Originally Posted by
megasupermagnum
The myth of airspace in a cartridge being an issue should have have never existed. When cartridges came on the scene in the late 1800's, a few loads had airspace and they worked fine. When cartridges began to be loaded with smokeless, they almost all had airspace. I really don't know how anyone could possibly believe it. Anyone who has shot muzzleloaders has shot with an air gap at one time or another even if they didn't know it. BPCR shooters to this day regularly shoot with air gaps intentionally, even with wads!
The myth that a short started ball will ring or blow a barrel is more valid. I have little doubt that if you fully seated a wad, then short seated a ball or bullet you would have troubles. Just short starting a patched ball only with powder loose in the barrel? Well to date I'm not aware of any test that has managed to damage a barrel that way. waksupi says Sharon Rifle Co. has done such a test, but I've never seen it. Nothing comes up on Google. It has been tried multiple times on Youtube, and nobody has been able to bulge a barrel. If it happens, it definitely doesn't happen every time. The thing that gets me is that in every single story you hear is similar to freakonaleash. They lost concentration, something happened, and something bad resulted. It's always told in a way that makes you wonder how they can be 100% what the issue was. They claim it was a short started ball, but as freakonaleash admits it might be a bigger mistake such as a second ball, or in his case, a whole second load.