Using Powder Flask?

[Zonie]

If people want to read about the blowing subject, follow this link.
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/211292/

We really don't want to turn this topic into another 'discussion' about that subject so, let's keep it on loading a muzzleloader directly or indirectly from a powder flask.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Rule #1 - treat every gun as a loaded gun.

Would you put a loaded gun up to your mouth? And if you treat every gun like a loaded gun . . .

Rule #2 - never point a gun at anything you don't intend to kill.

That includes your head.

 

[Claude Mathis]

What's the problem with blowing down the barrel after you have fired? All the BP guys I shoot with do it.

This opens the old, "You never point a gun at anything you don't plan to shoot" versus "sticking a gun barrel in your mouth" discussion.

Hence the heated debates.

 

[1860 Army]

Since I don't like the taste of a dirty barrel, I blow through my fist.

 

[Stumpkiller]

No problem . . . so long as your fist isn't over the muzzle of a gun. ;-)

 

[1860 Army]

No. Just wrapped around the barrel.

 

[smoothshooter]

I suspect a powder charge only will kill you if it fired into your mouth.
This is most likely to happen if you are distracted during the loading process.
You fire, start to blow, bystander asks question, you forget to blow, load powder charge, bystander makes interesting comment prompting another response from you, you remember you forgot to blow down barrel but forgot you loaded powder.

GAME OVER.

 

[1860 Army]

Highly unlikely but anything is possible.

 

[tenngun]

I was told that once you blew all the smoke out, it was safe to use a flask. Apparently this was bad advice.

Why do guys want to go through the trouble of putting a dirty muzzle covered in soot and patch lube shpooz into their mouths to try to extinguish any burning embers when a swipe with a dry patch will do the very same thing? A quick patch swipe before loading each shot is not a bad habit to develop, tastes better, and doesn't look like you've had it with your career.

I found that in general the whole shooting, then later cleaning is easier when you swab between shots. Like three holes in a pie crust( one to let out the steam and two more cause mama did it that way) I do it as part of my shooting ritual.
A patch will do the same thing. For me it clears the vent, but the whoosh when a patch goes down does the same thing. So it is redundant.
I always use a measure, and keep my body clear when running home a ball. You never know where an ember could be hiding, with or with out an air whoosh.
It's a silly thing to think but the old timers did it so I do too. ( the old timers also died of tb,starvation,cholera,ect ect and I don't do that :grin: ).
And it taste like muzzle loading, it goes well with wet wool and smoky canvas.

 

[George]

And it taste like muzzle loading, it goes well with wet wool and smoky canvas.

My lube is lard and beeswax, so I look forward to tasting it. :haha:

Spence

 

[jon math]

Having been in the emergency medicine/health and safety business all my life I can tell you that it’s those "highly unlikely" things that get me most of my customers.

 

[Kansas Jake]

:thumbsup:

 

[omarick1948]

There is a thread about a thousand post long on that. It is safe and can not cause a problem, but... It looks bad and scares the crap out of people to see. So... It's out lawed at a lot of events and ranges. When your on someone else's field you got to play by their rules.
You can always run a patch down and blow smoke out.
Still use a measure when ever, it's just good habit. I blow down the barrel except when scared people are around. Don't do it when it's not welcomed.

I know that not blowing down the barrel after shoot a round is not PC...Politically Correct in this subject, but in 40 plus years of doing it and being around hundreds if not thousands of shooters doing it over the years. I have never seen or had a bad experience. I know, that there's always the first time, but there's also a chance that a jet plane will drop on me also.

Slow down and common scents is the main rule when using black powder! When in Rome, I abide by the rules of the club or range, but it is out of respect and not being scared.

Rick

 

[Rifleman1776]

What you say is true. But, remember, we are talking about guns here. They go bang and can kill. My experience is not too different than yours in that regard.
I used to blow down the barrel but have stopped. We have to keep in mind the only real 'safety' mechanism for a gun is what is inside our skulls. Ignore that and bad things can happen. When I am loading I have routine that has been repeated countless times over the past nearly 50 years. But, occasionally, I get interruped and mess up that routine. I can forget if I loaded powder/ball/whatever. If I think I haven't loaded and blow down the barrel it is possible I put a charge and/or ball down there and a hot ember could set it off into my head. Maybe a one in ten million chance but it is a chance I have decided to not take anymore. No more blowing down the barrel for me.

 

[1860 Army]

Sorry all. I didn't mean to start such a heated discussion.
Jim

 

[Cowboy]

No need to be sorry about anything! You haven't done anything wrong. You were only seeking advice my friend.

Respectfully, Cowboy :thumbsup:

 

[Artificer]

Having been in the emergency medicine/health and safety business all my life I can tell you that it’s those "highly unlikely" things that get me most of my customers.

I imagine usually preceded by the words something like, "Hey, did you ever see someone do this?" :rotf:

Gus

 

[jon math]

I’ve had people work for me that if I gave them two ball bearings, one for each hand, and left them alone for 20 minutes; I’d come back to find that they have lost one and broken the other. So yes I imagine a lot of bone headed stunts started with; “ hold my beer while I”¦,” or “hey Sarg. watch this” :grin:

 

[tenngun]

Sorry all. I didn't mean to start such a heated discussion.
Jim

I don't know how long you have done this, but it first was know to stir up debate in letters between Roger Bacon and Bethhold Swartz. We have hope that it will be settled in the next 700 years.

 

[MountainRanger]

In 1976 when I started with this sport, blowing down the barrel was pretty standard. That's the way I was taught (by example) then. Somewhere in the 80s or 90s, the NMLRA in its infinite wisdom, deemed it verboten. I sure agree with Hanshi that since we shoot single shot weapons and we sure know when it's been shot, blowing down the barrel shouldn't be that big a deal, but Remember this, if you shoot at Friendship or with a NMLRA Charter club, you can be disqualified in the worst case, or put on the spot by a range officer if you do that on their range.

Be wise, be safe, follow the rules where there are rules, but be wise, be safe.
MR