Old coot, new qustions

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vega

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For many years starting in the seventies, I was into blackpowder in a big way, front stuffers and cartridges. Then I went way back and got into primitive archery, bow making and all that. Now I'm too busted up to continue with sticks and strings, am considering going back to BP. Got lotsa questions for anyone kind enough to consider them.

While back, ran across a pic of the muzzle of a rifle with round bottom rifling. This struck me as a dandy idea, as seems it would obviate patch cutting and facilitate both loading and cleaning. Is this now common? Any body tried it?

Anywhere to buy flax tow and/or good tightly woven linen patch material?

Are those English flasks Track sells, w/the flash gate and all, safe to load directly into the muzzle as they were initially designed to do?

I got a million of em, but this'll do for now.

Thanks a lot should you care to respond.

James
 
I do not know of rounded rifling, but my new .54 Lyman Trade rifle has never cut a patch. My old .50 Deerstalker still needs pillow ticking and a felt wad under the patch to protect it, but that seems to do the trick. I have read that many use a tight patch and bore paste to take the cutting edge off the riflings. I would not load from the flask. I use quick loaders from Track, and for powder charges I also have several pieces of 1/2" copper pipe cut to length with one end, a cap soldered on, the other end just a slip on cap.
 
vega said:
While back, ran across a pic of the muzzle of a rifle with round bottom rifling. This struck me as a dandy idea, as seems it would obviate patch cutting and facilitate both loading and cleaning. Is this now common? Any body tried it?

Are those English flasks Track sells, w/the flash gate and all, safe to load directly into the muzzle as they were initially designed to do?
Click to expand...

A custom barrel maker named Hugh Tonjes used to make round bottomed rifling but he is now retired. I also think that I have seen round bottom made by one of the large barrel makers but can't remember which one. I have had two guns with round bottom and have a third barrel not yet a gun. The barrels shot well but relative to patch cutting and cleaning were no better or worse than the square cut rifling. I think quality of internal finish is the real issue.
Patching; I buy 100% cotton from Fanny's Fabrics using a micrometer. The thickness is determined by trial and error but after that I stick with one thickness (.019" in my case)

While you can load straight from the flask, range policy on virtually all ranges is that you pour into a measure then from the measure into the barrel. The reason is that it takes only one spark at the bottom of the barrel to leave you with a grenade in your hand. Admittedly a very rare occurance but I have heard of barrel flashes once or twice during the time that I have been shooting.

cheers mooncoon
 
tnx

Thanks guys. That's interesting about the round bottom rifling not cleaning easier or being easier on patches. Kinda counter intuitive for me, but nothing tells like experience.

I've always loaded from a horn and measure, but am intrigued by those flasks. The flash gate supposedly would protect the powder in case of a cook off, and having seen them and antique ones as well, they were clearly intended to charge the bore from the flask. Seems like the shooters of the day wouldn't have used them if dangerous.

Two reasons I am interested in linen for patching: On the frontier, linen was much more common, cotton being rarer as well as more expensive. More importantly, it is a heck of a lot stronger than cotton. I have used it to back bows and it has amazing tensile strength. But the only sources for linen I have found supply only a coarse grade not suitable for patching. When I've asked in fabric stored all I get is blank stares. With all the interest in ML's, one would think it is available somewhere. Ditto the tow.

So anyhow...

Tnx agin.
 
I have an Ed Rayl 50 cal barrel on my Jeager :D it's deadly accurate.I load it with a .025" cotton patch and my on moose milk.You can shoot till the cows come home and not have any fouling problems.
2 Paws trading has tow, he works from home his # is 250-722-2474.
Cheers nessy
 
vega said:
. The flash gate supposedly would protect the powder in case of a cook off, and having seen them and antique ones as well, they were clearly intended to charge the bore from the flask. Seems like the shooters of the day wouldn't have used them if dangerous.
Click to expand...

I think it is a mistake to think they would not have done it, if it was unsafe. I seem to recall reading of an american in the 1700s who was burned very badly because he was carrying loose powder in his coat pocket. No doubt got away with it many times but it took only one spark.
I think loading from the flask is in the same category; you would probably get away with it for many years but it still is a risky practice.

cheers mooncoon
 
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Cheers, Nessy, I will contact that guy. Didn't quite get you on your Jaeger, round bottom or regular rifling?

Mooncoon, certainly agree with you about folks doing dangerous or ill advised things out of carelessness or ignorance, it's just I kinda figure market forces being what they are (were) those flasks might have been (are) safe or after a few grenades, business woulda kinda slowed down?:)

BTW, as Van Islers, and if your old enough, I mighta shot with you guys years ago. Used to work at Specialty Guns down on Yates st. in Vic, sold a lot of ML's oughta there.
 
Whoops forgot to mention, it's round bottom rifling.
Miss Specialty guns, I bought a Sako .22 outa there, too bad they are gone.
Cheers nessy
 
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