Powder Flask

[English Phil]

Hi,
Being a novice to BP shooting I was going to invest in a powder flask to aid re-filling my .44 Pietta NMA. I have been informed that a full powder flask is like handling a hand grenade and that they are dangerous. I was advised to fill several .303 cartridges, store in a foam filled case and use these to fill my cylinder up at the range.
Advice please.

 

[Voodoochile]

A good powder flask is a safe container to hold your Black Powder "or substitut" & along with a powder measure to measure the ammount of powder that you plan to use is a very safe practice.

Now if you plan to use just the powder flask to throw the charge of powder into the muzzle of your firearm "rifle, shotgun, pistol" then that could pose as a possible problem if there is any smoldering embers remaining in the bore/chamber & could be what you describe as a handgrenade which it is best to charge your weapon from either premeasured loaders or a powder measure.

If you want your shooting time to be more on shooting & not of loading then the premeasured loads in either rifle/pistol cartridges or plastic/rubber containers or paper cartridges is the way to go but if you are working up to your optimum load for target or hunting then the flask & measure is the best way to tweak your loads at the range.

 

[Oldnamvet]

The danger is when people have the measuring spout on the flask and want to charge the gun directly from the flask. Oh-no. If you use the flask to fill a measure of some type with the charge you are using, put the closed flask aside and away from you, then pour the powder into the gun, you have avoided the hand grenade. A neat and tidy shooting bench will help you to keep safe and get the most out of your shooting time.

 

[mykeal]

Two things:

1. Oldnamvet and Voodoochile have accurately described the only problem with a full powder flask: charging a gun directly from a flask can be dangerous if the barrel/chamber has hot embers in it. Storage in a flask presents no danger.

2. Whoever or whatever the source for your information is unreliable and should not be trusted in the future.

 

[Im283]

If a flask is a genade I have two of them sitting near my RSC at home.

I dunno about how dangerous it is to load direclty from the flask. i have never witnessed burning embers in my discharged revolvers. If Mykeal says it is so I take his word for it though.

I use Lee dippers to measure powder. Scoop them from a small tupperware bowl. I reseal the bowl as soon as I powder up the cylinders I plan on shooting.

I dunno that pre-measuring loads speeds things up really. Scooping loads goes pretty darn fast. Not sure how much time I would be saving at the loading table.

Being organized is the key to it all.

 

[Steve499]

Being organized is the key to it all

Dang! Something's always disqualifying me.

 

[mykeal]

In 35 years of shooting bp I've seen one instance of a powder flask going off as a result of loading directly from the flask into the barrel. I wasn't watching when he upended the flask but I heard the bang and saw the flask rocketing into the air. It got to maybe 50 feet and exploded. Luckily it just ripped open the seam on the flask, so there was no shrapnel. Just a real big laundry bill amongst all the onlookers and participants.

This is essentially a long gun problem, although there is no real reason it couldn't happen with a revolver also. Long guns tend to have more likelihood of retaining a burning ember, however.

Many people believe that it helps to blow into the barrel, thinking this will put out any embers. Maybe, but I was taught never to put a gun barrel in my mouth...at any time, for any reason.

It seems to me that swabbing with a solvent or spit soaked patch is more effective and one heckuva lot safer. Besides, it cleans the crud from the barrel so each shot tends to be just like the first one.

 

[Oldnamvet]

Blowing down the barrel

I have always thought that just like blowing on a campfire, embers that were almost out can be brought back to life. A quick wipe with the wiping stick ios a better idea.

 

[Pancho]

Mykeal, I think the difference between long guns and revolvers would be time between loading. If that is the case single shot pistols should probably be included in the long gun class. It would seem that after one empties a revolver then clears the cap crap and readies for the next load, probabilities of a burning ember left in a chamber would be near nil. With a single shot, loaded quickly, the chance of hot embers should be much greater. I've seen a lot of quick second shots loaded with speed loaders during deer season and have never seen or heard of an accidental charge ignition. All that being said, I still subscribe to Mykeal's caution. 4 or 5 hundred grains of powder going off in a sealed container, in my hand is something I don't want to experience

 

[.38 Special]

I gather that the "exploding flask" deal is pretty rare. I also gather that the relatively crummy Italian import flasks that most of use can be blamed for the few explosions that have happened. Original English flasks -- and quality copies thereof -- are supposedly proof against unwanted loud noises. FWIW.

 

[Cosmoline]

Spit. Lots of spit patches. I keep them in my mouth while I'm shooting and use them between volleys. Takes only a second and helps keep the bores clean and lubed.

 

[oneshooter]

Most traditional style powder flasks are made in two pieces. The solder seam o\is a weak point in the construction. The saems generally let go and the powder flashes, not being contained the pressure does not build enough for a true explosion. However this flash will throw out a LOT of burning grains of powder!!
Here are some pictures of a flask I filled with 3fg and lit off with a fuse. It travelled 20-30ft and let off a LARGE cloud of smoke. As you can see the seam failed and released the pressure BEFORE a true explosion.

Just my $.02 worth of info.

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

 

[Cosmoline]

Interesting. I suspect that's one reason flasks are made of copper or other soft metal. That and sparks.

 

[.38 Special]

Here are some pictures of a flask I filled with 3fg and lit off with a fuse.

You must be a hit with your neighbors!

 

[Calibre44]

There a number of shooting clubs over here that bans the filling of BP guns directly from a flask. (grrr I hate the word ‘ban’ – it’s used too often in the UK!!!) Fortunately though, my club doesn’t.

IMO all types of shooting has potential dangers attached to it and the best you can do is minimise the dangers through good tuition, reliable information, adherence to range rules and the four rules of guns safety and of course, good old common sense.

The best advice I can offer, if you are worried about anything left burning in a revolver's cylinder, is to be careful when using wads since it is possible that remnants of fibrous material could possible be left burning. Mykeal's advice about swabbing is good though and should eliminate anything:

But IMO, the best thing to do if shooting BP revolvers is to buy two!!

Load and shoot the first one and when finished, load and shoot the other one. I would have thought that the time it takes to load, cap and shoot the second gun will give anything left burning in the first gun time to go out anyway.

Two guns = twice the fun

 

[DuncanSA]

The only times I have seen smouldering residue in the chambers of a BP revolver cylinder was when I was experimenting with combustible paper cartridges. I imagine some troopers in a hurry lost fingers this way in the Misunderstanding of 1861! Be very careful if you go this route.

I use a bench loader with the cylinder out of the gun, normally with pre-measured charges, but sometimes from the flask after checking that the chamber is clear and the nipple hole open. Of course in theory, even if you use an over-powder wad or a lube pill, there should be no residue. Anyway, before anyone asks, I am a firm believer in wearing both a belt and braces at the same time!

 

[sundance44s]

The power flask does have it`s use even not useing it to load direct from ( which I wouldn`t do ) enough said on that subject ..ever try loading from a can of Goex ?? Jug of Pyrodex ? Not me powder cost to much to pour on the ground ! Keep your powder dry in a nice flask or horn ..and pour into your measure from it .

 

[scrat]

I saw a guy a few months ago try to load a stainless ROA straight from the GOEX can. amazing. I even told the guy he could borrow my powder measure. Said nope and insisted on filling from the can.