In a muzzleloading revolver, when the shot is fired, there is a flash
of flame leaves the gun. This not only exits the muzzle, but it also exits
between the end of the cylinder and the barrel, through the small gap which
has to be left so the cylinder can rotate. If this flame or a spark were
able to get past a poorly fitting ball in an adjacent chamber then the
powder in that chamber could also ignite, which could set off the chambers
next to it also. This is like a chain reaction, hence chain fire. Since
the fire goes round from cylinder to cylinder in a circle it is sometimes
called ringfire. Since it happens because of the flash of flame which escapes
through the cylinder gap it is sometimes called flashover.
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If this happened, apart from needing to change your underwear, you
would probably have to cut out the lead balls which had emerged from
the adjacent
cylinders and jammed the gun. A stout sharp knife in the toolkit is a good
idea.
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To stop chainfire happening shooters may put a felt wad under the
ball. A slightly oversized ball which fits the cylinder tightly also
helps
prevent the flash getting past the ball. The felt wad may contain lubricant
to soften the fouling in the barrel and
to lubricate the bullet. The old cowboys used a dab of axle grease over
the ball, filling the end of the chamber with it. This is still common
practice with some muzzle loaders. The grease both stopped the chainfire,
lubricated the barrel and ball, and softened the fouling. (On page 31
Spring 2006 issue MLAGB Black Powder Magazine, "Tuning
the 1858 Remington Repro to Win" by Jeff Tanner, Mr. Tanner disputes
that the grease stops chainfire, in his view it softens the fouling only.
The wad and tight ball prevent the flashover in his opinion.)
An oversize ball tends to shear lead at each chamber mouth,
which changes the size and bullet weight. To stop this, slightly polish
each chamber mouth with fine emery and a marble, until the ball
seats
fully, compressing/swaging the lead instead of shearing it.
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