Oldfalguy - the term 'chain fire' simply describes an event where one or more out of battery chambers discharges immediately following the in battery chamber. it does not discriminate as to the source of the ignition of the out of battery chambers.
There is much speculation, the vast majority of it without data, regarding the cause of a chain fire. Regardless of one's personal opinion or experience, it is reasonable to say that the best insurance against a chain fire is both properly fitting and installed projectiles (ie, the 'shave a ring of lead' statement) and properly fitting and installed percussion caps. Chain fires happen when hot gas (not sparks) from the fired chamber make their way to the powder in an out of battery chamber; the gas must be of sufficient temperature to ignite the powder. If one leaves a path due to a loose or out of shape ball or cap, the gas can make the journey, and if it's still hot enough, well, then, bang.
By the way, grease and/or wonder wads are good backup insurance against the odd leaky path from the front, but a proper fitting ball is the best prevention in that case.
The gas can get there; you need to see that it doesn't.
There is much speculation, the vast majority of it without data, regarding the cause of a chain fire. Regardless of one's personal opinion or experience, it is reasonable to say that the best insurance against a chain fire is both properly fitting and installed projectiles (ie, the 'shave a ring of lead' statement) and properly fitting and installed percussion caps. Chain fires happen when hot gas (not sparks) from the fired chamber make their way to the powder in an out of battery chamber; the gas must be of sufficient temperature to ignite the powder. If one leaves a path due to a loose or out of shape ball or cap, the gas can make the journey, and if it's still hot enough, well, then, bang.
By the way, grease and/or wonder wads are good backup insurance against the odd leaky path from the front, but a proper fitting ball is the best prevention in that case.
The gas can get there; you need to see that it doesn't.