Filling a powder horn

[bones92]

Okay, time for another greenhorn question...

For you with powder horns with just a small spout, how do you go about refilling the horn?   Do you use a small funnel to pour down the spout?

I ask because I'm planning to eventually turn a horn in to a powder horn, and I'm debating those brass inserts you can buy, with a bushing that permanently mounts in the plug, with a threaded piece that you can unscrew to more easily refill the horn.

Something like this: http://www.powderhornsandmore.com/product/track-of-the-wolf-large-ph-base-plug/

To me, it seems like a practical thing to add, but I'm curious as to why I don't see more guys with these built into their powder horns.

[Monty59]

Hello,
use a small funnel it is easy to use and it works ! Or made or buy a Horn with a screw - tip that made a bit easier but you must use a funnel.

Monty

[EC121]

They sell a small funnel for the "in the ear" type thermometers at the drug store.  I got mine at the doctors office.  It is one of those they use to look in your ear.  Usually a bunch on the wall in the exam room.

[Dave Marsh]

I fill mine with my fingers held around the horn.    Same way I put shot in my shot bag.  No funnel. Simple solution for a simple minded guy. 

Dave

[Frank]

Here is what I use.

https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/70/1/POWDER-CAP-B

[Tim Crosby]

 Cut a piece of thick paper, like a file folder, in the shape of a fan, 1st Pic. Roll around a pencil of small dowel or something that will either fit in the spout opening or tightly around it, tape it together and try it, you will have something like this Pic #2, it may take a couple tries. Once you have something that will fit/work, make one up out of tin and Solder it closed, I used tin cans for these. Make a Hardwood mandrel to form the cone around and wire to keep it closed while Soldering. The first is kind of raw looking, Pics 1 & 2 but the lower one is cleaned up a bit and has a ring added as a handle, that was a challenge for my Soldering skills.

  Tim C.

PS: The Pix came out a bit large.TC

[skillman]

I have used all kinds of funnels, some even made from horn. Really neat items to have in your shooters box and certainly conversation items. Problem is, you never seem to have one where and when you need it. I'm with Dave on this. Learn to wrap your hand around the throat and tip of your horn making a funnel out of it to fill your horn. With a little practice you'll get good at it and you'll always have it handy. Make sure your hand is dry.

Steve

[davec2]

Years ago I needed a powder funnel rather quickly and made one up from the copper shaped charge war head liner of a 2.75 inch rocket (long, non muzzleloading story) and a cut off .308 cartridge.  Works fine…not very HC…



Had one last tip of an all black horn kicking around on the bench for many years and could not decide what to do with it.  I didn't need any more priming or salt horns so I made a powder funnel out of it.   Also probably not HC but it least its not made out of a shaped charge liner.  Fun to do anyway.

[P.W.Berkuta]

Very nice Dave -- what do you do with all that neat stuff you make -- you have a store ??? Seriously -- very nice!

[Horner75]

I fill mine with my fingers held around the horn.    Same way I put shot in my shot bag.  No funnel. Simple solution for a simple minded guy. 

Dave

Ditto! ___ Quick, easy and no extra junk to misplace or loose!

Rick

[Marcruger]

http://www.cabelas.com/product/rcbs-reg-powder-funnel/731724.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dfunnel%26x%3D10%26y%3D6%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%252BProducts&Ntt=funnel

These typical reloading funnels work fine.  They are wider than the horn's tip, and fit down over it.  Internally there is a funnel that centers the powder on the hole in the tip.  It works well, but is not very historically correct! 

Best wishes,   Marc

[Nate McKenzie]

I just make my horn tips round enough to fit tightly in my GOEX cans that the powder won't come out when I turn the whole shebang upside down and let the powder drain into the horn. The last few ounces in the can go into the next can.

[hanshi]

I only have one horn with a spout plug that comes out to reveal a larger hole for easy filling.  For the others I use the regular can spout, hold it and the horn tip together with my fingers and powder pours in rather easily.  It's slightly slower but I don't normally spill any even with my fumble fingers.

[Kermit]

I fill mine with my fingers held around the horn.    Same way I put shot in my shot bag.  No funnel. Simple solution for a simple minded guy. 

Dave

Me too. Sometimes a paper funnel, but I'm usually too lazy to go fund paper and scissors.

[David R. Pennington]

I keep it simple. Take about 3 to 4 inch square of scrap paper and roll it into a funnel and stick a pice of tape on it.

[Bob Mac]

I have a plastic screw top from an air tool oil. These were included in the case lot at work. One for every pint in the case. Not HC but they screw right onto the Goex can. I always wonder if the plastic is ok with powder? If it is not, I hope someone will say so.

[Jerry]

I like the idea of a leather funnel. Circular in shape, formed to shape with a small hole in the center. Small punched hole at the edge for tying onto your pouch strap.

[WKevinD]

Next time you go to a Doctors office or a hospital pick up some of those disposable cones they use on the end of that "see in the ear" flashlight thingy that they use. Different sizes available. I use one that is about 3/16" narrow end x 3/4" open end x 1 1/2" overall long 

[OldJoe]

On the horns that I've built, I drill out a 7/8" hole in the plug and tap it with a 1" wooden screw.  Of course you need to buy a tap and die for wood.  I also have a 1/2" tap and die that I use for priming horns.  i've been making screws out of apple wood from a dying tree I have. Then, as stated by others, a cone made of paper works perfect.
 ****WORD OF CAUTION****  DON'T USE PLASTIC AS IT MIGHT CREATE A STATIC ELECTRIC CHARGE WHICH MIGHT WRECK YOUR ENTIRE DAY!!!

[Nordnecker]

When I needed to fill my first powder horn, I didn't have a funnel or a spout or time to get one. I had been fiddling with some thin cardboard (beverage container stuff) cutting out shapes for a model boat. The little cardboard "boat" was sitting there and I poured my powder into the boat and used the pointy end to pour the powder into the horn. It worked great. It's so easy and cheap. I keep my "powder boat" in my shooting box. I wouldn't use anything else.

[JohnnyFM]

Yep, fingers make a good impromptu funnel.  Paper when I'm feeling creative and fastidious but never been ambitious enough to find the scissors.

[Ezra]

I use a little copper funnel.  No sparks, no static electricity.


Ez

[HAWKEN]

I used a tubing cutter to cut the end off of a .243 Winchester empty brass shell, leaving about 1 1/2".  I flared the big end with a flaring tool, drilled a hole in an old Goex powder lid and soldered it into the lid..........robin   

[eddillon]

I use a Lyman cartridge case reloading funnel.  It fits over the spout of the horn.
 

[Hungry Horse]

 I'm with Dave, and Kermit, on this one. I wrap my hand around the horn, with my thumb, and forefinger, extending beyond the neck of the horn forming a sparkless, adjustable, funnel, that doesn't get lost, or broken. And in my experience, it spills less powder than using a funnel.
 Muzzleloader shooters should definitely adhere to the KISS rule, or you will end up with more gadgets than your truck can haul.

   Hungry Horse