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Joined: Feb 2015
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I'm fairly new to muzzleloader hunting, but here's my question. I was discussing backcountry colorado elk hunt with a friend. He told me on first day he added loose powder and seated bullet. Then would just add primer when shot opportunity arose - may be days later. Is it effective to do this or would you have to worry about seating issues after a day, 2 days, etc.?
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19,083
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2001
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It wouldn't hurt to check the seating every day to make sure bullet hasn't moved, but I never have and I carry mine in a scabbard for quite few miles.
What you do have to worry about, depending on the type of MZ is the damp conditions we usually are subject to during Colorado Muzzle Loader season. Probably these closed breech types do a lot better now days, and if you tape the muzzle, but the old side locks had a tendency to misfire from dampness getting in thru the percussion cap hole.
If I am out all day and it has been raining, I usually pull the bullet, take out the powder and run a damp patch of denatured alcohol down the tube followed with a few dry ones and then fire a cap or two before I reload. Of course,I use black powder though.
The old saying of "keep your powder dry", still holds true today.
Last edited by saddlesore; 09/04/15.
If God wanted you to walk and carry things on your back, He would not have invented stirrups and pack saddles
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Joined: Nov 2013
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2013
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I would worry about moisture creeping in from somewhere to contaminate the charge or oil from plug threads working its way in somehow. If the gun is moved around, you also have to check that the bullet hasn't crept forward, creating a gap that can cause a burst barrel. There are ways to prevent most of this, depending on your setup. Never heard of hunting with no primer. I have pulled a cap or primer and sealed the flash channel after the hunt was over so I wouldn't have to pull the charge.
The best setup would be a perfectly dry bore, a finger cot over the muzzle, and some sort of plug for the flash hole. Definitely, the flash hole needs to be thoroughly picked before priming.
Stuff happens though; it's part of the fun.
Last edited by Pappy348; 09/04/15.
What fresh Hell is this?
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Joined: Mar 2006
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I leave mine loaded all week, but I'm not hunting in back country with it. I run tight fitting sabots and they stay put.
If you love someone set them free
If they come back no one else liked them
Set them free again
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Joined: Aug 2006
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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A few years ago I loaded my side hammer single barrel 12 gauge for spring turkeys, didn't shoot one then left it loaded and shot one in the fall, no problems. I did however use part of a Federal primer box (red) between the hammer and the nipple. Muddy
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Joined: Nov 2004
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I have left a sidelock loaded, with the muzzzle plugged and a piece of leather between the nipple and hammer for over 6 months, and they always go BOOOOM when I shoot them.
I left a T/C Triumph loaded for at least 8 months, sabot over BH 209, nothing in the breech plug and it shot just fine when I finally got around to shooting it.
Tape the barrel, check the seating on the bullet at the start of everyday and you should be fine.
There is no way to coexist no matter how many bumper stickers there are on Subaru bumpers!
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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ive left them loaded for months with no problems.
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Joined: Jun 2001
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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A person only has to have them not go BOOM from dampness once and they get a little more paranoid about it. Especially if when they are lined up on a nice bull elk and all that happens is the primer goes off.
Personally, I don't get it. A person waits all year to go elk hunting. Maybe 2-3 years if they have to draw a tag. Then they don't take any and all precautions to make sure their ML goes off when they need it too.
I have never seen the need to keep a ML loaded 4-6 months.
Even my center fire rifles, when I know they are sighted in, I always go to the range and check zero before a season opens. Guess I am more of a dedicated elk hunter than some. The only firearm that stays loaded 100% of the time is my carry handgun.
Last edited by saddlesore; 09/05/15.
If God wanted you to walk and carry things on your back, He would not have invented stirrups and pack saddles
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Campfire Regular
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I shoot my muzzleloader twice a day duing ML season. Once after the morning hunt and again after the evening hunt. We have hundreds of miles of public hunting land around where we hunt. Total cost for both shots is under $2.
Moisture owns the areas surrounding the Great Lakes region / Midwest. It's best not to take chances here in Lower Michigan. Besides, this is a fun sport and it's cheap to shoot. There's no need to spend more than 50 cents a bullet. (For instance) 240 gr. XTPs and roundballs have killed millions and millions of deer. There are plenty of options for inexpensive bullets that work, including conicals.
If you are hunting private land with no access to public land, then you have a good excuse to leave your ML loaded day-to-day. Otherwise, shoot it everyday and take advantage of this fine sport and all the fun associated with it.
Last edited by Triple_Se7en; 09/05/15.
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Joined: Aug 2002
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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If it is not raining, any moisture problems are probably from not getting your rifle perfectly dry before loading. Side locks are harder to dry than inline, but it can be done if you do it right. Again if not raining, a piece of leather over the nipple and the hammer let down, will be all that you need. If carried in the rain, no matter how hard you try to keep it dry, I would reload. Kept dry, I have killed deer with my inline loaded from the previous year. miles
Look out for number 1, don't step in number 2.
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Campfire Ranger
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At the end of the season, I used to empty my gun into a clay bank (to lessen the chance of fire), but now I just pull the charge. It's easy to do, especially with hollow points in sabots. I hunt on small tracts of public land these days and don't like to shoot unless it's at game.
Some character in Ohio killed an Amish girl a few years back by emptying his ML into the air. Freak occurance, but the girl's dead and his life is probably ruined.
What fresh Hell is this?
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Joined: Dec 2014
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Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
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I load my rifles on a clean dry bore, and leave them loaded until I shoot at an animal or the season is over. This can be days, weeks, or even months sometimes. I have hunted in the rain & snow, and even tested rifles drawing moisture purposely (going from real cold outside to real hot indoors) many times during the same season. Never had an issue with a rifle going boom. I am 100% confident that when I pull the trigger, I will get full and instant ignition.
If I was on a hunt, under most circumstances I'd keep her loaded and keep on hunting.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2012
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it is just so hard to discharge a ml and clean it.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,192
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Leaving Friday for my first muzzleloader hunt in many years.
It's important enough for me that I plan to pull the breech plug every evening in camp, dump the load and wipe down the bore.
Reload the next morning and try again.
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Joined: Nov 2004
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Campfire Tracker
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I am hoping that you get to empty the gun the first day on a critter!
There is no way to coexist no matter how many bumper stickers there are on Subaru bumpers!
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Campfire Outfitter
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i load my tc triumph first day of the season and it will stay loaded til kill something. if we get really damp weather i sometimes pull the breechplug and dump the powder charge. i will tap the bullet forward alittle then reseat it after adding new powder and the plug from the rear.
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Joined: Jan 2002
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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I am hoping that you get to empty the gun the first day on a critter! Even if I do, I'll still have one tag left. Going after a Bull and a Buck. Thanks for the good wishes.
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Good luck to you Tracks.
I'm headed for Durango Colorado in a couple hours for the mzloader hunt beginning Saturday.
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Campfire Outfitter
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I just recently bought a T/C Hawken, and discovered that it was loaded (you'd be really surprised how often that happens). Asked the guy I bought it from, and was told that it hadn't been fired in at least 20 years, so had unknowingly been loaded all that time. I put a cap on the nipple, pulled the trigger, and it went boom.
While it's true that all liberals are crazy people, not all crazy people are liberals.
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Campfire Regular
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I shoot my muzzleloader twice a day duing ML season. Once after the morning hunt and again after the evening hunt. We have hundreds of miles of public hunting land around where we hunt. Total cost for both shots is under $2.
Moisture owns the areas surrounding the Great Lakes region / Midwest. It's best not to take chances here in Lower Michigan. Besides, this is a fun sport and it's cheap to shoot. There's no need to spend more than 50 cents a bullet. (For instance) 240 gr. XTPs and roundballs have killed millions and millions of deer. There are plenty of options for inexpensive bullets that work, including conicals.
If you are hunting private land with no access to public land, then you have a good excuse to leave your ML loaded day-to-day. Otherwise, shoot it everyday and take advantage of this fine sport and all the fun associated with it. LMAO
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