Almost caught a cookoff on video

[Maillemaker]

This is footage from the Deep South Region July Fun Shoot last weekend.

I had just panned the camera away from the line, when the last shooter at the end of the line had a cookoff. He was loading for his second shot. He was fine. Might have a BP tattoo for a while.


https://youtu.be/mKzg_5KpNyg

I also had a cookoff this weekend, also in the musket match. It was also my second shot. I was also fine, as my charge did not go off until I was dropping my cartridge tube into my tin cup on my belt.

One thing I noticed is that my nipple was wet from my "possum piss" (1/3 isopropyl alcohol, 1/3 hydrogen peroxide, 1/3 Murphy's Oil Soap) - I had saturated the cleaning patch and some had leaked out the fire channel. I don't know if this has anything to do with anything.

It was also quite hot this weekend. Barrels easily got too hot to touch during matches, but I would not expect them to be very hot after one shot.

I have had 4 cookoffs now in 7 years of shooting. I am about skeptical of the cotton medical gauze I have been using for cheap cleaning patches. They pull "fuzz" very easily. I am seriously considering not doing any patch wiping during matches and using a brass bristle brush only.

Steve

[Muley Gil]

I've been shooting black powder since 1969 and have never had a cook off. I use a dry brass bristle brush between relays. I invert the musket when I remove the rod and brush, letting the fouling drop to the ground.

[Maillemaker]

I've been shooting black powder since 1969 and have never had a cook off. I use a dry brass bristle brush between relays. I invert the musket when I remove the rod and brush, letting the fouling drop to the ground.

Hey Gil,

This is the route I am seriously considering going.

I'm pretty sure this will be good enough for rifled guns. Not sure if I can get my smoothbore clean enough for easy loading with a brush. What do you think?

Steve

[Jim Barber]

My dad has always warned me to be *especially* careful of the 2nd shot-- says it seems to be very common timing for a cookoff. Too bad no one keeps stats on that kind of anecdotal stuff.
I haven't had one... yet. Knock on wood.

Jim B.

Grove City, OH

[PapaRob]

I've been shooting black powder since 1969 and have never had a cook off. I use a dry brass bristle brush between relays. I invert the musket when I remove the rod and brush, letting the fouling drop to the ground.

I have always done this (just always made sense to get it out of the barrel) and in 20 years of skirmishing never had a cookoff *knocking on wood*

[Timmeu]

I just missed having one I think. I had shot and was in the process of beginning to place the cap plug with the powder charge at the muzzle. I saw a little red bump near the muzzle burst into the neatest little flame. It was very cool to see and have never seen another. What material was the little red bump consisting of? As I recall it was a hot and humid August shoot at Pleasant Hill in the midwest region.

[0556V]

Hey Gil,

This is the route I am seriously considering going.

I'm pretty sure this will be good enough for rifled guns. Not sure if I can get my smoothbore clean enough for easy loading with a brush. What do you think?

Steve
Use a stainless steel "Tornado" brush - 12 gauge do not twist it or it will break off. But a short piece of 5/8" copper tubing (sharpen the inside diameter) makes for easy removal if one does break off in your smoothie. I learned that from Mike Rouch of the 110 OVI

[CAGerringer]

What material was the little red bump consisting of? As I recall it was a hot and humid August shoot at Pleasant Hill in the midwest region.

That little red bump is called Keema Aloo. Ask the Egg Man.

Respectfully,
Charlie Gerringer
Old Dominion Dragoons

[Rob FreemanWBR]

You can forgo the need for patching and or brushing out your muzzle loaders bore after events via properly sized rounds with FRESH lube.

I can shoot my beloved Fayetteville all day long with out swabbing.

As for the dental gauze patches, I prefer them over the GI patches sold by Suttler. Never had to worry about the countless fraying threads, commonly found with the GIs. The dentals are MUCH cheaper, do just as good, don’t fray (at least in any of my pieces) and can be easily opened/folded/pleated to serve the needs of the respective barrel.

My two cents, results may vary...

[lwinstoniii]

Anyone just use a well rung wet patch between EVENTS? and I mean just water on the patch as it neutralizes any material left toward the breech plug. And then when you snap caps it dries any moisture away.

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[Muley Gil]

Anyone just use a well rung wet patch between EVENTS? and I mean just water on the patch as it neutralizes any material left toward the breech plug. And then when you snap caps it dries any moisture away.

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I personally won't trust firing a cap to dry the flash channel or the barrel, no matter how dry of a patch is used. You also run the risk of a patch getting stuck in the bore.