Saturday, December 19, 2009

How likely is a black powder firearm to start a fire?

One time I blasted a wooden box at point blank range with a colt naval, and I noticed that the superheated powder particles would burn holes a few milimeters deep around the auctual bullet hole.


Would these be able to ignite a flamable substance?How likely is a black powder firearm to start a fire?
OK first off Black Powder is not a slow burn. It is extremely fast burning that is why it is listed as an explosive.





With black powder you would be more likely to start a fire than if you were using 777 or pyrodex for Jim Shockey gold powder.





If you were close enough to anything flammable then any firearm could potently catch it on fire.





Mr. BHow likely is a black powder firearm to start a fire?
I've been using a Thompson Center 54 cal Renegade, with black powder for the past 18 years. I've fired a couple of hundred rounds thru the thing and have never set fire to anything. I've never seen a patch leave the barrell on fire.





I'd say it's highly unlikely that it would start a fire under normal shooting situations.





I think part of what you are seeing isn't the powder burning into the box but that its being driven into the wood as a projectile along with a little singeing. Try it with a dense wood like an oak plank and see how much burning you get.
It depends on the target and distance. As you noted, there were burns on the box, but you were at point blank range. Even smokeless powder leaves powder burns consistent with your description. Could it cause a forest fire? Possibly, but you would have to fire point blank into a pile of leaves or kindling, since burning embers would die out over the course of, say 10-15 feet. Having said that, I have never heard of a forest fire being started by firearms (aside from on a military range where tracer rounds or explosives were used), despite woodsmen using blackpowder and flint as firestarting tools regularly.
In Mythbusters episode 45, Kari, Grant and Tori started a fire using a musket, blackpowder, a wad, and tinder. So it is possible.
I am guessing that it is highly likely. You probably already know it but black powder is a slow burn and a considerable amount of burning and unburnt powder comes out with the projectile.
Yes they can start fires. Muzzle loaders especially so. Some people use a piece of oily rag as a 'patch'. This can catch fire and fly a long way.

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