Horn plugs

[pulaski]

Is the plug in your powder horn spout attached or not ?
If attached , how ? , with what ?
If not , why not ?

[Cory Joe Stewart]

I am assuming that you mean the spout plug is tied to the horn in some way.  I have made horns like this before, but my personal horn is not.

I just like to pull the spout plug out and move the horn freely.  Usually the plug is in my mouth, but nine out of ten dentist do not recommend this.  I just find tying it to the spout cumbersome with all of the other gear that I have on. 

Coryjoe

[Habu]

Not tied; when loading I pull it with my teeth and keep it there til I plug the horn again.  I used to drill them and tie on with a short string so I wouldn't loose it.  Then one time the string caught on some brush; the resulting noise spoiled my stalk. 

I think my earlier concerns about loosing the plug were overblown.  I can't recall loosing a plug in the past almost-thirty years.

[Ky-Flinter]

Attached.  I use some fairly heavy hemp thread and do a 3 strand braid.  I don't like holes in the plug, so I wrap the braid around, then weave the loose threads back into the existing braid, similar to rope splicing I learned in Boy Scouts.  No loose ends.  This is a horn I made for a friend.



-Ron

[Cory Joe Stewart]

Not to brag or jinx myself but I have never had the end stopper just fall out.  I have seen some commercially made powderhorns that would just fall out, and clients have sent them to me to fix.  If it is done right it should take a little work to get out. 

I have never had a hunt spoiled but I have gotten my vent pick, pan brush, measurer and horn strap tangled up, so it is just one less string. 

Coryjoe

[pulaski]

I have allways fastened the plug to the horn . It dawned on me last deer season , while sitting near a river , that I've never had a spout plug fall out .
Armed with this new knowledge I untied my plug from the spout , and promply dropped it on the ground . Seems that pulling it and letting hang , untill I prime , was a tough habbit to break .
At the next shoot I got into the habbit of holding it in my teeth untill I was finished priming .
Have'nt lost it sense .(knock on wood)

[Pete G.]

I have had a plug fall out. Probably due to my not paying enough attention when replacing it, but nevertheless, it was gone. I now tether the plug and when I load I clench the plug between the second and third fingers of the right hand while I hold the measure between the first finger and thumb while holding the horn with the left. Makes it very easy to replace the plug and then charge the gun. I really don't like the idea of leaving a power trail.

[Scott Bumpus]

One thought is to not tie the plug to the horn for safety sake.  If the plug is loose you are much less likely to forget to replug the horn before firing.  Hate for a spark to find it's way down my horn!

[longcruise]

Scott, I removed my attaching system for that very reason.  Last year a fellow had a spark find it's way into his horn at a shoot (i think in nebraska) and his injuries were fairly serious.

I shoot cappers, but still have been hit and burned

[david50]

i keep mine tethered with a piece of braided cotton twine,have lost more than one trying to get a quick second shot at a squirrel. then poured all the powder out of my horn while bending over looking for the plug

[Daryl]

Mine are all attached - thin thong of brain-tanned deer hide works for me.  I like both turned wooden plugs, fiddle plugs - almost anything will work - even green willow (or any branch large enough) works for a day if you do happen to lose one while hunting.  Green timber carves more easily and quickly.  I've snagged the thong on a branch and ripped it and the plug away while busting through the bush tring to steer the rifle, without knowing it's gone.  Horns that curve up nicely wit snall holes are good for this, generlly not spilling powder even when bent over. Bending the knees rathe than bending over will usually keep the horn's tip mostly up.