General Black Powder & Weapon Regulations for Volunteer Groups
All black powder brought into NPS areas by outside individuals or groups must be in the form of prepared cartridges and be under NPS control when not actually in use during a demonstration. Bulk or loose black powder is absolutely prohibited. Prepared cartridges must conform to the Service's standards for manufacture and load.
Cartridge construction will be of sturdy paper only, rolled into tubes with twisted, pinched or folded ends. Use of staples and/or tape for sealing cartridges prohibited. Maximum charges are as follows: Muskets 125 grains, Rifles 90 grains (60 grains preferred). Wadding of cartridges is prohibited for this event. Volunteer groups will assist safety officers in policing spent rounds after demonstration.
All members of outside recreated military groups must submit to an on-site safety inspection, by qualified NPS personnel, of their weapon, cartridge box and other appropriate equipment before being allowed to participate in any weapon firing demonstration in a NPS area.
Groups will adhere to firing only within safety zones during tactical demonstration. Opposing line firing is prohibited, as is the taking of casualties and hand-to-hand combat.
The NPS has explicit miss-fire procedures. Instruction will be provided to outside groups during inspection.
The public is not allowed to handle edged weapons and should be kept in sheaths at all times. The visitor is allowed to "heft" a long arm as long as control is maintained by the owner. The visitor shall not be allowed to shoulder the weapon and point at others.
Weapons must meet the following standards to pass inspection:
a. secured flash guard and hammer stall
b. no cracks or splits in stock
c. furniture and barrel fit securely to stock
d. no burrs on screw heads
e. missing stock pins or screws
f. lock works smoothly
g. half-cock position works properly
h. flint is secured by leather or lead
i. frizzen and spring are in good condition
j. barrel free from visible dents or cracks
k. muzzle is not dented or worn
l. the flint is not striking the barrel
m. no signs of heavy corrosion around touch hole
n. ramrod is straight, fits the stock properly; the threads (if applicable) at the lower end are clean and free of burrs or wood rammers are free of burrs, splits and cracks
Failure to follow the above regulations and any additional instructions of NPS safety personnel will disqualify participant from weapons demonstration and possibly other park activities.
"Where Three Worlds Collide
- 250th Anniversary Commemoration"
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