FIREARM SAFETY FOR THE MILITARY CIVIL WAR REENACTOR

By: Scott Frank and David May

Firearm Safety is an important issue for the reenactor of the civil war era that is often overlooked. Reenactors seem to take the universal attitude that this is all make-believe so there is little, if any, chance of accident or injury. Nothing could be further from the truth.

I say this not to scare the living daylights out of you, but to keep you mindful of your actions. Every time you walk onto a battlefield or partake in a drill, you are putting yourself in harm’s way. Every time you load a musket you are taking on an awesome responsibility. Even though we do not use live ammunition, the powder we do use is powerful enough to blow a hole right through a flag, seriously injure a person, or permanently damage one’s hearing.

As a Wisconsin Certified Hunter Education instructor for over 10 years, I have seen a lot of the causes of firearm accidents, and a lot of consequences for poor decisions. I also know that the vast majority of firearm accidents can be avoided with a little thought and common sense. One thing that I try to teach my students, and I hope I can impress upon you, is that accidents happen, but injuries don’t have to.

You all learned in Hunter Education the three rules of Gun Handling Safety: 1-Always keep the muzzle in a safe direction, 2-Beware of your target and beyond, 3-Treat every gun as if it is loaded. These three rules are not arbitrary, and if followed they could prevent all injuries, and reduce most accidents. If your muzzle is never pointed at another person (even someone as far as 50 yards across the battlefield), there could be no injury, even in the event of a misfire. If you are aware of your target (in our case what you don’t want to hit), you will also not hit anyone inadvertently. When the captain or CO prepares with “Aim”, you are not looking through the sites – you are looking for your pards’ ears and your muzzle and cone. I hope there is no question about #3, because we are using LOADED WEAPONS on a regular basis; there is no reason to act otherwise.

A good fourth rule will further reduce the potential for accidents: A properly maintained firearm is a safe firearm. It is essential you keep your firearm in proper (safe) working condition. After every battle or “shoot-‘em-up” the first item on the agenda is cleaning your musket (before dinner or the rest in the shade) – this is not only smart, it is militarily correct. Any soldier worth his wages knows this is the surest way to avoid fatigue duty and quickest way to a promotion (corporal – here I come!). Be sure to run patches down the barrel until they come out clean and dry, and pick the cone to be sure it is clear as well. After the event the musket should be completely torn down and cleaned/lubricated with the exception of the lock plate. Lock plates should be done every time they get wet, and at season’s end as a minimum, though they do not need attention every time the firearm is used. Lastly, demand firearm/safety inspection every time you take the field. Again, this is militarily correct, and there was reason behind the pageantry.

Now for my Pet Peeve… Do NOT – under any circumstances – EVER – use the CCI musket caps with 6 “wings”! These are “hotter” than standard musket caps and are designed for modern inline muzzle-loaders as an answer to the shotgun primers and the other “flame throwing” ignitions systems competitive modern muzzle-loader manufacturers are trying to top each other with these days. They are a fine product when used in a modern inline (which is often partially or fully enclosed), but they have some serious safety issues. The added explosiveness coupled with the smaller “wings” causes many of them to disintegrate and send shards of copper in one or more directions when fired. They also have about double the noise associated with them, putting not only you in danger of hearing loss, but also your file partner and any other pards in close proximity. I know from experience that the flack from these things really stings, can cut to the point of bleeding, and could easily do permanent vision damage (thank God I have not had to test the theory). If this is not convincing enough: They are about double the cost and NOT historically accurate – the six wing configuration was not used for caps in the Civil War - this type of construction is a new invention of this century. Just don’t do it, and if you are an NCO, don’t let anyone in your company even possess them!

If you adhere to these rules, you will have little trouble with accidents becoming injuries. Now what about those around you? Insisting on firearm/safety inspections will help be sure everyone in the company has safe equipment, but that is only part of the concern. You also should find a company or group to reenact with regularly, and stick with them. Regular drills and activities will give you confidence and understanding that can only be found by repetition. If you are uncomfortable with anything that is happening, walk away.

NCO’s and Company Officers: Conduct a company safety inspection every morning and/or prior to each drill/battle. Don’t accept walk-ons, unless you are well aware of their behavior, firearm maintenance, drill capacity, and reason for wishing to fall-in. Also demand that they take part in a company drill prior to the day’s “shoot-‘em-up”. Consult with others in the company, and if someone has legitimate reason to be wary, do not allow the walk-on.

Additional items to think about when appropriate:

Do not ever, under any circumstance, leave your weapon loaded and unsupervised. Spectators are not always blessed with common sense, and children are often just plain naïve. I have seen stacks tripped over, triggers tugged, bayonets tested, and muzzles inspected up-close-and-personal. We all have a pard that can take charge of our musket if something happens, and it only takes a second to unload if necessary.

Let’s face it – sometimes officers (or NCO’s) aren’t as good as we’d like them to be. If you are ever ordered to do something stupid, don’t be afraid to point out the folly of their way if safety is compromised. Never stack a loaded musket – if given the command when loaded at least pull the cap, and dump the powder if time and proximity to spectators permits.

When standing at Order or Parade Rest think about where your muzzle is. DO NOT parade rest your muzzle right into your armpit. You have an artery there that you do not want to blow open if you have a cook-off or a misfire. You also do not want to Order Arms and blow your file partners hat off – he might just turn around and punch our lights out (right after the initial shock wears off).

When dumping rounds into your barrel at the “charge cartridge” command, use your index finger and your thumb only to hold the cartridge and charge from the far side of the barrel being careful to keep your hand free of the muzzle. Again be mindful of the muzzle direction as you do this (see above). Cook-offs can and do happen, but they are much less likely with a clean firearm, and are not dangerous if the muzzle is in a safe direction and your hand is out of the way of the blast.

These next two should go without saying, but I have seen both, and even by the same person at the same time on one occasion! Do NOT EVER handle a firearm or allow anyone else to handle a firearm while under the influence of Alcohol or other state-altering drugs. Besides stupid, it is illegal! Do NOT EVER handle or allow to be handled a handgun if the handler is under 18. This is also illegal, and with good reason – irresponsibility becomes deadly when mixed with handguns and trouble can be found very easily with a 6” barrel. I can hear the arguments already: “I am (my son is) a responsible person...”. It is against the law for a person under 18 to possess a handgun, so the argument is pointless!

Here is another one I have seen time and time again. What do you do if you have to transport a firearm in a motor vehicle and you don’t have a proper case? LEAVE IT BEHIND. A firearm is a weapon that acts by force of gunpowder (yes, this includes your Musket/Muzzle Loader). No person my place, possess, or transport a firearm in or on a motor vehicle unless it is unloaded and ENCASED. Encased is defined as: Enclosed in a case expressly designed for the purpose of containing a firearm, and must be completely closed, with no part of the firearm exposed! Don’t give me that “it is a primitive weapon” junk – a muzzleloader is discharged using gunpowder, and therefore must be unloaded and fully enclosed in a purpose-built case – NOT your blanket or your pajama bottoms.

Come to the event well rested and in good shape. It seems like a cliché, but you are much less likely to get sloppy, make a poor decision, stumble, drop your firearm, or lose your common sense if you are fresh, happy, and ready to march ten miles.

Safety is an important issue. It can mean the difference between a memorable weekend and a weekend you can’t forget. Below are a couple of excerpts from applicable Wisconsin State Statutes regarding the possession and/or use of firearms. These apply to you as reenactors and are for your own safety. You might find some of them surprising, but if you can’t take our word for it the statute numbers are listed with the paraphrase, so you can look them up yourself.

EXERPTS FROM APPLICABLE WISCONSIN STATE STATUTES

REGARDING THE POSSESSION AND/OR USE OF FIREARMS

167.31 Safe use and transportation of firearms:

Firearms being defined as a weapon that acts by force of gunpowder.

Encased means enclosed in a case expressly designed for the purpose of

Containing a firearms and must be completely closed, with no part of the

Firearm enclosed.

Prohibitions:

No person may transport a firearm in a motor vehicle unless it is unloaded.

No person may place, possess, or transport a firearm in or on a motor vehicle

unless it is unloaded and encased.

940.24 Injury by negligent handling of a dangerous weapon:

Negligence is used in this section to refer to ordinary negligence to a high degree

Consisting of conduct the actor should realize creates a substantial and

Unreasonable risk of death or great bodily harm.

Dangerous weapon includes a firearm, and some edged weapons.

Prohibitions:

Whoever causes bodily harm to another by the negligent operation or handling

Of a dangerous weapon.

941.20 Endangering safety by the use of a dangerous weapon:

Prohibitions:

Endangers another’s safety by the negligent operation or handling of a

Dangerous weapon.

Operates or goes armed with a firearm while under the influence of an

Intoxicant

Intentionally points a firearm at or toward another.

941.23 Carrying concealed weapon:

Prohibition:

Any person except a peace officer who goes armed with a concealed and

Dangerous weapon.

941.235 Carrying a firearm in a public building

Prohibition:

Any person who goes armed with a firearm in any building owned or leased by

The state or any political subdivision of the state.

941.237 Carrying handgun where alcohol beverages are sold and consumed:

Prohibition:

Whoever intentionally goes armed with a handgun on any premises for which

A class B license has been issued under chapter 125.

948.60 Possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18:

In this section, dangerous weapon means any firearm: loaded or not, electric

Weapons, edged martial arts weapons, and metallic knuckles.

Prohibition:

Any person under 18 years of age who possesses or goes armed with a

Dangerous weapon

Any person who intentionally sells, loans, or gives a dangerous weapon to a

Person under the age of 18 (exceptions).

Exceptions: include courses of study in the safe use of firearms,

Members of the armed forces who are acting in the line of duty,

And when the weapon has a barrel length of 12 inches or greater,

Provisions of chapter 29.034 and 29.593

948.605 Gun free school zones:

Prohibition:

Any individual who knowingly possesses a firearm at a place that the

Individual knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, is a school zone.

CAVEAT: As previously stated, the above items are excerpts, and in some cases

Paraphrased for brevity. In no way are they purported to be legal

Interpretations. The penalties were not indicated, but all are serious to

Varying degree’s. Each individual is encouraged to refer to the statute for

Their own knowledge.