Loading from the horn

Posted by Bill R on January 31, 1998 at 08:14:24:

Question for someone (anyone)

During the scene where they are preparing to send out the courier Hawkeye is loading his rifle....and taps some powder into the pan from
his main horn (in fact I see no priming horn on his person at all).
Was this common?

I know for loading the musket it was common to bite off the end of the cartridge and put some powder in the pan, close it, and pour the rest down the barrel, throw paper and bullet down as one and ram it.

But for rifles I usually like to prime with FFFFg fine priming powder.
Burns quicker and ensures a better ignition. For bores up to maybe 58
calibre I use FFFg powder as main charge. FFg can be used for muskets. So I guess if it was a smooth rifle, or a large calibre rifle it would be normal to prime with the same powder as for the main charge. But it would seem that Hawkeye would want to ensure that he would get off a good shot in that circumstance....did they not have priming powder back then?

Does anybody know? Soldier #2? Major Bray? Anybody?

By way, Chris....the mirror lies. Pay no heed to it. We are as young as we think we are. (NOT encouraging you to defect to the side of the SYMT clan led by fierce Elaine of the size 12E moccasin).

Bill R

Follow Ups:

• Re: Loading from the horn Soldier #2 16:03:51 1/31/98 (6)
  • Re: Loading from the horn Bill R 17:48:24 1/31/98 (4)
    • Re: Loading from the horn Parker Taylor 13:56:20 2/25/98 (3)
      • Re: Loading from the horn Bill R 14:15:16 2/25/98 (2)
        • Re: Loading from the horn Parker Taylor 14:13:28 2/26/98 (1)
          • Re: Loading from the horn Bill R 16:02:36 2/26/98 (0)
  • Re: Loading from the horn Chris 17:00:05 1/31/98 (0)
• Re: Loading from the horn Chris 12:08:48 1/31/98 (0)

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: Question for someone (anyone)

: During the scene where they are preparing to send out the courier Hawkeye is loading his rifle....and taps some powder into the pan from
: his main horn (in fact I see no priming horn on his person at all).
: Was this common?  

: I know for loading the musket it was common to bite off the end of the cartridge and put some powder in the pan, close it, and pour the rest down the barrel, throw paper and bullet down as one and ram it.

: But for rifles I usually like to prime with FFFFg fine priming powder.
: Burns quicker and ensures a better ignition.  For bores up to maybe 58
: calibre I use FFFg powder as main charge.  FFg can be used for muskets. So I guess if it was a smooth rifle, or a large calibre rifle it would be normal to prime with the same powder as for the main charge.  But it would seem that Hawkeye would want to ensure that he would get off a good shot in that circumstance....did they not have priming powder back then?

: Does anybody know?  Soldier #2?  Major Bray?  Anybody?

: By way, Chris....the mirror lies.  Pay no heed to it.  We are as young as we think we are. (NOT encouraging you to defect to the side of the SYMT clan led by fierce Elaine of the size 12E moccasin).

: Bill R


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