FIRE IN THE HOLE!

[SURVEYOR]

With the events of several Branded Muzzleloaders blowing barrels of late it is time to start thinking about SAFTY!

Not saying the condition of short starting a bullet in the above mentioned Branded rifles caused the barrels to blow. But the condition of a short started bullet, being one that is not seated on top of the powder charge leaving a gap between the top of the powder and the base of the bullet, could and will respond in higher than normal pressures. After looking at the pictures of several blown barrels we know what higher than normal pressure can do.

With the events of the latest blown barrels we have a few jockeying for position to reap the rewards of the fallen. They're in business to make money off of we shooters. But what can we as shooters do as a group to insure our safety. For one we can be sure our bullet is not short started. The only way I know to be sure my bullet is not short started is to mark the ram rod and look at the mark each and every time making sure the bullet is seated.

How do you mark your ram rod?
Do you look at the mark on each and every loading?

Jules J.

[sabotloader]

I am not convinced that these incidents are all results of a "short start," and I recognize that is not what you said.  Short Starting can certainly cause major problems.

I have in my mind that some of these blown barrels are being caused by the projectile - projectile sabot combination and of course the powder charge.

We all know that the energy necessary to start an object at rest is greater than the energy needed to start a moving object, additionally the heavier the projectile the more energy needed.  The smaller the barrel the quicker the build up of energy because of the smaller chamber.  YET, I do see people standing on, hammering, and generally struggling to get their projectile down the barrel.  Something, pressure, has to start that projectile going the other way and again the size of the chamber has a huge effect on the build up of pressure.  Keep in mind the quicker the projectile moves up the barrel the larger the comustion chamber becomes and the quicker the pressure is reduced. (hence the difference
in maximum loads for a a 50 vs. a 54)

I THINK, it is important that you choose a projectile sytem that goes down the barrel with a moderate amount of pressure the first time the 5th and/or the 10th time.  I choose to load bullet/sabot combination that i can push down the barrel to the muzzle with my thumb (don't have any guns with QLA's) - I do not use a short starter at all.  This is my standard for all of my proven rounds.  If I use a new new projectile - projectile sabot combination I reduce the charge until I know the pressure the bullet combination requires to go down the barrel.

Some will say that I am loosing pressure because of the loose projectile.   (now mind you it is not loose it will not come off the powder, but I didn't pound it down the barrel)  I have found when shooting this system over a chrono I get very consistent velocities and in the range you would expect with 100 grains of t7 - 2f or 3f.

If you look at the Savage that Toby Bridges blew up, I can't imagine that he short started a bullet.

As they say this is just my 2 cents worth....

[Redhawk1]

SURVEYOR, I use white out. If I change bullet or charge, I just scrape it off with my finger nail and make a new mark. I check my mark every time I load. I am anal when it comes to my safety.