Muzzleloader Hunting Questions

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Broadbill

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If at the end of the days hunt I find that I haven't fired my rifle what do I do?
I'm assuming that I fire it off, swab it and wait until morning to reload. I guess you could remove the percussion cap, save the load, and recap it the next day but that sounds kind of iffy.
Any thoughts?

Broadbill
 
I just remove the primer at the end of the day. Last day of the season, I fire it off. Not sure why it would be 'iffy'. I mean there is no primer to cause a spark. I'm sure someone will jump all over me for that, but I see no issue, safety or otherwise, with merely de-priming/capping the rifle until the next hunt.
 
I just remove the cap and store it in a dry place if im going to be hunting the next day then just recap it, if youve been hunting in the rain or suspect it may have drawn moisture it would probably be a good idea to shoot it and reload the next day.
 
No need to fire it at the end of the day. I just tap the ball down again the next morning to make sure it's seated properly. That may not do anything either, but it makes me feel better. I doubt people in the early 1800s and earlier fired their guns every afternoon, and they were using real black powder, which I think is a whole lot less reliable than today's pyrodex or 777.
 
I leave it alone from day to day. Paul's idea is good; I think I'll start tapping the bullet each day. I always have the muzzle covered with tape or something to prevent moisture getting in, and I'll tape up the breech too if it's going to be wet. I've sat through a number of rain storms with my inline, waiting for the elk to come out at the end of the storm. It hasn't ever failed afterward, but my brother's percussion rifle has failed; either due to fouling in the flame channel or possibly moisture. But I don't even fire the gun at the end of the season. I just take it home and clean it out.
 
Okay thanks. Since I'm a guest I'll follow they're lead and do as they do, but now I know I can leave it overnight and trust it to fire. Are there any other tips you could give a newby that I might not think of? I'm not new to deer hunting (although its been a while) just to Blackpowder.

Broadbill
 
Just to be really sure, I'll blow the powder and ball out when I get home using my air compressor. Then I'll load fresh in the morning. But then I'm shooting a flintlock and want to be sure of ignition. Shooting at the end of the day means cleaning as well.
 
I've gone the whole season (two weeks) without reloading. Do you think the pioneers a couple hundred years ago shot their rifle every night? Dude, they kept it loaded and above the fireplace to keep the moisture off. I'd bet they went for weeks or months without firing.

Shockey's Gold is supposedly no more corrosive than smokeless. Also, you can load a lot more rounds in a single session. That's what I'm using now in my Knight. No corrosion. Minimal cleaning. YMMV

NOTE: Most of your problems will come from not cleaning out the oil from the bore and/or the nipple before loading. If you pop off a couple of caps and swab the oil out of the bore before loading it will save a lot of problems.
 
One thing you can do to make you feel better about it if you don't think it's too 'un-original'..Get yourself some of those small balloons and just stretch one over the muzzle. It will not interfere with the sights, will just disappear if you do fire, and will insure that no moisture seeps down the barrel and violate's the integrity of your charge....
 
i do enjoy bursting the bubble on moisture control.

The barrel is steel. When a hollow steel tube is frozen from say being left outside for 12 hours during a hunt in 20 degree weather, when that tube is taken into warm rooms, it will condense on the inside and out. that will create moisture in your barrel. most notably inside the powder filled area under the projectile. Repeated cycles of this will impact your powder.

however, if a gun is taken from a hot weather hunt and put into an air conditioned room, it will do the same thing. Just put a piece of steel tubing in the fridge next to your beer and when its cold after a day or so, take the tube and a beer out and place them on the counter. youll notice that both tube and beer can/bottle condense.
 
When hunting in cold or frigid winter weather, I leave the decapped but loaded rifle in a cold hallway or car trunk and condensation hasn't ever been an issue.
I've never plugged the nipple but the muzzle is always sealed with a ballon to protect against the elements.
 
Thanks guys,
Its supposed to rain all weekend and I'd hate to get a chance and have a misfire. I've got some of that blue painters masking tape in the truck, I'll put a little piece over the muzzle and keep the rifle cool overnight.

Broadbill
 
I pop my caps and load the night before. That way when I get to the woods and it's raining, all I have to do is prime.

In Fl. as long as it isn't primed it's legal to travel with a charged PB.
 
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