Additionally, There is a school of thought....
....that holds that it is more dangerous to load from a flask to a previously shot revolver. (One that might retain some of the hot residue from the previous shots.) The members of that school feel that one should charge the revolver using a single charge scoop rather than a flask.
Those of you who are long-time contributors to this forum may remember a rather brisk discussion in which I made the obviously incorrect statement that it is no more dangerous to use a flask than a scoop. Whenever I read the words "revolver" and "flask" in the same sentence, I am prompted to recall my embarrassing statement.
It might be worthwhile at this point to mention some precautions when loading whether it be flask or scoop.
I always load my revolvers with the cylinder out of the revolver using a loading press. I never shoot competitively so time is not an issue.
Loading with a press adds to safety in several ways:
1. It increases the time between the last shot and the first charge. So hot stuff in the chamber has a chance to cool.
2. It exposes the chambers to a breeze by removing it from the shelter of the frame.
3. It gives me the opportunity (which I always take) to peer into each chamber to inspect for the stuff that might be left in the chamber after the last shot.
Those who want or need to charge the revolver with the cylinder still in the frame are invited to consider the effect of a hot ember lighting the powder while the chamber is being charged. So the portion of the power charge which is already in the chamber flashes and hence the powder still in the loading device also lights. If the loading device is a scoop which contains logically not more than 40 grains, the shooter gets a surprise and perhaps some singed fingers. If the loading device is a flask containing a quarter pound of powder, the event could be tragic.
I did a little research and was not able to find any instance of a powder flash when loading a previously fired revolver. It happens more often in long arms. In fact one of the posters here witnessed it himself.
However to rest upon the premise that, "It has never happened." sounds like famous last words.
__________________
Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.
|