Loaded muzzleloader and no deer

[dkenny]

Haven't hunted muzzleloader in a while, but can't seem to figure out how to get around this one...

Once you load the muzzleloader, what do you do with it if you don't see a deer that day to shoot at? It's not quite as easy to unload as my regular rifle.

I am torn between shooting it (rather not do this) and just keeping it loaded until the next day I head out (rather not do this either).

What about you all?

[TAILWALKER]

I keep mine loaded up to a week at a time. As long as you don't get the gun wet or take it in and out of a hot to cold or cold to hot environment you will be fine as long as you gun was completely free of oil before you loaded it.

I always snap 3 caps to dry the barrel before I load and then make sure I leave my gun out in the cold to avoid the moisture. If I hunt in heavy rain I put the finger of a surgical glove over the end of the barrel which keeps out any moisture. Been doing this for 20 years and have never had a misfire or problem. My brother does the same thing.

I always shoot a deer that first week so that solves the unloading problem. However, If I need to unload I pull the breach plug and just push the bullet and powder out. Then there is not much to clean.

[Bug Guy]

I hunt with a flintlock and can only get out sporadically (hunt in PA), so I shoot it off at the end of the day. If I knew I was gonna get out for a week at a time and I wasn't far from where I was hunting, I'd probably leave it loaded with the same provisions mentioned by tailwalker. However, I don't like doing that for the way I hunt.

[7bartman]

Everyone will tell you not to do this, but with the new pellets, I keep my charge in there the whole year. I usually fire it to sight it in before the next season. Be cautious in doing this and make sure you put electrical tape across the muzzle to avoid double loading it.

[No Diamonds]

Perhaps I'm doing something I shouldn't be. I hunt with a T/C Grey Hawk using Pyrodex and open sites. Have had the gun for 14 years or so and have always practiced, cleaned, fired couple caps in an empty gun, then load for the season. If I never shoot (mostly use bow even during BP season) I just carry the gun to the next season. When I go to practice again (nearly a year later) gun goes off first time. I've never had a problem doing this but now wonder if I should shoot it after a week or so of having a charge in there. I love the gun, never had problems, and can't remember the last time I fired and the gun didn't go off.

[fishooter]

They make a screw-in attachment for your ramrod that looks like a little wood screw on the non-threaded end. You can just screw that into your bullet and pull it out and then dump the powder.

Sort of like this:

RedHead Bullet Puller (http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_55521_425010000_425000000_425010000_425-10-0)

Mark

[Bug Guy]

They make a screw-in attachment for your ramrod that looks like a little wood screw on the non-threaded end. You can just screw that into your bullet and pull it out and then dump the powder.

Sort of like this:

RedHead Bullet Puller (http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_55521_425010000_425000000_425010000_425-10-0)

Mark

Mark,
I don't want to criticize, but I wouldn't want to do this with a loaded barrel unless I really had to. Yes, I know that, (for me a flintlock owner), the gun isn't technically loaded unless the pan is full or whatever comparable situation for in-lines and other muzzleloadersn with caps etc. However, my understanding is that the screw-in attachment is for emergencies (such as when the ball/bullet is put down the barrel without powder). If you are gonna go through the trouble of unloading it that way, it's easier and safer, in my opinion, to just shoot it off in the woods - but what you propose is doable. However, I'm relatively new to muzzleloading so if I'm wrong let me know.
Cheers,
bob

[fishooter]

The gun can't go off without an ignition source.

Shooting it off in the woods is fine. I've done that many times myself.

I've also used the bullet puller with no issues many times. If it were dangerous, people would not store their muzzleloaders de-capped and charged. I sometimes store mine that way, with a rolled up paper in the barrel to remind me not to double-charge. I drop the ramrod down the barrel and listen for that metallic "clink" or lead "thud" before loading or capping, too. Also popping a cap before loading is sound practice. I've never heard of a problem using a bullet puller on a de-capped or equivalent muzzle loader. But hey, do what's comfortable for you.

I do hear what you are saying. It does feel funny to drop a ramrod with a bullet puller down a charged barrel. I don't think it's dangerous though. Been doing it for a long time. Any other opinions?

Mark

[h2oboss]

This is no a big deal .....ASSUMING YOU ARE STARTING WITH A CLEAN GUN/BARREL/BREACH PLUG....... If you hunt in normal conditions just remove the primer cap/primer disk/whatever the ignition sorce is. This makes it legal to transport and safe. Next time you got hunting install your ignition sorce. I'll leave mine loaded for the season and in the event the end of the season rolls around or for some reason I need to clean it or remove the charge/load just unscrew the breech plug and push it out the rear. I'm not sure if this is "correct" or "recommended" but I've never had a problem with this process and my gun fires accurately each year and the gun and barrel are both in great shape.

On a side note as some already said.....if your hunting in wet conditions..... using a rubber band attach condom tip, latex glove tip, zip lock bag corner or something similar to the end of the barrel. This will not affect your accuracy and will prevent moisture from going down the barrel. Howver, after these types of hunts I like to completely clean/wipe down the gun.

Condensation is another issue,..... optics and barrels can get a build up of condensation/fog/ect that can/will affect your vision and could even prevent proper ingition. When you take them out of the nice warm (and relatively humid) cabin/house/truck and expose them to frigid temps the can react my building a layer of moisture/sweat from the temp. differance (esp. on morning hunts). Best practice is to leave them outside in whatever suitable manner availiable to you if it's gonna be cold. I havn't had too much trouble with moderte temps but if it's in the 40's or less I try to leave my gun on the porch, in the shed or on the truck depending on the circumstances.

Just my 2 cents.

Anthony

PS........as a little extra side note having a few small paper clips added to your cleaning kit helps alot if you loose/don't have a nipple brush or something to clean your breach plug hole in the event it get fouled. I hit mine up with a little WD or what ever is handy and then gentle poke it out unitl it's clear, then fire a few caps to make sure it's dry....then I run a lightly oiled patch to remove any carbon/residue from the primers caps. If you can't tell I'm a little anal about ML's.....the first time you have 2 misfires on one hunt you will be too......:cool:........won't let that happen again:thumbup:

[Bug Guy]

The gun can't go off without an ignition source.

Mark

Mark,

I'm glad you responded, because you are right about not going off without an ignition source. Like I said, I use a flintlock and I was taught that while legally unloaded without the pan filled and the frizzen down, there is always a chance, though slight, that the flint could strike something...a spark could make it to the powder, and the charge could go off. A lot of "coulds", but to me any could is enough to be as safe as possible. But for in-lines where there is no real way to get anything to the charge to set it off it is a different story and thus, a lot safer. A boss of mine a while back used to use the phrase, "you learned something you already knew" - I just did again.

Also for me, using the extractor with a ball (I use a ball and patch and not a bullet) is the biggest PITA ever. But using a ball and patch, my cost isn't that much to just shoot it off. Just more to think about.

Bob

[dkenny]

Good thoughts, thanks.

The main concern I had was that moisture would enter and render the power unusable, and then I'd have a real mess on my hands. In the past we have left the guns loaded, but removed the percussion caps and hoped for the best. I guess I'm not the only one. Will take those extra precautions to keep it moisture free from here on out too

[CaptNemo]

If it were dangerous, people would not store their muzzleloaders de-capped and charged.
Mark

really? people don't do dangerous things huh? especially not hunters....right just because someone else did it, it must be safe...Just messing with you a little, but that is not good logic,

[fishooter]

So in your opinion it is dangerous?

Mark

[ketch69]

I will never leave my muzzle loader loaded overnight again. not ever. Wet powder cuase me not getting a shot at a very large deer a couple years ago. It dosen't matter how careful you are there is always that chance it could get damp. I shoot a CVA and take off the cap, pull the breachplug, the powder pellets fall right out and then I push the bullet out. Very simple to do.

[Will S]

Pyrodex will corrode the barrel and breech plug over time if it is left 'Loaded" I leave the same load in my Encore for up to a week if i don't shoot it or go in the rain. I unload it by pulling the breech plug and the pellts fall right out then push the bullet with a ram-rod. I left my Knight Loaded all year once had to buy a new breech plug it ate the end of it up.

[CaptNemo]

So in your opinion it is dangerous?

Mark

I do think it's dangerous, it just one more thing to remember that its loaded, I forget too much and after letting it sit for some time, I would probably re-load it, or put a cap on it to dry fire and have the thing go off.

But my main point is, just because other people do it doesn't make it a good idea.

Do what you like, but in my opinion its still a loaded gun without the cap.

[Cheesehead]

I've kept my muzzy loaded for a few months on multiple occasions and never had an issue with it not firing. Whether or not I fire it while still in the woods depends on the next time I will be hunting that spot.

[Bay Bob]

Here is an easy fix, and you will always have a fresh powder load.

Nothing worse than that big buck and your powder won't fire !

Cabela's CO2 Load Discharger (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?type=product&cmCat=Related_IPL_214462&id=0006480214461a)

[damifinowfish]

years ago i picked up a co2 powered de-loader. you have this little tool with a pellet gun air cartridge inside. just remove the #11 cap, push it on the nipple and it shots your load out with compressed air. no need to clean your rifle. I found it at a gun show. works great when you had a long drive home before you could clean your gun.

[crabby and son]

There is no problem leaving a charge in your muzzleloader for a week or two....even longer. It just needs to be kept in a dry place. Without a cap you are legal to transport and safe. I use a finger cot over the barrel to keep out moisture. I lowered my gun from my stand .....barrel down as always into the snow. The barrel collected the snow and it melted in my truck..........end of story thus the finger cot. You should have a mark on your ram rod as to your load so you will not ever have a double load. I shoot an Encore and have never had a misfire from a stored load...........Gary