red sulphur streaks at muzzle

[rich pierce]

Does the appearance of red sulphur streaks in the bore at the muzzle "mean anything" in regards to the load or is it just a result of atmospheric conditions (humidity, temperature, etc)?

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Mad Monk would know the answer for sure I'll bet, but I think it's a product of the atmospheric conditions.

[hanshi]

I, too, tend to think the weather has an affect and causes this; though I have no actual knowledge in this area.

[Daryl]

It happens at times - & means nothing in regards the shooting attributes of the gun - as least seems that way. 

Even get reddish fouling the pan, at times, running on an angle down from the bottom of the vent's hole, to the pan - usually on a day that gives the 'barrel blood'  or powder berries on the bore.

We went on at length about this, just a short whie ago - maybe 5 or 6 months past?

[Joe Stein]

Here is what Mad Monk said the last time it was brought up:

Mad Monk
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Re: Red beady or streaky fouling
« Reply #1 on: February 22, 2010, 11:08:12 AM »    Reply with quote
Quote from: William Worth on February 22, 2010, 10:36:45 AM
I know this has been covered but I can't find it in a search, it sticks in my mind, that the red beads or streaks often seen in BP fouling just inside the muzzle, is an indication that the powder is working near best efficiency.

But now what are the red beads or streaks composed of and what do they mean?  Huh   Tongue   Saw this yesterday in low humidity shooting.

Actually they mean nothing.  It is simply the way some of the products of combustion form in the bore under different weather conditions.  Utterly nothing to do with the effeciency of a particular load.

Bill K.

[Flinter]

I saw this is my touch hole a couple of week’s age and thought it was the powder still burning.
Yesterday, I saw the reddish streaks running from the touch hole onto the pan.

[Dphariss]

I saw this is my touch hole a couple of week’s age and thought it was the powder still burning.
Yesterday, I saw the reddish streaks running from the touch hole onto the pan.

I shot some older Schuetzen through my 16 bore and the pan turned orange from gas out the vent and the bore had a lot of red showing. Never happens with Swiss.

Dan

[rich pierce]

Thanks, boys.  I knew I came to the right place for answers.

[Chuck Burrows]

Rich - I take it this in regards to Paul V's ramblings on MLF? His explanations of science around often beyond  the pale so to speak, usually leaving me shaing my head in wonder!

[rich pierce]

Sort of, Chuck.  I saw the red streaks last weekend while developing a load for my .58 Getz.  I was shooting a .570 ball, .018 patch with spit, 90 grains of FFG.   It was loading very hard at the muzzle, requiring a short starter and a tap with a mallet, but the groups were as good as I can ever get off a cobbled bench, holes all touching at 40 yards (all the length of range I had).  I noticed the red streaks and it did remind me of some of the jibber jabber I'd read on that other forum.  Thought this would be the place to get real answers.

[Mad Monk]

Sort of, Chuck.  I saw the red streaks last weekend while developing a load for my .58 Getz.  I was shooting a .570 ball, .018 patch with spit, 90 grains of FFG.   It was loading very hard at the muzzle, requiring a short starter and a tap with a mallet, but the groups were as good as I can ever get off a cobbled bench, holes all touching at 40 yards (all the length of range I had).  I noticed the red streaks and it did remind me of some of the jibber jabber I'd read on that other forum.  Thought this would be the place to get real answers.

Tis that time of the year.  Cold and often dry with low humidity.

The low humidity makes the reloading tough with some powder and lube combination and the red starts showing up to greater degrees in the fouling.

Keep in mind that below 30% R.H. the black powder residue is non-hygroscopic.  Combine that with lesser amounts of water in the air at a give temp. and R.H.  Cold air holds very little moisture compared to warm air.

E. Ogre

[roundball]

"...Paul V's ramblings on MLF? His explanations of science around often beyond  the pale so to speak, usually leaving me shaing my head in wonder!

Glad to know I'm not the only who's witnessed that...and IMO, you're being very kind.
I don't know of another single source of such arm chair theory, and worse, posted in a manner suggesting its proven through personal hands on experience.

[roundball]

I routinely see red streaks around the pan / vent / muzzle every year during the dry / low humidity months here in North Carolina...once the humidity gets back up its no longer visible...target loads / full power loads of Goex...doesn't matter...happens every year for me and follows low humidity / dry conditions.

[RonT]

Have witnessed the same phenomenon here in North Central Ohia, kinda' comes and goes, like the weather.  God knows that we have weather change in these parts.
And, once was a fellow in our town that "if' he did everything that he claimed to have done....he would have been ~150 yrs. old.  just sayin' .
R