Loading a muzzle loading rifle

[Jim K]

I encountered, in a doctor's office, a copy of a magazine put out by a hunting club, which had an article on hunting with a muzzle loader. Now let me say that I have had little experience with modern muzzle loaders, such as in-line models, and have never hunted with one, which is why I am posting here with my question/concern.

In that article, there is a picture of a hunter loading what appears to be an in-line muzzle loading rifle. He is ramming the charge with a rod that appears to have some kind of palm handle and is leaning over the muzzle while doing so.

As I say, my knowledge of modern muzzle loaders is slim to none. But I have stuffed a whole lot of bullets into rifle-muskets and was always told that there was a possibility (remote though it might be) that the charge could go off while loading. Because of that, I have always 1) used the minimum number of fingers to hold the ramrod and never used the palm and 2) never put my head over the muzzle. If the charge did go off, I didn't want to lose a hand (fingers are bad enough), and I surely didn't like the idea of having a ramrod sticking out of my head. (Gets in the way of my hat, y'know.)

So what say the folks here? Am I an old guy who doesn't know that such a thing could never happen with powder pellets and sabots and all the other gadgets of modern muzzle loading? Or is the hunting club magazine showing an unsafe practice?

Jim

 

[Sam1911]

No way I'd do it like that. I really don't care if anyone says it's safe... [strike] old [/strike] GOOD habits die hard!

 

[Doak]

I keep a piece of terrycloth towel in my shootin' bag. When it comes time to seat the ball over the powder, I fold the cloth so it's about 4 layers thick & 4'' square. I put the folded cloth over the end of the ramrod & wrap my hand around the outside of the cloth pulled down around the rod. That way, if it goes off, the rod & cloth go thru the hole made by my thumb & fingers. Might get a bad burn, & keep my hand.

Kindest Regards,
Doak

 

[JohnD13]

Leaning over the muzzle of any firearm, muzzle loader or anything else, is a real bad idea.

 

[PapaG]

We used to get those brass balls from horse harnesses, mount them on the end of the loading rod (not the ramrod on the gun, the rod we used at the range) and would kind of form a ring around them with the hand to ram the ball down. If something went off, the big round knob would slip through your fingers without much damage..luckily no one ever had the unfortunate opportunity to try it.
BTW, at Friendship, on the shotgun range, there is a hole in the corrugated roof where someone's ramrod was "shot" through it while loading.
Nice reason for a wet and dry patch between shots to make sure all sparks are out.

 

[frontiergander]

Short starter i made with removable handle that then slips over the end of my ramrod to use as a handle.

 

[Jim K]

If there should be a discharge while loading, that should do a good job of removing most of the hand. I got an e-mail saying that a palm piece on the end of the ramrod would just "push the hand out of the way" if the charge went off and not hurt anyone. I think some folks do not quite understand how fast things happen when powder ignites in a gun barrel.

Jim

 

[243winxb]

an unsafe practice?

yes, very.

 

[CraigC]

Using relatively tight patched round balls and virtually any short starter will require the use of your palm. Sorry but this is not a big deal. If the powder is going to go off, it will be when you pour the powder in, not when you're seating the ball. If anyone has any actual evidence to substantiate this fear, I'd love to hear it. If you have that much of an aversion to the muzzle, shoot a cartridge gun.

Leaning over the muzzle of any firearm, muzzle loader or anything else, is a real bad idea.

I guess some folks make it through life without ever looking down a bore???

 

[Mike OTDP]

You're not an old guy, you're a Skirmisher. It is a bad idea. Sometimes you wind up putting your hand over a muzzle to drive a short starter, but it's momentary. You never should lean over the gun unless and until you are cleaning it...and avoid it then.

 

[243winxb]

The black powder substitutes need compression to build pressure from what i have seen. Real black powder burns at the same rate out in the open or confined in a barrel. With substitutes, velocity may not be as high with just the ram rod down the tube. But if seating a bullet, you will get the full velocity. Some of the pellets have a black side that needs to be seated towards the primer for proper ignition. Seen one inline being shot with the wrong bullet & 100 gr, 2 pellets. The bullet went about 10 feet from the muzzle. I still dont want my hand or face near an accidental discharge.

 

[Jim K]

Yep, there are even stories about folks who looked down the barrel to see if they could see the bullet coming out. Of course, the stories are told by witnesses, not the direct participant in the test.

"If the powder is going to go off, it will be when you pour the powder in, not when you're seating the ball." Not necessarily true. If there is any burning ember left in the barrel, it can be fanned into flame as the ball is rammed down for the next shot. That is why caplock rifles should be loaded with the hammer down. But a flintlock always has the touchhole open, so those are more prone to having ramming "fan the flame."

I am not sure why unsafe muzzle loading practices should be justified by saying that "If you have that much of an aversion to the muzzle, shoot a cartridge gun."

Jim

 

[CraigC]

If there is any burning ember left in the barrel, it can be fanned into flame as the ball is rammed down for the next shot.

If you have already poured 100gr of powder down the bore, how is seating the ball going to "fan the flame".

I am not sure why unsafe muzzle loading practices should be justified by saying that "If you have that much of an aversion to the muzzle, shoot a cartridge gun."

This should be rather obvious. They load from the muzzle. If you're that scared of the muzzle, maybe you should stick to breechloaders.


Funny how it usually takes a shower of sparks directed through a narrow hole for a flintlock or a blast from a percussion cap to ignite blackpowder but folks are worried about that dreaded single ember??? Sorry but this is all just unsubstantiated and irrational fear. Usually described as a "phobia". This has come up numerous times on the traditional muzzleloading forum and there has never been any evidence to support it but apparently, stories, folklore and fear is enough for some.

 

[[email protected]]

I personally seen it happen! It can get you killed. At our range a friend of mine
Was loading his Flintlock rifle. Hammer was down. He poured in his 70 gr of
Powder, then started the ball and gave it a strong push down the barrel. That's
When all hell broke loose. It fired sending the ramrod thru his hand and the
Ball took off his thumb and went on up through the roof. We circled the hole
And named it "Charlie's Hole". I was right beside him when this happened
About 15 yrs ago. Charlie still shoots, but is more careful now. The only thing
Anybody could figger was the pushing of the ball down on the powder fast
Fanned a spark and off she went. People who say things like this can't happen if Charlie had
Been standing right over the muzzle, he would had been killed. They ought to have the job of
Telling his widow that!!

 

[Pete D.]

Swab

That is one reason why I swab the bore between shots. Every time, no exceptions.
Pete

 

[[email protected]]

Right. That is the correct way. Don't get in a hurry.

 

[mykeal]

If you have already poured 100gr of powder down the bore, how is seating the ball going to "fan the flame".

Think about it. Very carefully. I'm sure you'll figure it out. You can do it.

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

I really don't want to get involved in this pissing match because I also swab between shots, but do any of you drop the ram rod onto the powder charge to compact it before pushing the patch and ball down the barrel? I read a lot of "what if" in this discussion along with a lot of ego defense. Not really a good path to follow..... but, carry on!

 

[Jim K]

No, I had not considered that the pictured hunter might have swabbed the barrel, something more common on the range than in the hunting field. I have sent an e-mail to the magazine, and will report what they say.

My concern is solely for safety, not an ego trip, and I started this thread because my hunting experience with muzzle loaders is non-existent and thought others might have more knowledge of that aspect of muzzle loading.

I guess that an accident such as I had in mind must be quite rare if CraigC can be certain that it can never happen. But then, there is Charlie.

Jim

 

[CraigC]

There is always a Charlie.

Think about it. Very carefully. I'm sure you'll figure it out. You can do it.

It would be okay with me if you placed my username on your ignore list. I've had quite enough of your condescension for one lifetime.

 

[Jim K]

Hmmm.

Jim

 

[Sam1911]

Oh good grief.