Flashing the Pan before Loading?

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Loyalist Dave

Loyalist Dave

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So today I read some loading procedure rules for muzzle loaders from one of the local ranges in Maryland. One of the rules is this:

Prior to loading, shooters using muzzle loading rifles or pistols shall fire caps on all nipples of percussion firearms, or a pan full of powder in a flintlock, while pointing the firearm downrange. [my emphasis]

Now I have seen, and done, the firing of a cap on a nipple of a caplock, rifle, shotgun, or revolver, to ensure the flash-channel isn't blocked. But I've never heard of flashing the pan to do the same thing on a flintlock. Does anybody flash the pan on an empty chamber as part of the loading of a first shot?

I think this would actually detract from safety and promote an ignition problem. I was taught that with a flintlock, the flash of the pan sends fire through the touch hole, and THEN when the main charge ignites, some of the fire and hot gases come back through the touch hole to the pan, which helps to keep the touch hole open..., and that flashing a pan on an empty barrel simply cruds-up the touch hole for no benefit. With a cap, you can hear that the flash channel for the nipple is open when you pop the cap on a nipple that is over an empty chamber, but you don't get that when you flash the pan on a flinter.

Any other ideas?

LD
 
I will put a small charge down the barrel, then prime the pan with the same powder as the main charge. I do this to clear any oil from the breech. I don't usually shoot at a formal range so don't know how it would go over. This seems to prevent hang fires for the first few shots.
 
I would guess that the range doesn’t care about crud in your touch hole, they just want to make sure that no gun explodes due to a double load.
 
Safety measure against double charge.
I do it as a matter of course simply to dirty-up the pan to start.
Never any effect on vent clearance (which I routinely pick/run through w/ a bird feather quill anyway)
 
I don't do it, as I want that first shot effortless for the rifle, but do concede that it would negate a double load problem.
 
Rudolph31 said:
I would guess that the range doesn’t care about crud in your touch hole, they just want to make sure that no gun explodes due to a double load.
Click to expand...

So this is the procedure before you load...., and you're supposed to check the barrel with the ramrod before you load, AND your ramrod should be marked to ensure that your load is seated, and would thus indicate if you somehow did load a double charge, thus allowing you to have it removed in a safer manner than firing it..., for it in no way ensures that you haven't screwed up and arrived at the range with it already loaded with an overload of some sort....,

So it's not to ensure that you don't shoot a double load...,

I'd say somebody wrote it who doesn't know flintlocks, and assumed it would have the same effect as busting a cap on a nipple, but it doesn't....

LD
 
So it's not to ensure that you don't shoot a double load...,
I'd say somebody wrote it who doesn't know flintlocks...
Click to expand...
Wrong.
It's that last check for a range officer.

Same reason I've run a ramrod....
AND flashed the pan (AND) snapped caps w/ rifle pointed downrange for (let's see...) ...41 years

It just takes once.
 
The reasons for snapping caps before you load the first shot is to burn any oil out of it and to see if the flash channel is clear and it's normally done with the muzzle down range and pointed at the ground. The cap going off will move the dirt. There is no good reason to flash the pan. I shot on the national range for over 10 years and it was not required to flash a pan or snap a cap. You only snapped a cap if you wanted to and to check to see if the flash channel was clear. I'm with Dave on this - it don't make sense. A ramrod is the check for a load in the barrel. Someone didn't know what he was talking about.
 
paul harm said:
The reasons for snapping caps before you load the first shot is to burn any oil out of it and to see if the flash channel is clear and it's normally done with the muzzle down range and pointed at the ground. The cap going off will move the dirt. There is no good reason to flash the pan. I shot on the national range for over 10 years and it was not required to flash a pan or snap a cap. You only snapped a cap if you wanted to and to check to see if the flash channel was clear. I'm with Dave on this - it don't make sense. A ramrod is the check for a load in the barrel. Someone didn't know what he was talking about.
Click to expand...

X2

IronHand
 
Yippee! Someone else who thinks the way I do!! I do flash it with a small powder charge for that exact reason. I don't get out much with my rocklocks these days, so they may have a nice little puddle of oil in the breech area and this just helps clear it out. Thanks Mike OTDP.
 
I suppose you could flash if it made you feel better. I'd rather run a dry patch down the barrel and check it for any oil. I store my guns muzzle down, so I wouldn't have a puddle of oil in the breech area to start with. I do the same as Jeff and the Farmer.
 
I always start with a poop load - a bit of powder and a couple of patches tamped down, just to make sure that everything is clear. Just on the flinter, on the percussion rifle popping the caps will do the job just fine. But have never been required to do it.
 
In this thread I learn about flashing the pan before loading. Never did it and probably wont unless told to do so. BTW, I generally walk around with the longrifle muzzle up and a brass range rod poking out of the barrel. Got stopped by a range master who ordrered, "Show me it's safe." Clang! "Thank you."
 
The ranges I go to if the muzzle was up and a ramrod in it, it would be considered safe. That guy was going the extra mile. But, you don't argue with the range officer.
 
The double load idea doesn't make sense to me. What's the reasoning. A double loaded may have been brought from home, but those being loaded and fired on the range aren't? Does the rule require the dry cap firing before all shots. At prices approaching 10 bucks a hundred for some caps popping off six to do something that ordinary cleaning procedures address doesn't appeal to me.
 
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