this "no blowing down the barrel rule."

I feel if a person dosen't know the ball has left the barrel after they have pulled the trigger, and the gun fires, this muzzleloading is probably not for them. Some things are pretty obvious.

Now if I blow my skull cap off someday, well that's just my stupidity, no one elses. As I said earlier, I've been blowing down my barrel for near 30 years after each shot. I know when not to blow down the barrel...

 

Ohio Joe,.... :thumbsup:

 

this is why i require a marked RR. if you dont know if there is a load then drop her down .
I blow down the barrel for one reason , hot coals .
now say you dump you powder and then start your ball the air from that ball going down goes somewhere and allot of it goes right out the nipple or flash hole, one small sleeping ember and you know the rest . a friend of mine old grizzle only had 3 fingers on one hand from just this reason . I also had one go off years back when i first started muzzle loading i got lucky and had turned to make some remark when the charge went off and sent my RR skyward . The guy next to me said

 

[Stumpkiller]

Now if I blow my skull cap off someday, well that's just my stupidity, no one elses.

It won't be you that's the problem, well, aside from the mess. It's your wife, or child, or third cousin twice removed with a greedy lawyer that's the problem. And if you just brain-kill yourself, it will be your insurace provider and their 700 greedy lawyers.

Blow down your barrel at home. Don't do it in public.

 

[Ohio Joe]

I blow down the barrel for one reason , hot coals .
now say you dump you powder and then start your ball the air from that ball going down goes somewhere and allot of it goes right out the nipple or flash hole, one small sleeping ember and you know the rest .

I agree, Captchee... What may appear to others as an unsafe practice is not always the case.

 

[Stumpkiller]

If you're that worried about an ember, wipe with a spit patch between shots. I have a Grandpa and Pappy in heaven to think of shamin. "Is that yer boy holdin a gun up to his lips down there?" "Nope, I taught my son to treat every gun as though it was loaded at all times. That idjut is his Momma's boy, not mine."

I see lots of guys forget powder when they get taklin. I know some that I would not put past forgetting they hadn't shot yet. Look at all the barrels with multiple loads found at Civil War battlefields. People make mistakes when they're hyped.

If I ever saw my son lift a gun barrel to his mouth I'd slap the buttplate, hard. Then his.

 

[noahmercy]

As usual, there's at least two valid sides to every issue. :hmm: I think I'll get myself a blowtube so I can be safe both ways. I'd rather be a little period-incorrect than risk any inadvertant boomage. I'll likely also spit-patch in between shots if time permits. Better safe than sorry.

And BTW...how many of you who don't wear prescription lenses wear glasses to shoot? I would imagine that frontstuffers can pose quite a risk to the eyes from either cap particles or pan flash.

 

Jas. Townsend & Son Inc.,.... Stock PC frames with plain lens thet can be used fer "safty glasses", some folks even have the plain lens replaced with prescription lens.

YMHS
rollingb

 

[Ohio Joe]

The important thing is to follow the rules laid down at the events you attend. That way everyone is happy.

As far as eye and ear protection, no one is going to tell you that you can't use them whether they be period correct or not.

You can buy shooting glasses however that look period correct if you wish. I got mine from "Traditions" about ten years ago.