my question-

the sequence followed when loading a target rifle, let's say a hammerless falling block cartridge rifle that uses a false muzzle; I was looking at a photo of one, and couldn't figure out how it was done safely.

Well, it all depends.

Most of us - 99% of us that shoot bp target rifles load either fixed ammo or breech seat where the bullet is loaded from the rear separately and the case is inserted with powder next, the action is closed and shot.

In the few instances where folks load from the muzzle with a cartridge breechloader, you simply push the bullet down the muzzle a prescribed distance and then retract the loading rod, remove false muzzle, insert cartridge with powder in the breech and fire.

Brent

so the prescribed distance is critical, or how much leeway does a person have?

thanks.

Well, lots actually. There is a myth that there can be no airspace between powder and bullet but breechseaters for over a century have been putting bullets 1/16" - 1/8" infront of the case. Meanwhile the powder in the case may be a quarter inch below the case mouth. So you can 3/8" of space between bullet and powder. Some folks (most) use a thin card wad to hold the powder in place.

Brent

answered in full- thank you kindly.

quote:

Originally posted by tin can:
my question-

the sequence followed when loading a target rifle, let's say a hammerless falling block cartridge rifle that uses a false muzzle; I was looking at a photo of one, and couldn't figure out how it was done safely.

You can use a marked loading rod that lets you put the bullet down exactly the same distance each time. Or, you can use a dummy round that consists of an empty, unprimed cartridge case with a wooden plug in it. You load the dummy, close the breech then seat the bullet down from the false muzzle until it stops on the plug. It is now at the exact same point where the bullet base is going to be touched by the wad in the mouth of the case containing the powder charge that you put in next, after removing the dummy. You are now ready to shoot, and the loading was done safely.

I prefer this "dummy round" method, as there is NO DOUBT exactly where the bullet stopped.

How much leeway do you have? From a safety standpoint, perhaps some. For an accuracy standpoint, I'd say it depends on the rifle, and the answer is found by trial and error with EACH gun!

appreciated, it didn't occur to me to use a dummy round.

I bet back in the day more than one shooter forgot he had a dummy in the chamber, undoubtedly to the glee of his friends when he tried to fire.

thanks.

Absolutely, and even today, when breech seating we sometimes forget to load powder or bullet. If that happens under the rules of some schuetzen organizations, it counts as a miss.

Brent