Smoke Ring

[Landngroove]

Today when shooting my .54 T/C Hawken, PRB, 100 grains Goex FFG, 50 yards, I saw something I have never seen before. It was a cloudy day with little, or no wind. After taking a shot at the target, I was about to get my binoculars to see where I hit on the target. To my surprise I looked downrange and saw a perfect circle, of smoke about halfway to the target, heading towards it. It was about two feet in diameter. It held together to about three quarter the distance. This was really something. Also on the same shot, after firing, I saw the patch floating down. ( I have seen this before) I have shot hundreds, maybe thousands of shots before, and have never seen a smoke ring like this. Just another reason to keep shooting, to see if I can do this again!

 

[jtmattison]

I get smoke rings sometimes.
They look pretty cool.

HD

 

[roundball]

I saw one once come from the vent of a Flintlock as I was watching a guy shoot...it formed coming out of the vent and went off to the side on a slightly upward angle for 10-20 feet...gradually getting larger and larger as it went until it fell apart

 

[Stophel]

I don't ever get the rings. They're really cool when you see them on the artillery range!

 

[musketman]

Food for thought, did the smoke ring have the same rate of twist that the round ball had, both were subjected to the 1:48 inch rifling? :hmm:

 

[lakota]

I get rings shooting my '58 Remington quite a bit. Have yet to see one from my rifles though. They are cool.

Lakota

 

[BS]

Food for thought, did the smoke ring have the same rate of twist that the round ball had, both were subjected to the 1:48 inch rifling? :hmm:

Depends on if the barrel has shallow or deep rifling! :rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

 

[roundball]

Food for thought, did the smoke ring have the same rate of twist that the round ball had, both were subjected to the 1:48 inch rifling? :hmm:

Depends on if the barrel has shallow or deep rifling! :rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

Right on...the smoke ring would probably just skip the rifling on a 1:48'

 

[musketman]

Right on...the smoke ring would probably just skip the rifling on a 1:48'

It should still have some rotation transfered to it from the back of the patch/roundball while going down the tube...

 

[rebel727]

I never had a smoke ring, prolly cuz I load too hot. See them all the time from cannon at CW reenactments but that's with a light charge and no ball. Wonder if it was a common sight on the battlefield with full strength live loads?

 

[walruskid1]

i get smoke rings with real bp but never with 777. wind, humidity, temp must all be perfect and it doesn't happen often. impressive to say the least.

 

[Landngroove]

Food for thought, did the smoke ring have the same rate of twist that the round ball had, both were subjected to the 1:48 inch rifling? :hmm:

Amazing that a T/C 1 in 48" twist barrel can produce good accuracy, and a smoke ring! :haha:

 

[Zonie]

BEWARE THE SMOKE RING!!!
The State of California has determined smokerings are comprised of Second Hand Smoke and can cause Gerbils to have brain damaged offspring.

 

[Slamfire]

Gerbels are brain damaged. At least the ones raised in California. :shake:

 

[Slake]

I like to photograph people shooting muzzloaders and I've seen many gorgeous smoke rings. I've seen a few when shooting but I'm not as cognizant of it as when I'm taking the pictures
Gotta love those smoke rings