Accidental discharge from muzzle loaders while reloading?

[His lordship.]

I have been shooting muzzle loaders on and off for decades and have wondered what the odds are of having an accidental discharge when loading a new shot after firing.  I heard of a competitive shooter who lost part of her hand when she loaded the gun too fast, not allowing a few seconds or so to help any glowing ember that was in the barrel to burn out.

After shooting a shot we all put our ram rod down on a new ball with powder poured into the barrel, and have our hand holding the rod while pushing down.  If the gun was to fire from anything still hot inside, a person could loose their hand.  I have not heard of anyone in the Civil War, etc. having a problem with this, and those soldiers had to load and fire as fast as they could, often with a fouled and hot gun.

Should I wait a certain period of time before loading, blow down the barrel to help any embers burn out, or not worry about it?

Thanks.

[flintlock]

Actually there are several period accounts of shooters being burned by powder...Now, as to the facts, who knows...I've been shooting since the mid 70s and have not seen someone that had and accident while reloading...

But, for safety here is what I do...Basically, I don't rush the second shot, as long as nobody is shooting back there is no need to...My best groups come from a clean barrel so I usually take the time to run a damp patch down the barrel before reloading...If I reload a second shot then the second patch is a bit thinner than the first, this keeps from  getting the ball half way down the barrel and getting stuck...

[simonkenton]

Hard to see how the ramrod could get blown through your hand from a hot ember.
If the rifle were going to blow, it would blow the instant the powder were poured in, before you got the chance to use the ramrod.

Now, I did see a case where an unfortunate lad had loaded the primer into his inline.
While he was ramming the bullet home, the gun discharged. Not pretty.
I bet he modified his loading sequence after that.

[coyotejoe]

W.W.Greener in his book "The Gun and it's Development" relates that it was not an uncommon accident with muzzleloading shotguns. He sites that as one of the great advantages of breechloading guns.

[Davemuzz]

FWIW,

I run an alcohol patch (the kind that you can buy in a drug store. The one's that are indivdually packaged for those folks who need 'em for giving themselves an injection.) down the barrel. Alcohol cleans out the heavy fouling and dries very quickly.

Also....for you hunters out there, take a clean alcohol patch and clean off your frizzen, flint, and pan before you powder it up. There is nothing that will attract and hold moisture from the air like burned powder residue that "blankets" your flint and frizzen and pan. The alcohol will clean off the residue and.....no moisture will accumulate. Then your flinter will go "click....BANG" like it's suppose to!!

[Black Jaque Janaviac]

In all my years shooting muzzle loaders, and a number of those years competing, I never experienced, witnessed, nor even heard of such an accidental discharge EXCEPT for one that occurred before the ramrod was even out of the channel.

That was a third-hand tale of a person who poured powder straight from the horn down the bore.  Of course the flash travelled into the horn and exploded.  The person was treated for severe burns (black powder residue makes NASTY burns). 

This topic was often discussed after shoots and around campfires at rendezvous related to the practice of blowing down the bore.  Those advocating the practice of blowing down the bore would often cite the possibility of a cinder igniting the next charge.  Those opposed would point out the difference between burning your fingers and blowing your head off.  Provided you always charge with a measure the worst you'll get is burnt fingers, while if you get in the habit of putting your face in front of the muzzle the consequences of an accident occuring then would be worse.

I used to be in the camp that would blow down the tube.  Then I noticed how easily I could be distracted and lose my place in my load sequence. 

"Now let's see. . . Where was I?  Did I pour the powder down? Maybe not. . . Did I blow down the bore?  Wait, no . . ."

[Walks with Fire]

Another reason to swab after every shot; you would problem get better overall accuracy as well. I have always swabbed after every shot and the added safety is well worth the effort.

[Cowpox]

Through the centuries, it was not that uncommon for smoldering embers to ignite the new charge while ramming the bullet, especially when rapid reloads were required in battle.

Soldiers were trained to hold the ramrod between their thumb, index, and social fingers.  In case of discharge, this would allow the rod and bullet to pass between the fingers, with minimun loss of flesh and bone.  It is still a good idea to do it this way.

Also, NEVER charge directly from your horn or flask.  ALWAYS pour new charges into a measure, then from the measure into the bore.  WW II grenades were powered by 4 ounces of black powder.  I would not want my hand wrapped around a flask that exploded !

Chris D.  They only blow down barrels in the movies.  Please, Do not do this.  If there is a smoldering clump of oil fouled powder, the rush of air may well set it off, and there is NO WAY the human mouth can contain a large volume of expanding gasses.  A closed casket ceremony is guaranteed

[B2crawler]

For the life of me can't remember what TV show I was watching...probably the history channel.  Part of the show had a guy seeing how many rounds he could fire in a given time from a civil war gun.  I think he had about two shots fired when he had the powder ignite as he poured it in the gun.  He didn't seem to get injured too badly, but he was probably just lucky or good film editing.  He did get to start over and try for a second time.  Hows the saying go....burn me once shame on you...burn me twice shame on me.

[blackpowderbill]

always, when loading, have the barrel leaning away from your body. Never look down the barrel or have you head possitioned over the muzzle while loading.

[Davemuzz]

always, when loading, have the barrel leaning away from your body. Never look down the barrel or have you head possitioned over the muzzle while loading.

Yes! Excellent advice. Better to lose a finger than part of your brain! Of course, I've made that statement when my wife was around.....and her response was always "And when would that be a problem with you Dave?" 

Dave

[Winter Hawk]

Also, don't push down on the end of the ramrod with the palm of your hand.  If it breaks (and they do) the stub can impale you big time.  Hold the rod on the side....

-WH-