Gloves?!?!

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AbitNutz

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So the chain fire thread has me a bit concerned. I never considered chain fire a real possibility with my ROA. I'm not sure I do now but the semi-toasted hand pictures definitely have my attention.

Anyone wear gloves?

Ok...so goves are different than gloves...typos, I just hate typos.
 
In nearly 50 years of shooting C&B and other BP stuff, I've never had, seen or heard from a reliable source of a multiple ignition. Can it happen sure. The thing we will probably never know the truth of is what stupidity, or other circumstance led up to the event. I constantly have to remind myself, if it's on the internet it must be true.

As for me, I'll properly maintain my weapons, load them with care, & pass on the gloves, er I mean goves, unless it's really cold. Now let's get off the 'puter and go make smoke.:)
 
I had a chain fire with a old Italian 1858. I was trying to make some rat shot loads and #7 was the smallest shot I had. Loaded it up, patched it, then crisco over all that. Actually shot the first 2 shots pretty good. But it backed the other loads out. On the third shot the rest of the holes all fired. I held the gun but I really wanted to throw it. I was afraid it would shoot towards me. Didnt hurt anything except my pride, and I gave up on the ratshot loads.
 
I have a tendency to wear "cut-off" motorcycle gloves when I shoot my Dragoon if I remember to bring them. It isn't for chain-fire protection, although it would have saved me from digging burnt cornmeal out of my index finger knuckle on my off hand a year ago when I had my hand in the WRONG place shooting a Walker!! Won't EVER make that mistake again!!

The reason I like a cut-off glove on my shooting hand with the Dragoon is, she'll spit a hot cap between the pad of my thumb and the grip once in a while when I cock it. The caps are doing what they're supposed to, falling right out of the cutaway in the recoil shield, unfortunately I catch one from time to time and wind up with a little burnt spot on the inside of my hand.
 
you shoot enough rounds, eventually you get careless, or decide lube isn't nessesary, or forget the right size caps, and decide to shoot anyway, with some other caps randomly left in your shooting box, or you shoot your buddy's revolver with out checking the loads yourself...you'll find it probably is due to stupidity, but it sure isn't an internet myth.
 
I have been shooting BP revolvers for about 10 yrs, and have never experienced a chain fire. I once had a couple pinched #11 caps fall off the nipples during recoil, and still no problem. I guess I was just lucky that day, I use only #10's now so that I don't push my luck :)
 
Really chain fires don't seem to me to be that big a deal. I guess if you had someone standing off to the side and in front of your pistol it might be dangerous.
 
Oh my! I'd better get out the Kevlar!

Ya'll go me so scared now that I'm breaking out my old body armour from my policing days! Gonna get me a helmet, wear a cup, three pair of protective eyewear, and shoot with a remote device while I hide behind a lexan screen 50 feet away!!:neener::D:D
 
I have an Italian made 1851 Navy that I bought in '71. Chain fires were not uncommon with that thing. I never felt there was ever a safety issue for the shooter. There might be one for someone standing to the side and a little downrange of me though. I even had the cylinder at 6 o'clock go off a time or two. The ball just embedded itself in the base of the rammer. About the only difference I'd notice was the loudness. I don't remember ever feeling any additional recoil.

I've still got that old '51 handing in a shadow box on the wall. I've been shooting a ROA since the early 80's and never had a chain-fire and never had the desire to cap that '51 again either.

George
 
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