That Evil Ember

[vintovka]

Yet the grail of many is to shoot without wiping.

Before they built the Folsom Outlet Stores on top of what was the old Fort Sutter ML range the wood 4x4 supports were all covered with waist high rod end dents!!

 

[sturmkatze]

I witnessed this. At a public range, a guy had a misfire with a percussion rifle. He then blew down the barrel. We packed up and left as quickly as possible.

THAT is different. Darwin level. If the gun misfires, and you can’t get it to go off, there’s levels of waiting and such to make sure it doesn’t go off while pulling the round. Did anyone say anything to this guy??

 

[sturmkatze]

It violates NMLRA, NRA, and a host of other organizations' range rules. I learned to do it myself when I started shooting in the 70s, but things change. When I became a professional RSO and instructor, I learned that "optics" are important. In other words, it's about setting a good example for new shooters so they don't pick up bad habits or otherwise misinterpret what they're seeing.

I’m not doing stuff I know to be unsafe for other’s optics. Eff that. I will continue to blow down the barrel after each shot.

 

[sturmkatze]

While that was done in the past, it is no longer an acceptable behavior on the line. In fact, it's a good way to get kicked off the shooting line of any organizational match

Then I’m out if there. I’m not doing dumb, unsafe things for other’s optics. I’ll shoot elsewhere.

 

[sturmkatze]

View attachment 247271

Git ‘em Bill

 

[waksupi]

I’m not doing stuff I know to be unsafe for other’s optics. Eff that. I will continue to blow down the barrel after each shot.

Blowing down the barrel is a safety step.

 

[Flinter1776]

Then I’m out if there. I’m not doing dumb, unsafe things for other’s optics. I’ll

Then I’m out if there. I’m not doing dumb, unsafe things for other’s optics. I’ll shoot elsewhere.

As someone who works on the shooting side of the firearms industry, I can tell you that any range that carries insurance is going to enforce safety protocols. The "gold standard" that everyone goes by is the NRA, who defers to the NMLRA when it comes the muzzleloading. Where are you going to shoot when you're kicked off every range for a perceived safety violation? Remember that the first of the main tenets of firearm is "treat all firearms as if they're loaded", yet here you are putting your mouth on the muzzle. I'm not trying to be a jerk. I used to do it myself. I'm just pointing out that times and standards have changed. If we want this hobby and sport to survive, we need to seriously take a look at how we are perceived as well as set a better example for others to follow.

Then I’m out if there. I’m not doing dumb, unsafe things for other’s optics. I’ll shoot elsewhere.

 

[sturmkatze]

As someone who works on the shooting side of the firearms industry, I can tell you that any range that carries insurance is going to enforce safety protocols. The "gold standard" that everyone goes by is the NRA, who defers to the NMLRA when it comes the muzzleloading. Where are you going to shoot when you're kicked off every range for a perceived safety violation? Remember that the first of the main tenets of firearm is "treat all firearms as if they're loaded", yet here you are putting your mouth on the muzzle. I'm not trying to be a jerk. I used to do it myself. I'm just pointing out that times and standards have changed. If we want this hobby and sport to survive, we need to seriously take a look at how we are perceived as well as set a better example for others to follow.

Guess I’ll just go shoot. Don’t have to be a range. Both of those organizations (to which I belong) have a huge list of detractors who literally hate them. That’s really sad.

As to blowing down the barrel, I believe it’s the safe thing to do. Sadly, America has become all form and no substance. Things are done for appearance’s sake. if new people want to question it, go ask.

Shooting, especially black powder, means you have to have some discipline and do things in order. Talking to people while loading is a bad idea. However, I’ve never “not known” when my gun has gone off or misfired.

I want to shoot. I don’t need a match to shoot. @#blackpowderbill knows how I feel. Kill the hobby

 

[Snydly]

There is zero need to wipe between shots, that is for idiots!

With the proper patch lube, you can go to infinity You can keep doing the unnecessary, and I will just keep shooting and having more fun!

Here is a target off hand, dawn and water patch lube, no blowing, wiping, swabbing etc.... Yes with a flintlock

View attachment 247077

Having a differing opinion from someone is great. You may disagree with someone about just about anything but when you stoop to calling someone an "idiot"... that is completely uncalled for. It really reflects on what type of person you are .... leave the slurs unsaid!

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

Both, I blow down my barrel, not for embers, but to see my touch hole is clear for the next shot.

Me too, although some argue that it blows fowling back into the Nipple or T.H.
It is frowned upon here in Oz, maybe even illegal . However... Moving right along...
When someone says.. " I've been doing this for XXXX years and never seen it happen" sure don't mean it never happens. I think we've all learnt to be more carefull, not allow ourselves to be distracted.
'It' has happened here on several occasions. One particular incident (at our Club) included the Powder, wad, and Brass Loading Rod. The loading rod went through the shooters hand, through the iron roof and landed at the 25 yds line. It's not a 'story', it happened, Has the scars to prove it. Still shoots regularly.
We also have a nice hole in the Roof of our new Range shed. ( Amazingly no one admits to how it got there).
Be careful out there, these things are dangerous.

 

[beyu]

We all understand the safety concern about blowing down the barrel. But I only do it AFTER I shoot — because there's no point in doing it AFTER I load and BEFORE I fire. I agree that putting my face over the muzzle of a loaded firearm is dangerous.

I generally blow down the bore 3 or 4 times until there is no more smoke coming out of the vent. I figure if I see smoke, something is still smoldering in there. Once there is no smoke, I feel safe to load. I never hurry reloads.

 

[longcruise]

There is zero need to wipe between shots, that is for idiots!

Guess I'm just another idiot.

 

[smoothshooter]

Yes, but still, I'd not load from a flask or horn; it's a small grenade! Remember, the famous WW1 and WW2 grenades we all know from the movies, had only 4 oz. of Black Powder in them!

I don’t think 4 oz. of powder in a horn or flask would have the same explosive force of a hand grenade, but
I would not want either container with 4 oz. of powder going off in my hand or face.

 

[DixieTexian]

Some of y’all need to learn to put your lips on the nipple and suck on it!

 

[Colonial Boy]

There’s a reason for the invention and naming of ‘Safety Flasks’.

 

[ETipp]

As someone who works on the shooting side of the firearms industry, I can tell you that any range that carries insurance is going to enforce safety protocols. The "gold standard" that everyone goes by is the NRA, who defers to the NMLRA when it comes the muzzleloading. Where are you going to shoot when you're kicked off every range for a perceived safety violation? Remember that the first of the main tenets of firearm is "treat all firearms as if they're loaded", yet here you are putting your mouth on the muzzle. I'm not trying to be a jerk. I used to do it myself. I'm just pointing out that times and standards have changed. If we want this hobby and sport to survive, we need to seriously take a look at how we are perceived as well as set a better example for others to follow.

Easy, find a piece of private property out in the country to shoot at. There's also national forests and government land in just about every state.

Basic firearms safety is more common sense than what some "officials" might contend. There's more laws and rules that we humans are expected to live by than we can keep up with now. Many of such laws or rules are due to people not using common sense. You know, like ranges being built with astro turf in front of the shooting benches. And then when a fire starts, they ban muzzleloaders.

All though I sometimes use a public gun range, I would rather go out on a chunk of land out in the country and shoot off of the hood of my truck. No distractions, no worries of people stealing me blind when I go check the target, no waiting for others to get done shooting before I go check my target (which adds more time to an already long session whenever using a ML) and I don't have to worry about being shot.

 

[ETipp]

Guess I'm just another idiot.

Me too.

 

[Nav]

I saw a gunsmiths look right down the barrel of a pistol. He was literally pointing it AT his eye! I smacked it out of his hand, and told him, “Don’t you know to treat all guns like they’re loaded?!?! Don’t you know to NEVER point a gun at anything you do not wish to destroy?“ He shot me twice.

 

[Nav]

One of the cardinal rules of scuba diving we drill into every student is the buddy system. NEVER DIVE ALONE, is taught to every open water student in any agency. Funny thing is, once you leave the sport diving community and go commercial or technical you are at a level where a ”buddy” becomes a liability, not an asset.

Would I tell a student this? No. At the novice level I think reciting wrote rules and following them like they were religion keeps novices safe and establishes good habits. Even a “Dive Master” quoting me this and saying he would never dive alone is a good thing.

But at the master scuba instructor trainer level, or the technical, or commercial level it becomes completely reversed, and SAVE YOURSELF becomes the mantra. Even when diving in a group you are taught that you are always diving alone. There are no “buddies”. You can’t be worrying about a buddy while monitoring time, your depth, a travel mix, a bottom mix, and two deco mixes. Hard hat and your “buddy” is on the surface keeping you alive.

My point is simply that being able to hold two ideas in direct opposition and that are both true is not some failing, but is often an expression of wisdom. I don’t mind people quoting the rules at me, because that’s where they are in their journey, and that’s a good thing. I‘m not going to correct them or explain why their gospel isn’t THE gospel.

The NRA rules are good ones, and they’re designed to instill good ideas and safe habits in novices. But, don’t kid yourself that the most skilled, high speed guys there are never flag each other at work, or gunsmiths don’t point guns at themselves all the time. Things like clearing a firearm whenever you touch one should be second nature, and I’ll stand there in a gun store asking after something and I’ll watch the clerk clear it, and then I clear it again as soon as he hands it to me…good habits.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

It violates NMLRA, NRA, and a host of other organizations' range rules.

Our clubs and rondies are too small to evolve any of those alphabet organizations.
dont give a rats fuzzy behind about the NRA, worthless these days.
IN the 60 years Ive being here I have never seen a MNLRA anything,
Being outlaw is so much fun.