Keepin' your powder dry

[USAFpj]

Patched round ball, with bore butter for patch lube.

[grundy53]

Anyone use a condom instead of electrical tape for the muzzle?

[Lcl 66 Tinner]

Got me some bore butter now and I have learned about the condensation issue; didn't know that the pyrodex is hygroscopic, so you live and you learn .  Just to clarify the hammer resting against the cap- you hunt this way as well?  I thought it made the best sense for weather, but didn't know if it passed the 'is that safe' test?  I have not been shooting the caps, I've been using a pipe cleaner to grab any moisture that may be in that channel.  Between this board and the rifle, it'll teach me what works.  If you're going to be stupid, you better be hard...

No I dont hunt this way. I bring the hammer to half cock and set my set trigger, one less click when the time comes. If your rifle has a set trigger this is a good habit to get into. If you continue to use Pyrodex (pellets I assume) pour about 5 grains of loose powder (FFF) before the pellets. This will help ignition of the pellets.

[Lcl 66 Tinner]

Anyone use a condom instead of electrical tape for the muzzle?

Condoms, no but the finger condoms Yes. You can buy a pack of 50 or so for about $3 at Rite-Aid if you dont mind white or you can spend about $10 for 5 in black at Cabelas.

[USAFpj]

Tinner, I'm using loose pyrodex powder.

[Lcl 66 Tinner]

Tinner, I'm using loose pyrodex powder.

Try using real black powder like Goex, you may have better luck. Are you using FF or FFF. Synthetic powder were designed for a 209 primer which burns hotter then 11s or musket caps.

[USAFpj]

RS- FFG equivalant

[Lcl 66 Tinner]

RS- FFG equivalant

Look in your owners manual and see if you can use FFF, usually its about 10 grains less then FF and youll have a faster ignition.

[lokidog]

Got me some bore butter now and I have learned about the condensation issue; didn't know that the pyrodex is hygroscopic, so you live and you learn .  Just to clarify the hammer resting against the cap- you hunt this way as well?  I thought it made the best sense for weather, but didn't know if it passed the 'is that safe' test?  I have not been shooting the caps, I've been using a pipe cleaner to grab any moisture that may be in that channel.  Between this board and the rifle, it'll teach me what works.  If you're going to be stupid, you better be hard...

No I dont hunt this way. I bring the hammer to half cock and set my set trigger, one less click when the time comes. If your rifle has a set trigger this is a good habit to get into. If you continue to use Pyrodex (pellets I assume) pour about 5 grains of loose powder (FFF) before the pellets. This will help ignition of the pellets.

I, personally, would not set my set trigger as it makes the trigger on my Hawken go off at something like a pound of pressure or so (never measured it, but it is really light).  I would be very worried about a twig or a fall setting it off.  If you are close enough for them to hear the click of the set trigger, you are probably close enough not to need it.  This is just my opinion and I am not flaming you for what you do.   

[Lcl 66 Tinner]

Got me some bore butter now and I have learned about the condensation issue; didn't know that the pyrodex is hygroscopic, so you live and you learn .  Just to clarify the hammer resting against the cap- you hunt this way as well?  I thought it made the best sense for weather, but didn't know if it passed the 'is that safe' test?  I have not been shooting the caps, I've been using a pipe cleaner to grab any moisture that may be in that channel.  Between this board and the rifle, it'll teach me what works.  If you're going to be stupid, you better be hard...

No I dont hunt this way. I bring the hammer to half cock and set my set trigger, one less click when the time comes. If your rifle has a set trigger this is a good habit to get into. If you continue to use Pyrodex (pellets I assume) pour about 5 grains of loose powder (FFF) before the pellets. This will help ignition of the pellets.

I, personally, would not set my set trigger as it makes the trigger on my Hawken go off at something like a pound of pressure or so (never measured it, but it is really light).  I would be very worried about a twig or a fall setting it off.  If you are close enough for them to hear the click of the set trigger, you are probably close enough not to need it.  This is just my opinion and I am not flaming you for what you do.   

Loki, how dare you criticize me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! just joking. The half cock is the safety as you know. My trigger is very light also when the set trigger is set. whats the difference with a 30-30 lever gun? Some people on other threads get pretty butt hurt on criticisum. Sorry for the spelling.

[robescc]

I switched to Triple Seven and Magnum no. 11 caps and have not had a misfire since. When I used Pyrodex, it was a guessing game if it would fire.

[lonedave]

I use a leather calves knee rubbed with Sno-seal or similar grease and keep the lock up under my armpit with the muzzle down.  Stays dry in a pouring rain.  I leave my gun in the truck at night.

[lokidog]

Got me some bore butter now and I have learned about the condensation issue; didn't know that the pyrodex is hygroscopic, so you live and you learn .  Just to clarify the hammer resting against the cap- you hunt this way as well?  I thought it made the best sense for weather, but didn't know if it passed the 'is that safe' test?  I have not been shooting the caps, I've been using a pipe cleaner to grab any moisture that may be in that channel.  Between this board and the rifle, it'll teach me what works.  If you're going to be stupid, you better be hard...

No I dont hunt this way. I bring the hammer to half cock and set my set trigger, one less click when the time comes. If your rifle has a set trigger this is a good habit to get into. If you continue to use Pyrodex (pellets I assume) pour about 5 grains of loose powder (FFF) before the pellets. This will help ignition of the pellets.

I, personally, would not set my set trigger as it makes the trigger on my Hawken go off at something like a pound of pressure or so (never measured it, but it is really light).  I would be very worried about a twig or a fall setting it off.  If you are close enough for them to hear the click of the set trigger, you are probably close enough not to need it.  This is just my opinion and I am not flaming you for what you do.   

Loki, how dare you criticize me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! just joking. The half cock is the safety as you know. My trigger is very light also when the set trigger is set. whats the difference with a 30-30 lever gun? Some people on other threads get pretty butt hurt on criticisum. Sorry for the spelling.

Oops!  I wasn't thinking about the half-cocked part as I didn't even know the set trigger would set in that position.   

[Leanne]

keep the lock up under my armpit with the muzzle down.  Stays dry in a pouring rain. 

Bingo!  I have three blacktails on the wall that I have shot with a load that had been in the gun for days while hunting in western washington conditions and I have 4 other bucks as well, in 10 years of muzzleloading I have never once had a misfire ever while out hunting, only when shooting at the range after putting a lot of slugs through the gun and it was just letting me know time to clean her out!

No need too wrap the ignition or tape the barrel, just pay attention.

[MountainWalk]

All pretty good info! Especially the tidbit about removing the nipple and using fine powder.  Side note, I've been using American Pioneer Powder, which comes in little plastice clear tubes of pre-measured 100 grain charges. 25 charges to a can for 15 bucks. Cleans well, good weather resistance, not very smokey and no sulfur.  At first I was wary about the 100 grain charge, because my past exp with charges that big was loose groups. Not with this stuff.  Good hunting!