STUPID MISTAKE

[baldy]

I was filling my powder horn today and picked up a 4f can instead of 3f. i then loaded my .62 trade musket with 60 grains of the 4f and seated a ball. i saw my mistake when i went to prime the pan and it was already full.my question is should i try to shoot the ball out or pull it.boy that was stupid!!!

 

[gmww]

When in doubt I always pull. :v

 

[Rebel]

It isn't hard to pull a load out of a smoothbore. I would rather pull the load than take a chance of bursting the barrel.

 

[BS]

Yep, I would pull it also.

 

[baldy]

thanks for the help thats what i will do

 

[roundball]

I was filling my powder horn today and picked up a 4f can instead of 3f. i then loaded my .62 trade musket with 60 grains of the 4f and seated a ball. i saw my mistake when i went to prime the pan and it was already full.my question is should i try to shoot the ball out or pull it.boy that was stupid!!!

Pull it if you like of course, but to be honest it shouldn't cause a problem at all unless the trade musket is made thinner & weaker than TC and GM barrels.

I posted results here not too many months ago of 4F main charge experiments I conducted in .45/.50/.54/.58 calibers using TC & GM barrels with 30/40/50/60grns of Elephant 4F...fast, clean, and accurate...stopped at 60grns as recoil was building, etc.

 

[Gary]

Another vote for pulling it. By the way, what you did wasn't stupid, it was inattentive. We're all guilty of something or another and darn if I didn't have my share of dry balls. Now, go ahead and pull the ball and feel better about yourself.

 

[taylorh]

I had to pull a ball once. It will pull alot better if you pour some water down it first. If the barrel is dry you can snap the tip off the ramrod.
Taylor in Texas

 

[gmww]

There is another alternative. The Co2 thingy with the flintlock adapter. :v

 

[Pork Chop]

There is yet another alternative that I can see. Tip it sideways and let 40 or 50 grains run out. Ram the ball back down on the powder and shoot it out with the reduced charge.

 

another vote for pulling it. It is easy to pull a ball from a smoothie--and presumably your rod tip is pinned? I don't know who made your trade gun barrel, but they typically are not as tough as a good rifle barrel, so I personally would not risk shooting it out.

 

[musketman]

I was filling my powder horn today and picked up a 4f can instead of 3f. i then loaded my .62 trade musket with 60 grains of the 4f and seated a ball. i saw my mistake when i went to prime the pan and it was already full.my question is should i try to shoot the ball out or pull it.boy that was stupid!!!

A few cents worth of powder isn't worth your life, I too vote for pulling it...