Muzzleloader madness!

[deadcoyote]

Don't know how "far north CA" you are, buat the Siskiyou Mountain Men shoot every 4th Sunday aat 10 AM at Dodge Range near Yreka. Someone there is always willing to help a "pilgrim" with BP shooting.

I am in Eureka. Just so you know, I've been actively pressing our board of supervisors and local media re: your folks' fine resolution for State of Jefferson to become a reality. Even with actually knowing people in local government they look at me like I'm a wierdo.

[Rebel]

After you pour the powder, settle it with a smack on the side of the rifle or tamp the butt on the ground. This is a practice you should follow anyway, but it will prime the pan in a drilled flinter.

A certain military did this to increase rate of fire. I don't remember which one, but could find out easily enough if you're curious.

The thing about this practice is that you must make sure there is nobody standing next to you! You'll shoot a long jet of gas out that vent hole. As well, don't do it if you're a lefty shooting a righty gun. In fact, forget I said anything...

So is this where the practice of smacking the side of the gun/tamping th ebutt on the ground after loading? I only shoot percussion BP and I cringe every time I see someone do that with a percussion gun. A few times I've seen a cartridge go off after the butt was smacked on the ground.

I dunno, I actively tell people not to do it. But again, I've only ever done percussion BP, not flint.

[Tom-ADC]

This is good for C&B revolvers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgNVPC2wmWI&list=UUOrzQir9WP9UpH8qtWx_ppw&index=16&feature=plcp

[Whiterabbit]

I'd never do half the things mentioned here. The OP will find his own way, with or without help from peers. I suggest going to a meet or the black powder clinic.

I'd never open up my flash hole and bang the stock to prime the pan. 4F works just fine, and 1 lb goes a LONG way when used a few grains per shot.

[Josh Smith]

Hi guys,

I'm not recommending it. Far from it. I don't own a flinter and if I did, I'd prime it in the usual manner.

I'm just talking about what some folks do, or historically, what some folks did once-upon-a-time.

Tamping the butt on the ground or smacking it, though, is good practice. Just do it before you put that primer on the nipple!

Rebel, when in the loading process did you see this cause the powder to ignite? It should be done after pouring powder but before seating the projectile or placing the cap on the nipple.

Regards,

Josh

[Whiterabbit]

Tamping the butt on the ground or smacking it, though, is good practice.

No, thank you.

[Whiterabbit]

and for the record, doing some things you suggest not to do (but don't change safety or damage equipment) and not doing the things I personally believe DO affect safety or can damage my equipment, I shoot just fine.



That's before sighting in, not 3 misses. .575" round balls, 50 yards. Definitely rested, I'm not that great of a shot.

[Rebel]

Rebel, when in the loading process did you see this cause the powder to ignite? It should be done after pouring powder but before seating the projectile or placing the cap on the nipple.

Thinking about it, in all cases I know the rifles were primed, but I don't know if the cause was a weak main spring or an ember down the barrel.

I can say I have seen people reload quickly after firing, only to have the powder ignite while it was pouring down the barrel. Burns on and black specs in their hands.

[Josh Smith]

Hi Rebel,

OK, yeah, that's because it cooks off. Blowing down the barrel and the spit patch take care of that. You can omit the blowing down the barrel.

I spent a lot of time over at The Traditional Muzzleloading Forum (http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/fusionbb.php) when I first started muzzleloading.

Smacking the side of the stock or tamping the butt on the ground is standard practice among these guys, as is spit patching. Blowing down the barrel is more controversial for obvious reasons.

You might take a look at that forum, though, and see under what advice I learned.

Regards,

Josh