Loads in your M/L

[Russ McDonald]

I have been out everyday hunting since the opener of M/L early elk season.  Do you guys keep you load in your gun?  I read the regs and I think you can keep the load in your muzzy as long as it is not capped in your vehicle.  Looking for a little incite.  Thanks

[Limhangerslayer]

Not loaded unless a cap is on it.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Do you guys leave the load in it all season or shoot it out at the end of the day? 

[lokidog]

Yes, you can keep it in there while transporting as long as there is no cap on it, or powder in the pan for a flintlock.....  Should you leave it loaded is a debate that could go on for pages.

If you are hunting in the rain, I know, not a problem yet this year, my thought is that you unload it every night, swab it and start fresh in the morning.  If there is little humidity, and no temperature changes to cause potential condensation, you can probably leave it for a couple of days.  I had a charge a few years back that I forgot to unload for about six months, went out and fired it off, no problem.

I don't like to waste expensive projectiles and have used one of those compressed air unloaders instead of firing it to good effect.  Still have to point it at something safe and soft though.

[marty]

Change it out every couple days and everyday when raining or snowing!

[bare.hunter]

I unload every 3 days unless it is really wet out.Iam just careful to not let the temp change much on the gun.

[Russ McDonald]

So the next question is do you guys fire them off or do you pull the breach plug.  I know it would be messy with powder falling out but at least you would be able to safe the bullet.

[marty]

I push the bullet out and never reuse the bullet, Re lube barrel and run a patch reload.

[BoomWhop]

Every other day, I find a reason to shoot at something.   

[lokidog]

So the next question is do you guys fire them off or do you pull the breach plug.  I know it would be messy with powder falling out but at least you would be able to safe the bullet.

If shooting a full size bullet, I would only reuse at the range, a sabot I would reuse on game if I had to but would probablky also save for the range.

[Russ McDonald]

Thanks guys.  I did fire mine off on Tuesday.  Hopefully I will find an elk to shoot at tomorrow.

[bare.hunter]

I take the breech plug out and push everything out. then clean and reload.

[sled]

Change it out every couple days and everyday when raining or snowing!

:yeah:exactly. What i do.

[elkboy]

I just went eight days with the same load, and took a deer, but I only risked leaving it in there because it was dry, dry, dry.  I think changing every few days if it is wet is good advice.  I try to do a good clean (patches come out almost white) if I change it, either by firing into a dirt bank or pulling the bullet with a puller attachment on the ramrod.  Oh, and bringing a cold muzzleloader into a warm house overnight can be asking for condensation in the powder, or so I've been told.  Anybody have insight into that?

[Duffer]

I just went eight days with the same load, and took a deer, but I only risked leaving it in there because it was dry, dry, dry.  I think changing every few days if it is wet is good advice.  I try to do a good clean (patches come out almost white) if I change it, either by firing into a dirt bank or pulling the bullet with a puller attachment on the ramrod.  Oh, and bringing a cold muzzleloader into a warm house overnight can be asking for condensation in the powder, or so I've been told.  Anybody have insight into that?

A cold mass in warmer air will form condensation (from the air. think fog) on the colder surface. The mass of the steel in a weapon warms much slower than air does.

A warm mass in cold air can form condensation inside stuff like scopes.

Best to leave your weapon somehow closer to outside temps or acclimate them slooowwwly. (which is near impossible)

If you have really cold outside temps (like 20s or teens or lower), the air has almost no moisture. Not as big of a problem.