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Not so Smart... / Re: Dryball?
« Last post by Hanshi on March 27, 2024, 10:26:29 AM »
Yep, there can be only 1 .  I used to carry on fairly frequent conversations with our revered #1 and remember those days fondly.  So let's just modify that earned award title to "O No Powder".   flwa
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Not so Smart... / Re: Dryball?
« Last post by hotfxr on March 26, 2024, 02:03:30 PM »
There can be only 1! And he will be revered as the founder of this fabulous forum. At least I had the presence of mind not to utter the word. And my recovery merely reinforced my hard won reputation as the "Fixer of all things in unusual situations" in my own little world out here. Plus letting them hit reactive targets with the antique muzzleloading shotgun wowed them into wanting to learn more about the black powder dark arts. I'm heading out there again next week to do it again. Hopefully I will have time to be better prepared.

Better prepared, well one can dream.
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Not so Smart... / Re: Dryball?
« Last post by Hanshi on March 26, 2024, 01:12:00 PM »
Ah, the dryball.  Realize, brother hotfxr, like I tried to tell you for years that a "dryball" is a teaching tool and is usually accompanied by subsequent "refresher  courses". 

I always "dryball" when I'm out shooting just to maintain my skill at doing it properly.  But as I've found from experience there's no need to do it more than 3 or 4 times during one shooting session.  You successfully taught a valuable lesson to the urchins in your care.  They will remember it and later practice doing it on their own.  You even may end up acknowledged and revered, not as "O sensei", but as "O dryball".   cuch
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Prayer Chapel / Re: Redbadger undergoing surgery
« Last post by Hanshi on March 26, 2024, 12:51:19 PM »
been about two years since I`ve been to my uncles shooting range ! not sure I remember which goes down the barrel first , the powder or the ball !


Okay!  IIRC the ball goes in first followed by powder then a patch.  [hmm]
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Not so Smart... / Re: Dryball?
« Last post by flintboomer on March 26, 2024, 10:44:46 AM »
The problem with being the "EXPERT"  &) :o ;D

At least You got it fixed / made things work.
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Not so Smart... / Re: Dryball?
« Last post by bmtshooter on March 25, 2024, 04:12:17 PM »
At least there were no injuries.  Could have been worse.
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Not so Smart... / Dryball?
« Last post by hotfxr on March 25, 2024, 03:17:47 PM »
I believe I had my first encounter with the phenomenon known as "DRYBALL". At least its the first one that I remember. And if that wasn't embarrassing enough, I was giving a muzzleloader demonstration to a group of interested young men at a friend's ranch. My buddy asked me at the last minute to run out to his place to give said demonstration. My shop is a national disaster at the moment and I couldn't find half my gear, but a grabbed what I could and rode on out there. Fired the pirate pistol (just powder) a few times then I brought out my Kentucky flinter pistol. At the same time I was helping load the shotgun, and watching them load a couple of my buddy's rifles while narrating the entire process. I guess you could say I was distracted. Went back to the pistol and rammed that ball all the way to the bottom of the barrel. That's when I started using a lot of words that are not appropriate for mixed company. I had nothing on me that would work to to get that thing out so we went into his shop and going through bins of misc parts I wound up making an ugly looking screw extractor and after using a vise and some well placed hammer taps finally got it out. But then the black powder gods decided they weren't quite done with me and the first try cracked my flint to a point it was inoperable. To save face, I cut a short fuse and put the frisson down and lit the fuse. It did go boom and they were impressed with my MacGyvering so the day was not lost.

Did I mention I also had my Philadelphia Derringer that wouldn't fire off a cap? I had loaned it out and the nipple was so flattened out I couldn't get it to fire. Yes I am the one you want to give a demonstration of how much fun muzzleloaders are, apparently not.   hdslp

However when I got home, new flint, new nipple and both now consistently make fire and smoke.    :applause:

Next time.
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Prayer Chapel / Re: Redbadger undergoing surgery
« Last post by beowulf on March 24, 2024, 05:11:36 PM »
been about two years since I`ve been to my uncles shooting range ! not sure I remember which goes down the barrel first , the powder or the ball !
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Powder Horns / Re: Wooden flask
« Last post by flintboomer on March 19, 2024, 12:33:01 PM »
Thanks for the complements. I did very little by hand. I made it on a monarch engine lathe built between 1900 and 1910. My original intention was to make an “essence of corn” bottle to resemble it. I haven't for fear of intoxicating my weapon ;D
Be careful, if they get the taste for it they will try and convince you to ween them off of Holy Black and convince you to take them out drinking instead of going for a woods walk....  whipping  cuch


WHAT IN TARNATION IS WRONG WITH GOING OUT FOR A DRINK??  Okay, maybe AFTER the BP has been burned rather than PRIOR to that.  chrrs
Although I don't drink, I agree with Hanshi: Have one AFTER shooting.

While we are at it: Raise a toast to Red Badger for getting his eyes fixed so he can shoot again. I will start by raising a Dr Pepper to that and Thank him for keeping this sight up.
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Powder Horns / Re: Wooden flask
« Last post by Hanshi on March 18, 2024, 01:51:29 PM »
Thanks for the complements. I did very little by hand. I made it on a monarch engine lathe built between 1900 and 1910. My original intention was to make an “essence of corn” bottle to resemble it. I haven't for fear of intoxicating my weapon ;D
Be careful, if they get the taste for it they will try and convince you to ween them off of Holy Black and convince you to take them out drinking instead of going for a woods walk....  whipping  cuch


WHAT IN TARNATION IS WRONG WITH GOING OUT FOR A DRINK??  Okay, maybe AFTER the BP has been burned rather than PRIOR to that.  chrrs
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