What did Les do with the bullet, remove it? (I am imagining some volunteer SAR person approaching and getting a bullet between the eyes.)

Tom, I've read about that method, too. I don't think you wad it tightly, though, enough to block anything or blow the gun up. More like for muzzle-loading.

Frankly, starting a fire with a gun sounds like you didn't plan ahead at all. Like starting a fire with gasoline without an emergency room nearby.

Now, if you had a flintlock...

Sue