Fire danger

[StanD]

For those of you that are hunting in dry country with patched round balls are you ever concerned about starting a fire? I started some weeds on fire two different times at the range with burned patches. Does a wad over powder eliminate that danger? My TC Hawken shoots better with a patched ball than with the conicals I’ve tried but I live in an extremely dry part of the country so I haven’t used them for hunting.
Stan

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

I have never had a well-lubed patch catch fire. If the over-powder wad is not lubed, it can add to the concern. ALL of it is exposed to the fire. Dry lubed patches would be a concern for me. For hunting, I prefer a well-lubed patch over spit or dry lubed patches.

ADK Bigfoot

 

[Hermit Tim]

Never had a problem with fire in 30 years of shooting BP. I've always used very well lubed patches and only use sheep wool for shotgun wadding.

 

[longcruise]

I too think it's all about the lube.

 

[TDM]

Same here, never had a smolding patch using mink oil or my homemade lube. But certainly possible with a dry patch.

 

[StanD]

I was using pre-lubed patches at the time although they may have been a bit dried out. Maybe I should add a bit of lube to them.

 

[Hermit Tim]

I was using pre-lubed patches at the time although they may have been a bit dried out. Maybe I should add a bit of lube to them.

I use a beeswax mixture I make but you can also use mink oil, olive oil, and many other choices. I also keep the fire risk in mind but just haven't had that problem yet.

 

[ZUG]

You are smart to be concerned about starting a fire with your ML rifle. It is a major issue now a days. I have started a few fires on some woods-walks using "the dry patch method" and I was glad that there were a few fire extinguishers around at the time. I no longer use the dry patch method. It is not only a smoldering patch you have to worry about but the un-burned embers expelled out from the barrel.

 

[64Springer]

This question would be better directed to those folks up in Canada.

And now you know - the rest - of the story.

 

[Rustycorvair]

This question would be better directed to those folks up in Canada.

And now you know - the rest - of the story.

I think the government took their muzzle loaders away already.

 

[Omahkapi'si]

If I had any muzzleloaders up here in the great white north that might be a concern, but thankfully I don't.

 

[Shotgunblast]

You could try cornmeal or wheatlets over the powder. Drench the patch as much as you can with what you use for lube, but that's if I had any muzzleloaders.

 

[Frontier's]

Your patches are too dry or even too thin, allowing them.to blow out and smolder

 

[necchi]

And now you know - the rest - of the story.

, you just "dated" yourself with that one,
I sure miss Paul, a lot of construction site lunch breaks with the radio tuned to that.
An Icon of American freedom and common sense!

To @StanD , I'm not sure if the wad will do it, I've had a few smolder in the grass and catch,
Just gotta stay ever vigilante if your in those dry conditions.

 

[sheriff john]

We've had grass catch on our range from time to time. It happens.

 

[StanD]

Thank you all, I appreciate the comments. I’m not concerned at the range, there is nothing to burn but a few weeds and the area is totally contained with high burms on both sides. Out in the woods is what concerns me so I’ve been looking for a conical that might shoot well enough to hunt with. Sabots shoot very well out of my TC, Maxi balls and Maxi Hunters do not. At one time I had a Lee Real 300 grain mold but I couldn’t get it to shoot so I gave it away. I just ordered a Lee Real 380 gr. and I’ll try that. If that works then that’s what I’ll hunt with but I’d rather just use a round ball if I could be confident that I wouldn’t start a fire.. I haven’t been able to find my patches lately as the ground is so covered with manure that my old eyes cant pick them out. I’m using a .015 patch, anything thicker would be too hard to load in this rifle. Next time I’ll add some more lube the patches and try that. Thanks

Stan

 

[StanD]

I did not write "manure", the computer changed my wording so we will just use the word "trash"