What is the emergency stop procedure for black powder?

[Watcher]

Just drafting some Range Safety Procedures and wondering what the emergency stop procedure would be for a BP firearm? I can imagine that for a revolver it might be to go to half-cock and rest the hammer on the detent between the nipples. What about a flintlock? Looking at both an indoor and outdoor situation.

[meles meles]

Keep your finger off the trigger, await further instructions. Nothing more. As soon as you introduce another measure you add scope for fumbling and accidental discharge. Keep it simple.

[Blackstuff]

Pour a pint of water down the barrel

[shugie]

Pour a pint of water down the barrel

From which end?

[Mikaveli]

It's a tough one - I'd probably say just stop, put the guns on the bench and step away.

I guess the concern is a hammer falling - whether from a knock or the user fumbling? "Unload and show clear" isn't a quick procedure for a muzzle loader.

What do other clubs do?

[tackb]

the badgery one is right , keep it pointing at the sand/backstop , keep your finger off the trigger and wait further instruction, ABSOLUTLEY NO FUMBLING !

[dodgyrog]

Keep your finger off the trigger, await further instructions. Nothing more. As soon as you introduce another measure you add scope for fumbling and accidental discharge. Keep it simple.

Sounds about right to me!

[Watcher]

I can see the sense in "stand still and take your finger off the trigger"!. If you were RCO what would you do then? With a BP revolver I do think its drop the hammer (under control) onto the detent between cylinders. What about a flintlock? Do you ask for the priming charge to be 'dropped' and then the hammer lowered? Trouble with that is you have powder all over the bench. I'm trying to imagine what I'd want if I'm about to go forward to deal with an 'issue'.

[channel12]

You could try contacting the Muzzle Loading Association of GB as I think you may get a better answer

http://www.mlagb.com/shooting/index.htm

[Watcher]

You could try contacting the Muzzle Loading Association of GB as I think you may get a better answer

http://www.mlagb.com/shooting/index.htm

Thanks for that. I did look at their web site in the hope that they might have some guidance; also the NRA. Couldn't find anything (mind you I might have missed it :roll: ).