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Powder Horns and Mustard Bottles

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Doc Needles

32 Cal.
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Apr 21, 2014
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I am a complete beginner when it comes to muzzleloading and I could use your help. I bought a nice October Country powder horn but I can't get the powder to come out in more than a trickle. The FFG powder is dry and clump free but just won't flow smoothly. I thought about trying to polish the inside of the spout but I'm not certain that would help. Then I read a thread here about using a mustard bottle for the range. I went out and bought a Gulden's mustard bottle and cleaned it up nicely. However, I'm experiencing the same problem. The powder won't flow through the opening. I tried enlarging the opening but that didn't help much. It took literally two minutes of shaking the bottle and trickling out a few grains to fill up the powder measure. What am I missing here? Any help would be greatly appreciated by this greenhorn. Thanks.
 
:photoSmile:

How long did it take to fill the horn?
was there a problem then? The fill speed going in should be the same as coming out.
maybe there is something inside the horn causing a blockage when tipped down?
 
I know you said FFG powder but are you talking about real black powder or one of the modern substitutes?

Real black powder almost never clumps and it often is coated with graphite to make it flow easily.

To the best of my knowledge, none of the substitute powders have a graphite coating on the granules and this causes the powder to clump and pour poorly.

I haven't had too much of a problem in this area with Pyrodex but all of the ascorbic acid based powders like Shockey's Gold are absolutely horrid.

Years ago, I had one of the ascorbic acid based powders that preceded Shocky's powder and it clumped so thoroughly I couldn't pour it out of the 2 1/2 inch hole in the top of the plastic bottle it came in. :(
 
My first powder horn was a chalk bottle. Worked good until I got a real one and you just cut the tip until the opening is the size you want. A catsup or mustard bottle from the $ store would work the same. You know the kind restaurants use that they refill.
 
I used a mustard bottle on a two week float hunt in lieu of the usual powder horn. Lots of rain! The 3f scheutzen powder flowed perfectly under all conditions. Seems lime a powder problem. Are you sure you got the bottle absolutely dry?
 
Mustard bottle? :hmm: Oh wait, wasn't old Dan'el a Grey Poupon guy? :wink: :rotf:

Sorry just being daft, would think any narrow ended container would work. Can't say I've ever had this problem but except for a brief experiment with Pyro when it first came out, I've stayed with black the whole time...lot less to worry about. Do try the enlarge and polish things. May be the answer.
 
There is only one problem that would cause what you are describing and that is the powder is in pieces too big to flow through the available opening. If the problem were to be big clumps in your powder, you would, of course, quickly notice that and correct it. The next problem is that the opening is too small for the un-clumped powder granules to flow through. My money is on the latter. I once made a powder horn, my first, from a bison horn. The horn had so much curve to it that in order for me to get a hole from the horn cavety through the spout, I had to drill from both ends. With great care, I drilled and, amazingly enough, the two holes met and now my powder could get from the horn, through the spout and into my measure. But, it wouldn't do that. I had to shake and shake to get my powder to flow into my measure. It was much like you describe the problem that you are having. As it turned out, the two holes met but they didn't meet completely and were off center just enough to result in a constriction in the neck of the horn. I carefully resolved this problem and now that horn is my favorite for my small bore rifles. So, what I am saying is that if you do not have a serious clumping problem with your powder, you will need to look at the opening through which you are trying to pour it. There must be a constriction in it somewhere. :thumbsup:
 
Real black powder almost never clumps

I'm glad you qualified with "almost".
I have recently begun using Swiss 3Fg as my primary powder. It clumps. Surprising to me but a can or flask needs shaking before use. Not a big deal but is necessary.
However, I do believe our OPs problem does come from too small an opening in his horn and mustard bottle. A drill bit (I'll go with the suggested 3/8") HAND turned will work just fine. I use a tap handle for chores like this. Only takes a minute. Good luck.
 
Now that I think of it I do have a powder horn that the powder bridges in but it is only minor. I just move the powder horn or tilt it toward another direction and it is enough to break the bridge and continue flowing.
 
Sounds like you are using American Pioneer powder.
It would not flow through my flask in 2F grade. Looks like kitty litter. If you are going to use a sub, then use Triple Seven.
 
It helps if ya remove the buffler too :)

But like Bill said i tried once also and there can be alot of solid horn before the hollow starts and it all has to be lined up and big enough...I figured by the time i could mess one up i'd buy from here from someone that does it right and not mass produced.
 
Thanks to all who replied for your input.

Rat Trapper, you hit it on the head. I am indeed using American Pioneer Powder. I'm not sure that clumping is the problem however. The mustard bottle I'm using is clear and I don't see any clumps. Also, with the top removed, the powder flows freely with no clumps. Billnpatty, I think the problem may indeed be the opening. I'll continue to try to widen it. There may also be some obstruction or problem with the geometry of the horn near the opening so I'll see what I can do with that. If anyone else has an idea, please feel free to speak up. Thanks again for all your help.
 
when I was making one of my first horns and drilling out the spout- I ended up with a 'splinter' of horn (don't know what else to call it) on the inside of the horn body at the edge of the hole I had drilled. Air blew through find so I put my base plug in added some powder and surprise- no powder came out. shook it and just a couple of grains came out. Ended up pulling the base plug and making a thin hooked long tool which I was able to hook under the sliver and cut it loose from the horn wall. The sliver was slightly curled and @ 2" long. After removing this obstruction my powder flows smoothly now. I always pour some powder through before installing my plugs now- lesson learned.
 
Update: I cut a teardrop shaped hole in the lid of the mustard bottle and now the powder flows out smoothly. I guess even though the original hole was large enough for the individual grains to pass through, a large volume of grains trying to get through at once clogged it up.

Upon examining the horn more closely, it appears that there is a bit of an obstruction at the throat: some kind of small ridge on the left half about an 1/8th of an inch high. I'll try to smooth that out and see if it opens the passageway enough for the powder to flow.

Thanks again to everyone for their advice and observations.
 
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