KMK-678GC
Single-Sixer
We have a loaded, unprimed, cylinder that's been sitting for years. What is the best way to unload them other than firing? I could fire them but what is in there is unknown.
Thank you
Thank you
JFB said:can the nipples be unscrewed, the powder shacken out and a non sparking rod tap the balls out?
steve8261948 said:OK, I'll bite, what is a OA cylinder?
Steve
k22fan said:I have never pulled a muzzle loader bullet that could be fired nor have I seen anyone else do so. No reason has been given for pulling the bullets out of this Old Army cylinder except its owner's unease with firing it. Old Armys can be safely loaded with compressed charges of every black powder and black powder substitute sold to date so the unease is not justified. The worst that can happen is the cap might blow back into the firing pin channel. Caps do that occasionally. It's an annoyance, not a hazard. One way or the other the cylinder will have to cleaned. Cleaning the barrel and frame does not add much work. I recall emptying a T/C Hawken the day after the deer season ended by shooting a crow with it. It was a little more lead than needed for a crow but a lot more fun than pulling the Maxi Ball. Wouldn't shooting that Old Army be more fun?
That said, in my experience all hunters and muzzle loading rifle target shooters carry a drill & screw type ball puller in their kit. I have not seen anyone forget the powder but damp charges that will not easily light are a familiar sight. Usually the dampness is from not drying the bore adequately after cleaning between groups of shots. Those are normally shot out by poking a wire through the flash channel and putting a little FFFFg black powder under the nipple. It is very uncommon for that to not work but we keep the little ball pullers in our kits just in case. I did use mine at the range a couple of times and I think it would work in a revolver cylinder if you have to. Authors have written about the compressed air method for a very long time but usually compressors are not available at ranges. Since every one has an old fashioned ball puller for the field very few shooters bother hauling a compressor to the range to handle a very uncommon event.