Check your barrels.

Will M · 15th October 2020, 02:24 AM

Hello David I'm sure that has happened since the invention of the Bic lighter.
When you want to make a spark using steel on steel it never happens

I know of someone who was burned by looking at a 76mm gun recoil system in a Cougar. He didn't wait for a flashlight and used a Bic lighter to see where the hydraulic leak/spray was coming from.
I believe anyone who's worked enough on firearms has had a mishap regardless of how safe.
If you're not 100% sure you can unload a firearm there is no shame in asking someone who can.
I almost became too impatient firing off a small cannon, the fuze burned but no bang. As I approached many seconds later the "bang" did happen. Luckily I was not behind it as it recoils a few feet and has good weight to it.

Mickey the Finn · 20th October 2020, 11:48 AM

What do you call that? A "hangfire"? My Dad taught me when I was kid, with his Brno KAR98K [is it still a KAR98K if it's Brno manufactured, with no Waffenamt markings?] and firing south-west European ball ammunition: "Jos se on suutari…(if it's a dud)…"...give it a good thirty seconds, and if nothing happens, eject it into your hand and, quick as lightning, "paiskaa se puskaan" (throw it into the bush).
Blackpowder might be a bit "touchier" than metallic cartridges.
My Dad and my younger brother's Godfather [like Grandpa, to me, in a way], sighting in rifles, only ever yelled at me once, as far as firearms were concerned. They were shooting, using the roof of Dad's car as a rest, and I deked around front to get around (between shots, running at a crouch, head down, of course; they do it in war movies all the time. I couldn't have been safer borne on the wings of angels). They served me notice that I was never to pull a stunt like that again. After that day, I took anything they said with respect to firearms as dogma to be obeyed without question.
Mein Dank an die Königlich Preußische Armee (indirekt).

rickystl · 21st October 2020, 05:40 PM

Hi David

So true. First thing I do when I get a muzzle loading gun is check and see if there is still a load in the barrel. Hard to believe that 150-200 year old powder, if kept dry, will still ignite.

In my case, I've only had one. An Albanian Tanchiks musket that was still loaded. Good thing someone didn't put priming powder in the pan to test the lock.

Rick

21st October 2020, 05:40 PM	#3
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,633	Hi David So true. First thing I do when I get a muzzle loading gun is check and see if there is still a load in the barrel. Hard to believe that 150-200 year old powder, if kept dry, will still ignite. In my case, I've only had one. An Albanian Tanchiks musket that was still loaded. Good thing someone didn't put priming powder in the pan to test the lock. Rick Attached Images

15th October 2020, 02:24 AM	#1
Will M Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: In the wee woods north of Napanee Ontario Posts: 395	Hello David I'm sure that has happened since the invention of the Bic lighter. When you want to make a spark using steel on steel it never happens I know of someone who was burned by looking at a 76mm gun recoil system in a Cougar. He didn't wait for a flashlight and used a Bic lighter to see where the hydraulic leak/spray was coming from. I believe anyone who's worked enough on firearms has had a mishap regardless of how safe. If you're not 100% sure you can unload a firearm there is no shame in asking someone who can. I almost became too impatient firing off a small cannon, the fuze burned but no bang. As I approached many seconds later the "bang" did happen. Luckily I was not behind it as it recoils a few feet and has good weight to it.

20th October 2020, 11:48 AM	#2
Mickey the Finn Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 90	What do you call that? A "hangfire"? My Dad taught me when I was kid, with his Brno KAR98K [is it still a KAR98K if it's Brno manufactured, with no Waffenamt markings?] and firing south-west European ball ammunition: "Jos se on suutari…(if it's a dud)…"...give it a good thirty seconds, and if nothing happens, eject it into your hand and, quick as lightning, "paiskaa se puskaan" (throw it into the bush). Blackpowder might be a bit "touchier" than metallic cartridges. My Dad and my younger brother's Godfather [like Grandpa, to me, in a way], sighting in rifles, only ever yelled at me once, as far as firearms were concerned. They were shooting, using the roof of Dad's car as a rest, and I deked around front to get around (between shots, running at a crouch, head down, of course; they do it in war movies all the time. I couldn't have been safer borne on the wings of angels). They served me notice that I was never to pull a stunt like that again. After that day, I took anything they said with respect to firearms as dogma to be obeyed without question. Mein Dank an die Königlich Preußische Armee (indirekt).