Stupid, stupid, stupid

[oldwood]

Talking to a range worker , is excuse #27 , on the top 100 list of dry ball excuses. I'll admit to doing it , at least once.

 

[stephenprops1]

Easy fix, nipple out pack a little powder in blow it out keep shooting. We've all done it no matter what they say.

He was using a flintlock. No nipple.

 

[B P Maniac Shooter]

He was using a flintlock. No nipple.

This works just as well, usually takes about 3-4 minutes:

 

[Eterry]

I've told this before.
My 1st dry ball, (I've had 2) was when I was 15. My friend came over with his big sister. 17, Blonde, tan legs, cutoffs. I was demonstrating how to load, but not paying much attention to the rifle. Of course the gun didn't fire.
They both laughed, I turned red. I pulled the nipple and trickled powder in. Bang! The ball hit the corner post and bounced back.

Lesson learned.

 

[TDM]

That was a worthwhile distraction.

 

[deerstalkert]

i married just that distraction 53 years ago today!

 

[TDM]

i married just that distraction 53 years ago today!

Happy Anniversary to you both! That’s a worthy number. I’m at 43 and counting.

 

[ColonialRifleSmith]

I shot my first flintlock yesterday. I was so excited after I loaded the rifle and shot it successfully. I was thrilled, thinking that I’m going to love this new hobby. I quickly lubed up another spit patch and started the ball down the barrel when I realized “Dang-it” I forgot the powder. My first dry ball. I thought my day might be over until I realized I had my ball puller with me. I had never used one so I wasn’t sure how it would work. The ball came right out after screwing the ball puller in as much as I could. I thought to myself “I’m an official flint locker now”.

Over all, the day of shooting was good. My accuracy sucks but I think it’s because my vent hole is to small and it ignited slow with a lot of failure to fires on first pull but I was most proud of overcoming my first dry ball.

After you close the frizzen, tap the powder away from the touch hole. That will eliminate the wick effect and speed up ignition. Also, do this, then wipe the frizzen face with a dry cotton cloth. Semper Fi.

 

[ColonialRifleSmith]

i married just that distraction 53 years ago today!

Happy AVY. Semper Fi.

 

[longwalk]

I use drill bit stops on my range rod, they come in various sizes and have a set screw in them told hold it in place. You can slide it on the rod,tighten it in place to show you that the rifle is unloaded.

 

[Eterry]

After you close the frizzen, tap the powder away from the touch hole. That will eliminate the wick effect and speed up ignition. Also, do this, then wipe the frizzen face with a dry cotton cloth. Semper Fi.
View attachment 194255
View attachment 194256

I strongly recommend using a cloth of some kind covering the pan while sharpening the flint.

I actually SAW, not heard about, a flintlock on the firing line discharge while the owner used a knife to sharpen his flint. Lucky it was pointed down range.

 

[B P Maniac Shooter]

I do something similar to knap a flint:

 

[Elkpurgatoire]

... YET.

Yep. There's thems what have and thems what will.

 

[Elkpurgatoire]

I do something similar to knap a flint:

That video right there convinced me that I need a flintlock. One of the mysteries of the flint has been revealed. Time to shop, even if it involves ordering one from Kibler. Kits are not new to this pilgrim....I'll get 'er done.

 

[smoothshooter]

Re. trickling 4F in touchhole, isn't the ball in the way? I mean if you could look thru the hole, wouldn't you see the ball? If so, how does the powder get behind it?

There is always room around the rear of the ball because the contour of the ball does not match the flat surface of the face of the breech plug, leaving an air space.

 

[Grenadier1758]

And with the internally coned vent liners, there is plenty of room for the 4 to 5 grains (weight) of powder sufficient to expell a dry ball.

 

[flintlock lover.]

Finally got a chance to try the new Pedersoli GPR flintlock yesterday. Just to start, I loaded 50 grns Swiss under .010 patch and .490 ball. 25 yards. Two shots from the bench dead center. "Oh boy, no sight adjustment." Moved target to fifty. Range worker came by and during chat I loaded same patch and ball over what I thought was 60 grains powder.
" Pssst!" No powder, stuck ball. I haven't done that stupid thing for many years. No ball puller with me. Another stupid thing.
Anyway, I love this gun. Heavy like a plains rifle ought to be, big barrel, great triggers, nice wood, fast lock, sights I can see. I've had two Investarms GPRs but this one is much, much better. Now, back to the range with determination to PUT THE POWDER IN FIRST.

I don't know anyone who shoots BP muzzleloaders more than a few weeks that hasn't done the same.
I've had to refuse to talk during loading just to help prevent it.
Imagine what the chances of doing it would be when someone was shooting back.

 

[M. De Land]

And you'll never be a true duck hunter 'til you float your hat (fall in). Can't think of a single muzzloader I ever shot or hunted with that didn't dryball. There are worse things if you live a long time.

I always get a kick out of those who claim to have never dry balled ! As far as I know there are only three kinds of muzzle loader shooters................... Those who dry ball , those are going to and liars !

 

[M. De Land]

Almost double loaded once talking to someone at the range. Luckily I caught myself at the last minute.
Should get a shirt that says “Don’t talk to me while shooting.”

Black powder double charging is not particularly dangerous. It just pushes out powder that cannot be burned in the barrel length. What is dangerous is large air spaces between powder and ball.
I've also witnessed a short started ball split a 12L14 barrel.
If your talking about two seated charges and balls, one on top the other then the loading rod depth would make it very obvious. Even if it were shot I doubt it would burst the barrel but recoil would be pretty bad. The top charge would most likely not ignite any way until it cleared the muzzle.

 

[Fly103]

15 years of ML shooting and I am still in the "going to" category, however I have shot more than one short started ball and even launched the short starter once so there is that.

with regard to flint knapping, Jim Kibler demonstrates his technique at 17:20 in this video, I tried it out last weekend and was amazed with how much control you have and how easy the flint flakes, and i was just using my turnscrew to tap with, not a hammer as he does.



Chris