I didn't have much time to shoot my muzzleloader last year, so most of the time it sat in the cabinet. In early November I decided to shoot it at the range to see if the sights were still on as I was dreaming of a distantly possible muzzleloader hunt this last year.

When I got to the range, I saw that they had everything closed off except the 100 yard range, I figured, I'd make do as the rifle was sighted for 100 yards last time I shot it. I posted a target came back to the line and loaded a ball.

After about 5 tries, I could not get it to go off- just a flash in the pan. I tried more priming powder and even tipped the rifle after priming to get some in the flashhole. Still nothing. I poured a little 4f in the flash hole and tried again. This time it went off with a huge boom. A guy down the line said it sounded like a cannon. I shrugged as It had been a year since I shot it last and couldn't remember how loud it was supposed to be. Ichecked my spotting scope and there wasn't a hole in the target.

I loaded another patched ball. Again, I ended up feeding powder into the flashhole to get it to go off. Again, no hole in the target.

When I went to swab the barrel to load another ball, I noticed to my suprise I noticed a badly deformed ball sticking 1/2 way out of the muzzle with no patch under it!

Apparantly there must have been a loose ball in my gun case or something that somehow got into the barrel before I loaded it the first time. The ball must have sealed patent breach so the powder couldn't get in and it took a bit of pressure from priming powder to push it forward enough to ignite the charge.

I shot the rifle aagain, and and it still didn't hit the paper, then fired again at a rock on a berm to find out where it was hitting, but couldn't see where it hit, so I called it a day with the ML. When I got home, I mic'd the barrel and couldn't find any evidence of a walnut, so that was a relief at least.

The mistake I made was that I didn't check the barrel before loading- I could have run a patch puller down the barrel and found the ball, but I didn't.

Thanks for sharing! I will start checking my barrel before I shoot it next time. Though I usually clean my rifle after each day at the range or at the end of the hunt.

Tom

I can't understand how the main charge was ignited.

Me niether. Thats a wild situation. May be one of those things you may never get to the bottom of. Glad it all worked out.

And to think that all this time I've been storing my guns and balls separately ...

Don't feel too bad , you're in one piece and hopefully your gun is still useable . I forgot to ram the ball one time , fortunately all it did was give a soft sigh and poop the ball out about 6 feet .

Well the main thing is no one got hurt. Also you learned an important lesson. Next time, to make sure the rifle will go off more dependable, swab the barrel with an alcohol patch. If there is something in the bore you should feel it or notice that the ramrod does not travel far enough down the bore in realation to it when you swab. That means you have to look fro a reason. After that a couple dry patches. Then wipe the pan and frizzen along with the flint using the alcohol patch and load as normal...

Glad no one was hurt--

Briman,

This can happen to anyone. It is nice that your experience honestly. Crazy as this sounds, two projectiles can be put one on top another two. And when it happens, the poor soul who did would swear he didn't load two.

We are all just humans, afterall. I have tried to incorporate additional safety checks in my loading to help avoid a catastrophe. I don't trust that I can't make a mistake.

One thing I do is I learn just where my ramrod should be with the bullet seated and using the charge I've settled on. Then Imark the rod. A piece of masking tape can work and not permanently mark the rod. I know I am not double loaded or improperly seated if the mark is where it should be.

When hunting and walking, I carry my muzzle up and the rifle unprimed. When I sit, and am watching, I'll remove the ramrod and just double check my bullet seat. I've not found my bullet unseated, but as i see it, one can not be too safe.

Thanks for sharing, Phil

Thank goodness nobody was hurt and your rifle was not damaged!

Prior to going to my range or hunting, I always go through a weapons prep at home that includes:
1) Cleaning of the bore to remove any storage lubricants.
2)Anti-sieze lube and installation of a ventliner, nipple or breech plug depending on the rifle.
3) General inspection of the lock or firing mechanism.

Best,

Tahquamenon

Glad no one was hurt. Things happen to everyone the best we can hope for is to learn from our mistakes and maybe if we read it here we can learn from that too. Everyone marks there ramrod, don't get me wrong it's a good idea, my load 90 gr pyrodex, 240 xtp in a hornady sabot is 3 1/4 fingers, it will never were off or be covered up.

this is why i dont go range when others are shooting.i seen some shoot thru ceiling of roof,put double loads of powder in barrel,put 2 bullets in,load pan up so bad it burnt their eyes and face. 1 guy even left his ramrod in barrel and shot it.i seem many shoot into ground almost hitting their feet. when we are walking in woods,guy behind me always slings his gun.if i am behind you , i do same. accidents do happen and black powder i seen most close calls in 45 years shooting/hunting. glad to hear you were not hurt, take care.