hangfires and flyers

[retired fella]

A real frustrating day at the range today.  I shoot a 40 cal flint and almost never get a hangfire or misfire.  As for flyers, that's mostly me.  I noticed that the ball was not properly seating on the powder and my mark on my range rod was off.   First thing I thought was a fouling ring.  Swabbed and wiped, no help.  Later at home, cleaned inside and out.  Tested my range rod once again, still off.  Pulled the  breach off and lo and behold there was an old cleaning patch plastered to the breach and it would intermittently cover the touch hole or bunch up.  I have been shooting for 40 odd years and just goes to show I am still learning.   

[Daryl]

Patch stuck in the breech would sure screw things up. A worm might be a good attachment to have for your rod - save having to"pull the plug".

[retired fella]

Daryl,    I debreached thinking that I might have a rough spot in the bore.  I do have a worm but it never occurred to me that patch material was the culprit.  Never too old to learn.

[Pukka Bundook]

Retied fella,

Did the same one time. Was showing a Jaeger I'd build to some folks up in the mountains and loaded it up.
Got a flash and nothing else.

"Is it supposed to be that quiet?" I was asked!
Had lost a bit of cleaning material down  bore when cleaning last..  had to pull the charge.

[retired fella]

Pukka Bundook
This is truly a humbling sport at times.  I love it.

[WKevinD]

How come when  really I screw up I do it in front of people I would like to impress.

Kevin

[little joe]

Could be very dangerous, pouring powder down on a smoldering patch.Thanks for sharing.