Muzzle loader accident

[furqan]

[liveleak]4d0_1334213066[/liveleak]

[youtube][/youtube]

[timmy]

In the second video, it appears that the shooter simply held the flintlock too close to his body and got a spray of burning powder from the flash pan on his clothes.

Regarding the first video, I don't think one is supposed to shoot the ramrod along with the bullet... I'll bet he'll check next time.

[PeterTheFish]

It looks like the ramrod in the first video is lying on the shooting bench, albeit not stowed back under the bore.

Pretty catastrophic failure...

[ramtiger]

what causes the failure in first video ?

[TwoRivers]

what causes the failure in first video ?

No way to tell from the video. If the ramrod had been left in the bore, resting on top of the bullet, it would simply have shot out. Heck of a recoil, though. Smoke does not seem to be enough for black powder, he's probably using a black powder substitute. But without knowing all the details, we can only guess. Could be a double load, one load atop the other.

[Hammerhead]

what causes the failure in first video ?

No it's hang fire, left a space between the ball and powder to create an extra chamber effects, bad accident btw- Haji

[savage]

no in the first video there was too much power more than the weapon could handle poor scope though and a sure life threateningly embarrassing situation

[TwoRivers]

what causes the failure in first video ?

No it's hang fire, left a space between the ball and powder to create an extra chamber effects, bad accident btw- Haji

Haji, that's not what a hangfire is. "Hangfire" is delayed ignition, and it doesn't blow up a gun. Also, with black powder, that effect with a bullet not seated on the charge, has never been able to be duplicated.
Slow burning smokeless with a partial charge, as in a magnum cartridge, can do that on occasion. But not a muzzle loader. Note, though, that it looks as if he were using a black powder substitute.

[skeetshot]

That looks like a in- line M/l such as those made by Savage and Remington, and those are usually extremely strong and safe designs.

Since the source of failure appears to emanate from the breech area, possible causes of the failure could be:

> Wrong powder, most likey cause, fast burning powder such as pistol/shotgun powder used.

> Substantial overcharge of powder used, and for a slower powder the pressures would not manifest themselves towards the breech but rather closer to the muzzle.

> Material failure, least likely cause, given the QC the product would have to pass plus the compulsory proofing.

Fortunately it seems there is no serious injury to the shooter.

One cannot emphasize enough on use of adequate eye protection in using any firearm although in this extreme case, one could loose one's hand/fingers and injury to the face is a distinct possibility.

That said, Muzzle Loaders that use black powder and a properly sealed breech area are generally safer on account of the lower pressures that black powder generates.

[snIPer]

From the video it seems that there is nothing exiting from the muzzle, in fact i dont even see it smoking so quite possibly the final packing / shot has got stuck there and thus caused pressures to increase and explode.
/S/