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It is the responsibility of each individual to follow these rules. It is the responsibility of the unit commanders to provide training and guidance and also to enforce these rules
In General:
Guns are loaded with measured amounts of powder, either from paper cartridges, a bandolier of flasks (wooden/tin chargers), or a flask with a measure spout poured into the hand or a separate measure. All shooters should know the amount being loaded, measured in grains for small arms, grains or ounces for artillery.
All gun users are inspected & registered by the Black Powder Safety Officer or an authorized subordinate, before going onto the field.
All parts of the gun must function and be in safe condition.
Guns are loaded and fired in the designated areas, no loaded guns elsewhere unless approved by the Black Powder Safety Officer.
Keep your gunpowder safe, away from the public and fire.
Gun locks should not be fully ready to fire until the final command (i.e. "Make Ready!") is given. Matchlock pans should be covered by fingers, flintlocks and caplocks not fully cocked, wheellocks not spanned.
The Specific Rules:
1. Shooters must have fully functioning weapons and all required saftey equipment, and have been passed by the Black Powder Safety Officer or an authorized subordinate before firing a weapon. The law, common sense about firearms safety and these rules will be adhered to at all times.
2. It is important that all shooters have a thorough knowledge of: (a) The correct loading procedure. (b) What should be done in the event of a misfire. (c) How to carry a loaded gun.
3. Powder for the main charge must be carried in either: (a) Measured paper cartridges, which are to be carried in a leather or canvas bag. The bag should be closable and protected from stray sparks. (b) Flasks on a bandolier, being made from wood with tight fitting wood or pewter tops, must be flash proof. (c) A main-charge flask with measured pour spout, with a flash proof closure - measured powder then being poured into a measure or the hand, then into the barrel, NOT directly from poweder flask. Powder for priming must have a flash proof closure.
It is important that all these items are checked before every battle for damage and are kept clean and in good working order.
4. All guns must be provided with a working lock, serpentine screw or sparking flint, and pan cover.
5. Guns must be cleaned at the end of each day, or after two consecutive misfires caused by fouling.
6. Muskets and rifles must be kept in good repair i.e. make sure that the pan cover is tight fitting, the stock is in good repair, barrel firmly seated in the stock, etc.
7.If ramrods are used: Musketeers, riflemen and their officers are reminded that before giving fire a check must be made and an order given to "Secure your Scouring Stick (Ramrod)".
8. A gun must never be aimed at a person or animal and the recommended safe firing distance of twenty yards should be adhered to.
9. All stocked weapons must be fired from the shoulder, care should be taken to see where the musket is aiming and that the face is protected from any flashback.
10. If wadding is used in Muskets and Rifles: Only soft toilet paper or florists foam (NOT green styrofoam) is to be used for wadding and the thickness of this should not exceed the bore of the gun. If paper cartridges are used, the paper should not be used as wadding due to danger from powder grains becoming entrapped in the folds.
11. No weapon shall be loaded off the shooting area except under the direct order of a responsible officer during organised training or drills. Weapons will be unloaded before units march off of the battlefield, and all match extinguished. Unloading consists of successfully firing a blank charge, completely emptying the main charge and pan onto the ground, or pouring water down the barrel and emptying the slurry onto the ground.
12. Shooters will not engage in hand to hand combat whilst carrying lit slow match or with a loaded gun, and should not "take fatalities" while loaded -- fire first, control your match and musket as you fall, then "die".
13. Shooters must be organised to fire by command only, unless specific orders are given for firing at will.
14. Shooters must only use guns with barrels that are in current proof, or that have been tested by firing ball or a double charge off the field.
15. The minimum musket bore permitted is .45 caliber, and the charge for this size must not exceed 60 grains. Larger caliber muskets and rifles must not exceed a charge of 1 grain per caliber, with a maximum load of 80 grains strongly recommended for 12 gage barrels.
16. Everyone shooting or crewing guns at the event must be registered with the Black Powder Safety Officer. Each unit that contains shooters or artillery is to store their powder in marked containers in the centralized magazine set up by event organizers.. The approved individuals handling powder are solely responsible for its safe keeping and must not transfer possession to others not approved by the Black Powder Safety Officer. Shooters should make certain that all powder is returned to safe storage after battles or drill, and that flasks, bandoliers and other containers of powder are secure from public access and any potential spark or flame.
17. No propellant other than commercial black powder will be used in any weapon - no Pyrodex or smokeless powder. Projectiles must not be fired.
18. The use of pistols will be permitted only on the specific authority of the Black Powder Safety Officer. Florists foam wadding should be used to hold down the pistol charge, and an extra-length commerical-style loading ramrod may be required if the provided ramrod is too short or narrow.
19. On land, loaded pistols should be carried with the barrel up and pointed away from all people. On shipboard, loaded but unprimed pistols may be carried wrapped individually in canvas, fabric or leather, further incased in a bag, bucket or other container -- separate from any stored charges, priming flasks, etc.
20. Shooters will not engage in hand to hand combat whilst carrying a loaded pistol.
21. Treat all guns as potentialy loaded and THINK SAFETY.
1. Artillery must have fully functioning weapons and all required saftey equipment, and have been passed by the Black Powder Safety Officer or an authorized subordinate before being fired. The law, common sense about firearms safety and these rules will be adhered to at all times.
2. It is important that all artillery crew members have a thorough knowledge of: (a) The correct loading procedure. (b) What should be done in the event of a misfire. (c) How to transport a loaded cannon. (d) Period artillery drill.
3. Guns are loaded with measured amounts of powder, and all shooters should know the amount being loaded, measured in grains for small arms, grains or ounces for artillery. Powder must be carried in measured cartridges made of aluminum foil. Cartridges are to be carried in: (a) A leather or canvas bag, which should be closable and protected from stray sparks. (b) Cartridge boxes made from non-sparkable material. Priming flasks should have a measure and a flash proof closure.
It is important that all these items are checked before every battle for damage and are kept clean and in good working order.
4. All artillery weapons must be provided with a working ramrod, sponge, sponge-bucket (unless aboard a small boat), and linstock with match.
5. Cannons must be cleaned at the end of each day, or after two misfires if due to fouling..
6. Cannons and carriages must be kept in good repair, i.e. make sure that the barrel is free of obstructions, the ramrods and sponges are in good repair, wheels and carriage parts in working order, etc.
7. Artillery crews and their officers are reminded that before giving fire a check must be made to confirm the cannon is aimed properly and all ramrods and sponges have been returned to their places. All artillery crew must be a minimum of 1 foot behind the muzzle of the cannon before firing. An audible like "Have a Care!" or "Prepare for Artillery Shot!" must be given before firing during battles or demonstrations -- particularly the first shot of the day!
8. A cannon must never be aimed at a person or animal and the recommended safe firing distance of fourty yards should be adhered to.
9. No weapon shall be loaded off the shooting display area except under the direct order of a responsible officer during organised training. Weapons will be unloaded before units march off of the battlefield. Unloading consists of successfully firing a blank charge, or pouring water down the barrel and completely emptying the main charge and pan onto the ground.
10. Artillery crews will not engage in hand to hand combat whilst carrying lit slow match or manning a loaded cannon.
11. Cannons must only use barrels that are in current proof, or that have been tested by firing ball or a double charge off the field.
12. The minimum cannon bore permitted is .75 caliber, and the charge for this size must not exceed 80 grains.
13. Everyone manning cannons on the battlefield must be registered with the Black Powder Safety Officer. Each unit that contains shooters or artillery is to store their powder in marked containers in the centralized magazine set up by event organizers.. The approved individuals handling powder are solely responsible for its safe keeping and must not transfer possession to others not approved by the Black Powder Safety Officer. Artillery crews should make certain that all powder is returned to safe storage after battles or drill, and that flasks, bandoliers and other containers of powder are secure from public access and any potential spark or flame.
14. No propellant other than gunpowder will be used in any weapon. Additional substances like white flour on top of the main charge to provide more flame and smoke must be approved for both substance and amount. Projectiles must not be fired.
15. Treat all guns as potentialy loaded and THINK SAFETY.
US Government specs for Black Powder Storage Box.
WAC 296-52-70065 Explosives day box.
(1) A day box for explosives must:
Be fire, weather, and theft resistant
Be used in a manner that safely separates detonators from other explosives
Be constructed of a minimum of number 12 gauge (.1046 inches) steel
Be lined with at least either 1/2-inch plywood or 1/2-inch masonite-type hardboard
Have doors that overlap the sides by a minimum of one inch
Have appropriate ground slope for drainage
(2) Hinges and hasps must be attached by:
Welding
Riveting
OR
Bolting nuts on the inside of the door
(3) One steel padlock, which does not need to be protected by a steel hood, having a minimum of five tumblers and a case hardened shackle of a minimum of 3/8-inch diameter is sufficient for locking purposes.
Copy and paste into an email to Micheal Cawelti - captglover@verizon.net, also bring a printed copy to the Festival.
Group name and URL -
Gun captain / group safety officer :
Name -
Email -
Phones: home - , cell -
Artillery confirmed for event: list bore diameter, barrel length, type of carriage or mount
(i.e. 1.25" bore, 20" barrel rail gun or murderer, rail-mount) -
Small arms confirmed for event: list caliber, ignition type, design
(i.e. .45 cal flintlock pistol) -
Full names of all shooters for your group, including artillery crews (anyone handling black powder or gun tools) :
Confirmed guns may be pre-approved depending on size and crew, unconfirmed guns will need inspection and approval before use at the event. No one, no matter how experienced, will be allowed to show up with a gun and shoot without gun inspection and shooter approval by the Festival's Black Powder Safety Officer.
All gun captains must print out and read the below Black Powder Rules, and we strongly recommend having all your shooters do the same -- no excuses will be accepted for not knowing these rules by anyone handling a gun or gun tool.
http://www.luckhardt.com/ecwsa108.html
Black Powder will NOT be available for sale or trade at the event, so get your own in advance. Artillery crews need to provide their own aluminum foil for wrapping charges, as well as primer or fuses.
All black powder will be stored in a central magazine, consisting of several Type 3 Day boxes (see URL above). BRING THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF BLACK POWDER POSSIBLE FOR THE 15-MINUTE "SHIP TO SHORE BATTLE". Mark all powder tins and bags of pre-loaded artillery charges with a sharpie for identification.
Florists foam is required wadding for all pistols -- available at any craft store and some other locations like Dollar Stores. Cardboard, commercial fiber gun wadding, or Green Styrofoam is NOT allowed, only actual florists foam (can be crumbled in the fingers).
If you have never used florists foam before, cut some out before the event -- best to use a small section of metal pipe (or brass cartridge case) with the inside diameter slightly larger than the pistol bore. Bringing pre-cut florist foam wadding for your pistol will save a lot of time at the event.