Traditional Muzzleloading Association

Craftsmanship => Accoutrements => Topic started by: Ohio Joe on April 01, 2019, 01:28:39 PM

Title: Priming Antler
Post by: Ohio Joe on April 01, 2019, 01:28:39 PM
Made myself a "priming antler yesterday and finished up the plug and strap this morning. I have some old pieces of deer antler laying around in my workshop that's been in there for years just bugging me to do something with them so here's how this one turned out.

(https://i.imgur.com/upKpm1G.jpg?1)

Kinda neat how you can use your drill press, files, and sandpaper to turn out plugs. This one now has 4fg powder in - in case I'd need it, and I think I'll do another one this week. Horn is much easier to work with, but I'm happy with the way this piece of antler turned out. It'll do!  I might mention I got a little piece of brass tubing (about 5/8" long) lining the inside of the spout. :bl th up
Title: Re: Priming Antler
Post by: rollingb on April 01, 2019, 01:38:05 PM
I like it!!  :hairy :toast
Title: Re: Priming Antler
Post by: Ohio Joe on April 01, 2019, 02:15:21 PM
Thanks Rondo.  :bl th up

I just got to thinking, I've now got primers made from; brass, cow, buffalo, and deer,,, I might see if I can do one from antelope?
Title: Re: Priming Antler
Post by: rollingb on April 01, 2019, 02:19:36 PM
Thanks Rondo.  :bl th up

I just got to thinking, I've now got primers made from; brass, cow, buffalo, and deer,,, I might see if I can do one from antelope?

Antelope horn works good for a priming horn,.... I used to have one, but gave it to a friend.  :hairy :*:
Title: Re: Priming Antler
Post by: Uncle Russ on April 01, 2019, 05:16:17 PM
Nery Nice!

How much, ie how many grains do you think that will hold?

 :hairy
Title: Re: Priming Antler
Post by: Ohio Joe on April 01, 2019, 06:08:54 PM
Nery Nice!

How much, ie how many grains do you think that will hold?

 :hairy

You know, I don't know Russ. I just filled it about 2/3 thirds of the way and felt that was good. I reckon it holds enough for over 30/40 shots? I'll go back out in the shop and find out in a little while, and post it here.  :bl th up
Title: Re: Priming Antler
Post by: Ohio Joe on April 01, 2019, 06:39:33 PM
Nery Nice!

How much, ie how many grains do you think that will hold?

 :hairy

You know, I don't know Russ. I just filled it about 2/3 thirds of the way and felt that was good. I reckon it holds enough for over 30/40 shots? I'll go back out in the shop and find out in a little while, and post it here.  :bl th up

Ok Russ, it will hold 150 grains of 4fg so the break down would be roughly;

...3 grns = 50 shots
...4 grns = 37 shots (Rounded down)
...5 grns = 30 shots
...6 grns = 25 shots

I probably prime 4 to 5 grains since it's this type of primer that's a guess and by golly,,, so I'm going to say I would get 30 to 40 shots from this priming antler.
Title: Re: Priming Antler
Post by: Fyrstyk on April 01, 2019, 06:44:00 PM
That's a lot of prime.  Do you really need that much?  I generally use 3-4 grains of 3 or 4fin my flinters.
Title: Re: Priming Antler
Post by: Ohio Joe on April 01, 2019, 06:57:19 PM
No, you don't. However when dumping it in the pan it sometimes goes a bit heavy - so just allowing for that to happen, and it will.  :shake
Title: Re: Priming Antler
Post by: Spotted Bull on April 01, 2019, 08:11:00 PM
Thats mighty nice Joe!
Title: Re: Priming Antler
Post by: Ohio Joe on April 01, 2019, 08:12:24 PM
Thats mighty nice Joe!

Thank you Spotted Bull.  :shake
Title: Re: Priming Antler
Post by: Ohio Joe on April 01, 2019, 11:23:18 PM
I just thought of something. When I was making this antler primer my intentions where to carry it in my shooting bag in case I would need some 4fg - as I plan on priming from my main powder horn with the 2fg... So,,, I took the leather lanyard off (except for the part that holds the spout plug in place and it now resides in my shooting bag. Thought I'd clear that up in case anyone was wondering.
Title: Re: Priming Antler
Post by: Uncle Russ on April 03, 2019, 03:06:56 AM
Nery Nice!

How much, ie how many grains do you think that will hold?

 :hairy

You know, I don't know Russ. I just filled it about 2/3 thirds of the way and felt that was good. I reckon it holds enough for over 30/40 shots? I'll go back out in the shop and find out in a little while, and post it here.  :bl th up

Ok Russ, it will hold 150 grains of 4fg so the break down would be roughly;

...3 grns = 50 shots
...4 grns = 37 shots (Rounded down)
...5 grns = 30 shots
...6 grns = 25 shots

I probably prime 4 to 5 grains since it's this type of primer that's a guess and by golly,,, so I'm going to say I would get 30 to 40 shots from this priming antler.

Looks like it's a bit larger than I thought it was.
150gr FFFFg is a lot of prime for me to carry, but I certainly would carry that much, if it was right, this "priming horn" you've made does seem about right to carry in the pouch.....I like it even more now that I know it likely holds about twice as much as I was thinking it would.
Title: Re: Priming Antler
Post by: Ohio Joe on April 03, 2019, 10:21:15 AM
Nery Nice!

How much, ie how many grains do you think that will hold?

 :hairy

You know, I don't know Russ. I just filled it about 2/3 thirds of the way and felt that was good. I reckon it holds enough for over 30/40 shots? I'll go back out in the shop and find out in a little while, and post it here.  :bl th up

Ok Russ, it will hold 150 grains of 4fg so the break down would be roughly;

...3 grns = 50 shots
...4 grns = 37 shots (Rounded down)
...5 grns = 30 shots
...6 grns = 25 shots

I probably prime 4 to 5 grains since it's this type of primer that's a guess and by golly,,, so I'm going to say I would get 30 to 40 shots from this priming antler.

Looks like it's a bit larger than I thought it was.
150gr FFFFg is a lot of prime for me to carry, but I certainly would carry that much, if it was right, this "priming horn" you've made does seem about right to carry in the pouch.....I like it even more now that I know it likely holds about twice as much as I was thinking it would.

Here you go Russ, this picture puts it in better prospective. 

(https://i.imgur.com/sMrW0Iu.jpg?1)
Title: Re: Priming Antler
Post by: Uncle Russ on April 03, 2019, 02:37:10 PM
 :hairy
That, to me, would be just perfect.
I have a couple of the brass, plunge type primers, not sure who made them, but one is calibrated to drop 3 gr, the other is 4 gr, and neither one works well with FFFg powder.
I know I can get the parts I want, to do the things I want a pocket primer to do from Track, and I have several Deer Horns laying around the shop, so guess what I'm going to be doing during all this rain.....😊
Another good part of rain is I don't have to break my back shoveling it!
Title: Re: Priming Antler
Post by: Winter Hawk on April 03, 2019, 04:57:55 PM
Kinda neat how you can use your drill press, files, and sandpaper to turn out plugs.

Oh dang, now I'm going to have to buy me a drill press!  :lol sign  And where, in my overcrowded shop, am I going to set that up? :Doh! :o

~Kees~
Title: Re: Priming Antler
Post by: Ohio Joe on April 03, 2019, 05:01:14 PM
Sounds like a good plan Russ.

I have one those 3 grain brass plunger primers in my Range Box - however I don't take my Range Box with me to the Range anymore. In fact, the only place I ever take my Range Box is to Rendezvous and keep it in my tent until I need to get it out to clean my muzzle loaders back in camp after the shoots.

For many years now I've found it so much easier to grab my (rifle, shooting bag, and horn) and off to the Range I go... I also take along a little leather bag with, cleaner, oil, patches & brushes, q-tips, and pipe cleaners in it - to give my muzzle loader(s) a quick Range cleaning before heading back home where they get the full cleaning experience... I only live about 1- 1/2 miles from my local Range.

Anyway, I do find the little priming horns handy especially if you have powder horns that aren't very friendly to prime with - such as some that I own.

Have fun with it Russ and enjoy the build. And welcome to the tinkering club! :laffing  :shake



Title: Re: Priming Antler
Post by: Ohio Joe on April 03, 2019, 05:03:01 PM
Kinda neat how you can use your drill press, files, and sandpaper to turn out plugs.

Oh dang, now I'm going to have to buy me a drill press!  :lol sign  And where, in my overcrowded shop, am I going to set that up? :Doh! :o

~Kees~

Kees, there's always a way to make room for tools.....
Title: Re: Priming Antler
Post by: PetahW on April 04, 2019, 04:25:04 PM
.

I'm a little late to the party, Joe (sorry) - but think you did right by that hunk of antler.    .  :hairy



My Son has dozens of antlers in his basement from the smaller deer he's taken over the years (he has the giants taxidermied), so maybe I can get my paws on a few of the smaller/thinner antlers, and make some priming horns with brass push spouts.

(HMmmmmm)   8)


.
Title: Re: Priming Antler
Post by: Ohio Joe on April 04, 2019, 08:10:19 PM
.

I'm a little late to the party, Joe (sorry) - but think you did right by that hunk of antler.    .  :hairy



My Son has dozens of antlers in his basement from the smaller deer he's taken over the years (he has the giants taxidermied), so maybe I can get my paws on a few of the smaller/thinner antlers, and make some priming horns with brass push spouts.

(HMmmmmm)   8)


.

That sure sounds like a winner. I've tested this one twice now with two outings, and I like it. It rides nice in the shooting bag.  :bl th up
Title: Re: Priming Antler
Post by: Winter Hawk on April 04, 2019, 09:18:02 PM
I had one of the brass priming do-goodies with the push spout when I was in Ketchikan.  With all the rain there, the FFFFg in it turned to slush, the insides corroded and it ended up in the trash.  It was a less than impressive performance.

~Kees~
Title: Re: Priming Antler
Post by: WonkoTheSane on April 10, 2019, 08:06:47 PM

 :hairy

Got here a bit late, but that is really nice. 
Title: Re: Priming Antler
Post by: Ohio Joe on April 10, 2019, 08:24:04 PM

 :hairy

Got here a bit late, but that is really nice.

Thank you WTS.  :shake

Let's see,,, I've had it out 4 times now field testing it at our local Range and I've got no complaints. I'll have to wait for awhile now before I can get out and use it some more. Winter decided to return to NW Nebraska... I was perfectly happy with nice weather... :)

Oh by the way, I'm using it without the leather lanyard - I'm just taking it in and out of my shooting bag to prime.