Part 2 — Initial Pan Experiments

Burn marks on a card help us to determine the intensity of the black powder burn in the flintlock pan. This was a preliminary step to help determine how to prime the pan.

The card test was designed to determine the intensity of the flame at the vent. An index card was cut and pinched between the lock plate and the barrel. The pan was primed in three different positions. The first was banked away from the vent as tradition suggests. The second was to place the powder in the center of the pan. In last position, the powder was placed as close to the vent as possible without touching. The powder was ignited as in the first test.

Photo 1 shows the fixture, barrel, and the index card in place for the first test.

Photo 2 shows the burn marks left on the index card with the priming powder banked to the outer edge of the pan.

Photo 3 shows the burn marks left on the index card with the priming powder placed in the center of the pan.

Photo 4 shows the burn marks left on the index card with the priming powder placed in the pan as close to the vent as possible without covering the vent.

From the first two experiments I am beginning to conclude that is might be best to prime closer to the vent. The next test was designed to gather more information about this possibility.

Pan Vent Experiments — Introduction

Part 1 — Black Powder Ignition Characteristics

Part 3 — Photography through the muzzle

Part 4 — Priming Powder Amount by Weight

Part 5 — Timing Powder locations in Pan

Part 6 — High and Low Vent Experiments