Black powder BOOM

[rafterob]

Great story! I have yet to see or experience such a disaster.

 

[mushka]

I'm an old guy, but an old guy way back when told me that if it can happen, it will happen. Good story.

 

[ab44]

Was the flask loaded?

Flask had about 1/4 black in it made quite a splash. Here boys I know you like pics so there is an example of Murphy at his best. There were also around 30 rounds of paper cartridges that vanished leaving on balls in the box. So TAKE CARE with black.

 

[Jim in San Diego]

Flask had about 1/4 black in it made quite a splash. Here boys I know you like pics so there is an example of Murphy at his best. There were also around 30 rounds of paper cartridges that vanished leaving on balls in the box. So TAKE CARE with black.

I’m glad you are okay after that!

It would have been worse if the flask had been full!

 

[COTNTOP]

THANKS, this will heighten my awareness.

 

[leadhoarder]

By the way those little flecks of Black can be dug out or pricked out with a nice small needle. I know I have picked a couple of them out. Enjoy the shooting life. If you are cheap and bother saving them they still shoot lololol

I guess that is one way to keep your powder dry.

 

[beyu]

A very good cautionary tale. I will take it to heart, too.

I admit I have a small priming horn with 3F in it that I sometimes lay on the bench nearby when shooting my Charleville. Sometimes I even sit at the bench when firing and — we know how much of a flash we can get with a flintlock....

I will be more careful.

 

[kyron4]

Flask had about 1/4 black in it made quite a splash. Here boys I know you like pics so there is an example of Murphy at his best. There were also around 30 rounds of paper cartridges that vanished leaving on balls in the box. So TAKE CARE with black.

WOW ! how'd the fire get into the flask ? Doesn't it have a spring loaded gate that closes off the flask ?

 

[Johnny Tremain]

When I was 15 I got a IMR4895 burn on my face that is still there today.
I have a discolored eye also. Was blind for 10 months.
Over 50 years later, and once was enough for me.

 

[Josh Canuck]

That's enough to scare the manure out of anyone and scrap a shooting session.

 

[ab44]

WOW ! how'd the fire get into the flask ? Doesn't it have a spring loaded gate that closes off the flask ?

There were flecks and residue all inside the tube and around the connections and when one went of it all interconnected and travelled by heat and fire up tube and all around the connection to the main powder. Just a fluke Murphy's law in action.

 

[kyron4]

There were flecks and residue all inside the tube and around the connections and when one went of it all interconnected and travelled by heat and fire up tube and all around the connection to the main powder. Just a fluke Murphy's law in action.

Wow, about like getting struck by lightening.

 

[TDM]

As said, a great reminder for us all @ab44. Glad your OK.

 

[shorthair]

Heres a little story about how to get a black powder tattoo. I was at shooting bench with an 1858 4 1/2-5 inch pocket style Remington 44 cal. I usually have paper pre rolled cartridges and loaded up. But there was one free 44 ball loose so I used my flask and loaded as as usual (without paper cartridge) Now I usually put the flask off to the left hand side of my gun and me but for some unknown reason I laid it on the right side. Closer to gun. Now here is the curious part I laid it with the tubr facing me and gun not pointed ahead. Oh I can hear you guys now about Fate and black powder. Now I have a box cardboard with 30 rounds of paper cartridges left way off to left side. As well I had decided to sit (old guy with sciatica bugging me ) at bench making the gun about six inches from the flask. I crack off three rounds and the fourth and BOOM. A stray spark managed to fly from muzzle and down the tube on flask and a few black powder bits residue from load were there. They blew and then the flask blew, ripped open and the flash lit my cloth laying on bench, sunburned my hand. Oh its's not over yet. The fire and flash jumped into cartridge box an burned 30 rounds. BOOM BOOM Big BOOM. They did not shoot as no compression just burned up and gave me a sunburn as well. I am backed up from bench by now and my buddy is yelling What the ... are you ok. Yes lets clean up and call it a day. So watch out with black as this set of positions had to be just so to make it work. It could have been worse. Take care guys.

Sounds like you might be related to Mr Murphy .
Glad to hear you're alive and enjoying a very interesting day just packed with learning new things .

 

[Scota@4570]

Sorry about the accident, burns suck.

I never shoot and load from the same bench. IF I was forced to do so I would go home. I always load on the bench to the left and shoot off the right bench. Loading at a table behind the bench is a good idea too.

Any flask will have some gap in the valve. A few grains of powder in the spout is enough to transmit fire into the body of the flask. A spark that get into the spout will probably light the whole flask.

 

[Bad Karma]

Glad you are ok. And sorry the price of powder being what it is made that an expensive show. At least it didn’t set off a tin of caps…

Seriously, thanks for reminding us . Most people wouldn’t admit they aren’t perfect.

I will freely admit most people aren’t perfect! But then I’m not most people…


@ab44 WOW!! That could have gone so much worse than it did! Glad you are ok! I wonder if the experience will leave you with a flinch next time you fire a round?! Was this a public range?

 

[deerstalkert]

who says old dogs can't learn? I needed this reminder. I have been getting lax with my flask and horns. trying to save a couple steps.
thanks for the dose of reality.

 

[nhmoose]

As I was taught back in the 70's at the fire academy "Murphy was an optimist".

 

[TFoley]

On one of the many courses I went on during my Army career, the one on EOD is closest to me, coming before and after one my numerous tours in Northern Ireland. On the morning of Day 1 the EOD technician, a Staff Sergeant who earned the Queen Gallantry Medal as a Sergeant for work on UXB in the Province, demonstrated the effects of ever-increasing amounts of BP used as lifting charges under a few old helmets.

The four-ounce charge lofted the three pound steel helmet almost out of sight - more likely 300 feet - straight up in the air. I'm sure that many here have seen 'anvil-lifting' with their own eyes - a sport that is very popular in some states where TV is hard to watch....not a lot of BP can do a LOT of work.