Accident

[Curt Schmidt]

Hallo!

While this is not of particular concern to reenactors or living historians, IMHO there is enough "cross over" interest with "live fire" to warrant sharing and rumor control...

At last weekend's N-SSA 130th Nationals held at Fort Shenandoah a musket "blew up."

A preliminary investigation regarding the musket failure showed that a competitor inadvertently used smokeless powder his ammunition for the 130th national. On the first relay of the 2nd phase, the competitor loaded a smokeless powder round. When fired, the barrel suffered a "catastrophic failure" at the breech.
While the musket was destroyed, neither the shooter or the lads around him were seriously injured.

While this is not at all typical of the N-SSA's 60-some year superb record of safety, it does show that mistakes and carelessness can happen.

Be CAREFUL and safe pards.

Curt
NOT speaking for the N-SSA

[Cumpston1862]

Re: Accident

Thanks for posting Curt.

In the thought of "a picture is worth a thousand words" follow the link below to pictures of this musket.

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/n-ssa-exploded-musket-images.104901/

[csuniforms]

Re: Accident

You are correct--it happened-- and the gentleman did pour the wrong powder into his loading tubes---The story is some individual gave him the powder to use--- 50 some grains of smokeless powder if you put that into your modern deer rifle or pistol-- the same thing would happen to it. No one "Thank God" was hurt. A true miracle!!!

Lots of chatter on using old original barrels to shoot--- we in the NSSA do it all the time especially with CW carbines like Smiths and Maynards. They wont blow up using 30 grains of 2F or 28 grains of 3f powder... The gun was an original Colt musket--- one for the books.

CSuniforms
Tom Arliskas

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Accident

A couple of observations here:
1) "Borrowed" and "Loaner" items:
In 1998, a reenactor from France attended the 135th Gettysburg event. A cavalry fellow, he borrowed a revolver from someone to use in the event. The pistol was not inspected, so it went un-noticed that a projectile was lodged in the barrel. The powder charged in a blank dislodged the ball and sent it down-range and into a human being.

ANY ITEM that you did not inspect and prove safe yourself, or that you did not witness a qualified individual inspect and prove safe is INHERENTLY DANGEROUS. It is, in effect, guilty until proven innocent.

If you borrow powder, assume it is the wrong kind. Inspect the original packaging. If it has already been repackaged, then you cannot verify what it is - don't use it.

2) The danger of "Group Think":
One characteristic of Group Think is the reliance on past success as an indication that "everything is OK" now.

The proper mindset, especially when it comes to safety, is to assume that the dangers are out there and that past success is due to "luck"... "the stars did not align against us and we were lucky... so we must be vigilant at all times if we are to keep our people safe".

While we don't shoot live rounds, we have our own issues. Think about this when people walk on to an event and want to fall in at the spur of the moment. Don't let them in! They need to have their arms inspected and you (as a commander) need to have a level of confidence that they know how to be safe.

[Philo]

Re: Accident

I was there at the time of the accident. The competitor had inadvertently loaded smokeless powder in his cartridge tubes, and then loaded his original Colt Special model with the powder. We were very fortunate that there were no injuries, we had a less than 3 minute response from the Gainsboro (Va.) Fire and Rescue staff to the accident site. Our more than 1/4 of a mile firing line was shut down and secured immediately.

Yes all in all we were very, very lucky.

Here is the statement from the N-SSA Inspector General:

FROM THE OFFICE OF
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL


A preliminary investigation regarding the musket failure on 2nd phase musket at the 130th national has shown that a competitor inadvertently used smokeless powder in his loading procedure while loading his ammunition for the 130th national. On the first relay of the 2nd phase the competitor loaded one of the smokeless rounds. Upon ignition the barrel suffered a catastrophic failure in the breech section. Even though the musket was destroyed, no one was seriously injured. Let this be a lesson to each of us to be extra careful of our loading procedures.
I will be submitting a full report of this incident to the Board of Directors at the January 2015 Board of Directors meeting. Copies of this report will also be made available to all of the N-SSA member units.

Regards,

Phil Spaugy
N-SSA National Commander

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Accident

Thank you, Phil! We greatly appreciate a direct comment from you!

[Philo]

Re: Accident

Never a problem John. It is so important that his situation, as bad as it was can be used as a learning experience for those of us who shoot and reload for both black powder and smokeless firearms. You can not, in any way shape or form grow complacent in your loading procedures.