Looks like all of us about do the same thing. I palm pop the side of my rifle to settle powder in the bottom. I use a Toe plate on any wood grain running up to wrist from the butt. No want any wood splitting down there.
I do both. At one of the ranges I frequent I got scolded for stepping one foot off the concrete and very slightly forward of the firing line so I could load and bump on soft turf. Subsequently, I carry a piece of old carpet scrap in my car that I can put down on the concrete so I can load and bump on the ground without fear of scuffing my rifle's butt plate.Not going to bump my guns on the ground when I can bump the side with my hand
The old flints were probably never used with a 44 inch drop tube.The toeplate is never facing me when I load my rifle. The geometry of the buttstock kind of lends itself to be facing the other way.
With modern shoes it seems like a good trick but we get an extra point for traditional footwear during our Woods-Walk, so I don't suppose moccasins would do much, other than hurt my toe.
Palm of the hand would seem to work fine if you felt it was necessary.... but a slow pour down a 44 inch drop tube settles powder fine.
The old flints never had a patent breech. That was mostly a design feature to support the drum on the newfangled cap guns.
Almost all original rifle barrels were between between 40 and 50 inches, some even reaching 60 inches... the Jaeger rifles were the only short rifles that I know of... the Hawken was mostly cap lock so it wasn't included in my reference to the 44in drop tube... aka "barrel"The old flints were probably never used with a 44 inch drop tube.
Would suggest you look at Rifles Of Colonial America. Seems to be quite a few rifles listed with barrels shorter than 40 inches All the gunsmiths didn't just wake up one morning and everyone agree we are all going to make rifles with 40 inch or longer barrels. It was process of the barrels getting longer over a period of time.Almost all original rifle barrels were between between 40 and 50 inches, some even reaching 60 inches... the Jaeger rifles were the only short rifles that I know of... the Hawken was mostly cap lock so it wasn't included in my reference to the 44in drop tube... aka "barrel"
While with over forty years in muzzleloading this is the first I have heard of tapping the toe plate while loading. I thought it was for reinforcing the toe of the butt stock.The toeplate is never facing me when I load my rifle. The geometry of the buttstock kind of lends itself to be facing the other way.
With modern shoes it seems like a good trick but we get an extra point for traditional footwear during our Woods-Walk, so I don't suppose moccasins would do much, other than hurt my toe.
Palm of the hand would seem to work fine if you felt it was necessary.... but a slow pour down a 44 inch drop tube settles powder fine.
The old flints never had a patent breech. That was mostly a design feature to support the drum on the newfangled cap guns.
Why does there have to be documentation it works it looks good the ones in museums have them....why do you need a source???Not doubting your assumption but is there any documentation backing this.
I think maybe you misunderstood his question as a "prove it" demand? Whereas my understanding of the question is as a request for learning & informational resources.Why does there have to be documentation it works it looks good the ones in museums have them....why do you need a source???
You've never had a case where you rammed until the ball felt seated but there was still too much ramrod sticking out?I am quite sure by the time I have seated the patched ball, it is very well settled.
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