Filling a powder horn

How do you fill a powder horn. I have a Traditions horn and it seems that the hole is to small. I am getting powder all over and making a mess.

I have small plastic and aluminum funnels that work well; however, you can make your own temporary funnel from paper or cardstock. I think the plastic funnels came from The Dollar Tree in the cooking section.

small funnel, as mentioned.

You don't need a funnel. That's one more thing to misplace.
Lay a piece of paper on the table in front of you. Wrap your hand around the horn with the horn about 3/4" lower than the top of your hand. Pour slowly as your hand acts as the funnel. Any small spill is caught on the paper. Get some practice and you wont spill at all.

I use this little funnel that I soldered to a brass pipe. I flared the end of the pipe slightly so it wouldn't fall through the funnel.

I use a tiny plastic funnel too. I got 5 of them on ebay for about $5 shipped. You have to go slow and jiggle the funnel around every so often to get the powder through, but it works. I might give Ames' method a shot, though.

Stock pic:

It works, and I never forget to bring my hand to the range.

I have several funnels from tiny to large and a couple of them are used to fill the horns. Easy to do and not messy.

I'll go with Ames here. My hand works just fine.

Next time you are in your doctor's office, look for the otoscope (lighted device that looks into your ears and nose.) As for one of each of the three size disposable end pieces. I have never been charged for one. The are small enough to go into the smallest primer horn to the largest horn I own. To pour faster, place a small funnel inside the end piece. Works like a charm.

ADK Bigfoot

I used one of the metal screw tops from a similar type can, drilled a hole in it and I cut down a discarded brass cartridge and soldered the two together. The bottleneck cartridge is just the right size for the mouth of the powder horn.

ADK Bigfoot said:

Next time you are in your doctor's office, look for the otoscope (lighted device that looks into your ears and nose.) As for one of each of the three size disposable end pieces. I have never been charged for one. The are small enough to go into the smallest primer horn to the largest horn I own. To pour faster, place a small funnel inside the end piece. Works like a charm.

ADK Bigfoot

Click to expand...

You sir, are a genius!

HJG said:

How do you fill a powder horn. I have a Traditions horn and it seems that the hole is to small. I am getting powder all over and making a mess.

Click to expand...

Made mine from an old goex can lid, A piece of brake line, flange in towards the inside of the cap and then epoxy in place ...since goex now uses plastic containers now, I simply transfer my powder to a metal one that I keep on hand for horn filling.

JohnL said:

You sir, are a genius!

Click to expand...

That's an old trick and a sign that you're dealing with an old soot lord. There is actually a name for that little funnel thing but it escapes me at present.
Speculum, that's it. You can buy them outright too; Otoscope Funnels - medkit.fi

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4832/45170320445_a745503eaf_c.jpg

I just fold a piece of paper and pour slow.

I would like a fancy brass funnel, but there's always some patch knife, or tin of caps, or powder measure or something I can think of to spend money on instead....

I'll tell you what I'd really like...a fine set of period correct, wooden handle screwdrivers, perhaps with antler or bone end-caps...

oh man. I will just stick with using a folded up sheet of paper and tossing it back in my target stack...

Try handle only about 200-300 grains at a time. It only takes a couple minutes to fill your horn.

There are accessories sold by Track of the Wolf and others. I got a brass fitting from a dealer at a rendezvous. I fastened it to the horn with epoxy or other adhesive. It is threaded to fit powder spouts, and also accepts a brass funnel that threads into it when the spout is unscrewed. I had to drill out the opening in the horn to fit the brass fitting in it, but that was no problem. The whole assembly includes a spring-loaded valve. That eliminated the stopper, which I would occasionally lose anyway.

William O. said:

That's an old trick and a sign that you're dealing with an old soot lord. There is actually a name for that little funnel thing but it escapes me at present.
Speculum, that's it. You can buy them outright too; Otoscope Funnels - medkit.fi

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4832/45170320445_a745503eaf_c.jpg

Click to expand...

I like the term “Old Soot Lord.”

When you go to your doctor for your annual checkup, ask him if you can have the little funnels that he puts on the light he checks your ears with. They come in 3 sizes. My doctor gave me about 10 when I asked him and told him what I wanted them for.

Good

Timmit said:

When you go to your doctor for your annual checkup, ask him if you can have the little funnels that he puts on the light he checks your ears with. They come in 3 sizes. My doctor gave me about 10 when I asked him and told him what I wanted them for.

Click to expand...

idea

Timmit said:

When you go to your doctor for your annual checkup, ask him if you can have the little funnels that he puts on the light he checks your ears with. They come in 3 sizes. My doctor gave me about 10 when I asked him and told him what I wanted them for.

Click to expand...

Good idea, thanks. I have been using a .270 casing duck taped to a small funnel...whatever works. Have a super day.