How do you prime?

Main horn.

I was taught to prime using baby Pedersoli pistol flasks. Love them. Perfect size for my baby hands.

Togo said:

My trade gun gets the same 3F I use down the muzzle in the pan from the same horn. I'm not a fan of the "do-hickys" that are spring loaded and deliver 3-4 grains, they always seem to clog up in damp weather at matches. I have a horn that delivers a nice bead of 4f into the pan everytime. That's what I like using.

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Primer will work better with end filed at a 45 degree angle. Also designed for 4F.

I use a priming flask on my small bores .32, .40 and .45 because the smaller locks but my big smoothbores I prime from the main horn.

Moleman said:

I use a priming flask on my small bores .32, .40 and .45 because the smaller locks but my big smoothbores I prime from the main horn.

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Same here it depends upon the gun and my mood, either way I have good ignition almost always.

I use the doohickey. I responded just so I could use the word doohickey.

Commodore Swab said:

My personal favorite, far better than the push down that can leak or get clogged. Both ends unscrew for easy cleaning loading.
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That’s what I have settled on using. I kind of lay it across the breech area. No clogs and hold more powder than the funky plunger types.

I fire practically all my flintlock firearms using paper cartridge tubes. Ahead of time fill the tube with your main powder charge and add 5 grains for priming. Rip off the top of the cartridge and pour your priming charge from it up to the level you want in your pan. Shut the frizzen. Then dump the rest of the cartridge powder down the barrel. Ram your ball and you are good to go.

I charge my trade gun ... The frizzen is open , cock at half cock , then dump some powder in the pan from my powder horn , 2F ( but 3 F is fine too ) and close the frizzen ... Ready to hunt or if just shootin , full cock , aim and shoot ... Easy peezy ...

I use the same metered plunger that @kyron4 showed and like the doohickey that @SciAggie showed. One plunger charge only, less is best. I use 4F because I have plenty of it. But never had any problems using charge powder for prime.

I thought the brass spring-actuated priming tool dispensed 1 grain at-a-time?

Very nice.

@Ruffedgrouse, the plunger type pan chargers have different lengths of tubes to dispense different charges. Typically, from 3 to 4 grains. These chargers do need regular to ensure that they reliably dispense powder. They work best with 4F. The valve type shown by @Commodore Swab will work with 3Fg.

Small priming horn made from my first antelope kill with a muzzle loader.

sturmkatze said:

Which issue was that in? I don’t always look at the mash as I get the electronic version. Hard on my phone. No excuse, but I’d sure like to read that article.

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I'd like to read it too. How often are these things exploding ? m It's news to me.

kyron4 said:

Here's what I use . One push down in pan and drag it in a line. It's 3 grains of 4F from what I'm told. It's convenient and it works .

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Me too, because I love consistency in all facets of loading. That little item gives us that.

sturmkatze said:

Which issue was that in? I don’t always look at the mash as I get the electronic version. Hard on my phone. No excuse, but I’d sure like to read that article.

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It's in March 2024. "Black powder part IV, accidental ignition in personal use".

kyron4 said:

I'd like to read it too. How often are these things exploding ? m It's news to me.

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March 2024.

I'm not personally worried too much about it exploding, but I am tired of the valve sticking and getting powder all inside my bag or pocket. They worked great when I lived in NM but here in WV they corrode and stick open.

3f with the doohicky, but it does clog when damp and when I dont brush the pan clean after firing. I just found that the tip does unscrew to clean, just don't drop it in the leaves

This is a key question.
I see this lack of perspective being offered with many of the, "oh my God, we're all gonna die! You'll blow-up the range! The sky is falling!!!!!"
So called "safety" warning debates....
In comparison to how many are being used and how often,,, what is the real frequency of these things "exploding" and how much can be brought back to user error or not paying attention to detail?