the powder measure on my powderhorn

[Damascus]

Bought an inexpensive (read CHEAPO) powderhorn to get me through the season until I can get the time to scrimshaw a custom nice horn. The one that I bought has a push-button valve on it, with a long tube protruding from it. I just recently saw an ad that talked about it being a powder measure. Never thought of it, must not be too bright. Been using it to fill my adjustable powder measure (while I finish carving a more permanent one)

I know, and teach my boys, that you NEVER pour directly from the horn into the barrel. NEVER (although my father, who has ML hunted for years, has no interest in safety, as he pours about 150 grains into his .54 every time, blowing a 6 foot powder flame every time he fires) but should I feel safe with this measure on the end of the horn? Its about 65 grains, about 10 less than my usual 75 (for my .50)
which would be fine for target/plinking and such.

DO you think that this was the original intent of the tube, to be a usable measure, to save me the step of pouring into another vessel, and should I actually trust in the 'safety' of the mechanism?

Your thoughts, rants, and opinions please....


Up a tree,

Damascus

 

[LRB]

I believe safety can be overdone on occasion, but not in this case. When you pour directly from a horn or flask, consider it to be a possible hand grenade.

 

[Damascus]

I believe the intent is to hold the horn away from the ML, put your thumb over the end of the tube, press the button, tip the horn up and let it fill the tube, then let go of the button, tip the horn upright, then you should have 65 grains in the tube. With the mechanism closed, the powder in the horn is seperated from the measured amount in the tube, and you should be able to dump it in without fear that it will flash into the horn.

I just can't get past putting the horn up to the muzzle.


Damascus

 

[merdean]

Back about a zillion years ago, when I got into this hobby, I used a horn that had a spring spout and powder measure. I was in Spain at the time and had become friends with one of the Spanish Olympic shooters. I did not speak much Spanish at the time so we communicated with jestures and broken language. The first time he saw me with this horn, he took it away from me. He said some things I didn't understand. He then carried it to the middle of the range and stopped between bunkers, then he ran a six foot line of powder between bunkers. He laid the horn at the end of the powder and then stuck a cigarrette into the other end of the line of powder. Even though the valve was closed, the horn blew up! He made his point! Even though I could not understand his words, I understood what he meant. I have always used a measure since. I believe the loss of my horn and it's 1/2 pound of powder was better than the possible loss of my hand or maybe, my life. Please use the measure! You may keep the horn with its spout but don't pour directly from the horn! :m2c:

 

[Damascus]

Wowsers!

I am very grateful for your story. I was concerned about the issue before, but most certainly certain that I wont be using the spout that way now.



Thanks,

Damascus

 

[Johnny Tremain]

consider it to be a possible hand grenade.

Wouldnt that be a HORN grenade?

Oh yeah, berry bery bad loading from any horn.

 

[Gordon Horn]

I think you can unscrew the measure from the end of the valve and get a small pour spout to screw on in its place. Then you could pour into your measure. This is what I use. I always open the valve one more time after uprighting the horn to let any small amount of powder that may remain on the outside of the valve to go back into the horn. I think Track of the Wolf carries the pour spouts. :m2c:

 

[hobbles]

I use one of those, I like it, I have 2 spouts, one cut for 63 grns, the other for bout 50, I used to load two of the 50's for huntin, not sure of my huntin load for this year yet,,
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/hobbles/horn1.jpg

 

[merdean]

Yep. That is the spout we be talking about. I would not pour directly from the horn into the barrel. Like I said, the valve was closed when my friend blew up my horn! Please keep your body intact. it is easier to type with all your fingers. We need your input here. :results:

 

[oomcurt]

Hobbles,

If I may ask...what is that on the end of the spout?

 

[hobbles]

oomcurt
Afternoon,, That is part of a cedar tree that I drilled a hole in to fit over my horn spout, It keeps the rain and snow and ashes from my smokes out of it,, Seemed like a good idea to me,,


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/hobbles/h-cover.jpg

 

[oomcurt]

I see, yup..sounds like a great idea to me also! Many thanks for the info.

 

[jim gray]

I sometimes use a flask with a 75 grain powder measure. I used to pour the powder from the measure (i.e. the flask)directly down the muzzle. Now, although I do still use the flask, I pour the measured powder into a small brass cup or test tube-like measure and use that to transfer the measured powder to the gun.

There is nothing wrong with using the measure built onto your horn to measure powder, but don't pour it from the horn directly into the barrel, please.

You could probably find a 75 grain spout to screw onto your horn pretty easily. I like the spout better because it seems not to spill as much powder.

 

[Damascus]

Seems like too much trouble to me. If I'm going to transfer the powder to another vessel to pour from, I might just as well use a seperate powder measure altogether.

I have never been comfortable with the idea of using the measure on the horn anyways, so its not a loss. Maybe ill find a nicer spout to screw in instead of the measure.


Thanks again for the info,



Damascus

 

[jim gray]

The important thing is that you load the gun safely.

 

[Bear Rider]

I would not pour directly from the horn into the barrel. Like I said, the valve was closed when my friend blew up my horn! Please keep your body intact. it is easier to type with all your fingers.

Considering that when you are pouring powder down the barrel, the horn would be about at about eye level and 20" or so from your face, your fingers would probably be the least of your worries.

 

[dlemaster]

Many years ago when I first got into muzzle loading I had a flask to load revolvers and rifles. I noticed every once in a while the little cut off door would stick open or partly open. That convinced me not to trust the flask to load directly into any gun.

Regards, Dave

 

[David Teague]

Hello All,

While I used to use a flask with a spout in the early 70's(even loaded right into the rifle with it until a older shoot saw me and stopped that bad habit :nono: )I switched to a horn with a plug in the early 80's...

Flasks and horns have been know to blow up when a spark has dropped into the attached powder measure... Something to think about when you are packing a 1/2 pound of powder on your hip/side.

Lose the measures, get a tapered plug.

Cheers,

DT

 

[crockett]

About six months to a year ago we had this discussion and someone put up a photo of a mangled hand( the powder horn blew up) Perhaps someone more computer literate than I can post the photo.
I agree- the flask companies should NOT be selling all those screw on measures because it is an inducement to forget the measure. Look at the old photos- most flasks/flask horns just had a spout.

 

[AZ-Robert]

I'm new to the hobby but years ago picked up a horn exactly like the one you describe, Damascus. Now that I'm in the hobby, I scrounged it up and cleaned it off intending to use it. Having read (and heeded) the advice of not pouring directly from the horn to the barrel, and needing only a 25 grain charge for my .40, I decided the 72 grain measure attached to the spout of the horn was too wide for pouring into a normal sized powder measure or charger.

As chance would have it, Track of the Wolf had a few remaining 30 grain spouts that will fit the threads on the end of the push-button valve of my Italian-made horn. It is just as long as the 72 gr. spout, but much narrower and will easily pour into a normal size adjustable measure.

Since the line of spouts in this particular thread size is (apparently) discontinued in favor of a different thread, I picked it up for ToTW's sale price of $0.69. A bargain considering that it made that old horn a tad more useful.

Check your horn (or the spout) - if it is Italian-made you might still be able to get that narrow spout from ToTW if you should need it.

Link here: Track of the Wolf - spouts