Any tips for dealing with weather( Muzzle loaders)

[Westside88]

I'm feeling pretty good about being ready to hunt with my muzzle loader, but now I have a couple new questions. When hunting in really wet weather what do people do to beat the weather and make sure the gun goes boom when you want it to? At the end of the day after being in the weather do you shoot it? Do you decap it and pull the breach plug and push the bullet out? There's a pretty good chance that I will hunt in some pretty wet areas. Thanks for any tips

[CAMPMEAT]

When I muzzleloaded in western Washington, I would put a piece of tape over the barrel and keep the projectile in the barrel after hunting.

[2labs]

Like meat said tape the barrel. I also tape the N.W. legal open ignition. Reading the regs. It appears to be legal to do so. I'm sure an Internet Nazi will not be far behind.
Also if your camping leave your gun outside in the cold to avoid condensation.

[Stein]

I have always wondered if taping over the action was legal and didn't want to be the guy to find out.  It appears to be, but it doesn't call it out one way or another.

I usually carry it under my arm which keeps some of the moisture out.  At the end of the day, if you are in western wa during a rainy day - good luck.

[bhawley76]

Duct tape over the musket cap and a water balloon over the tip of the barrel are both good tips that I have heard of.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I use my hand to cover the cap and keep water out.  I never use a sling unless it is dry, best way I have found so far.  No issues yet. 

[CP]

•   Cover the muzzle with tape, balloon or condom
•   Apply nail polish to the cap
•   Tape the cap opening (no it isn’t illegal)
•   Use a cow’s knee aka lock cover
•   Carry it upside down – trigger up, hammer down

[ctwiggs1]

I emailed WDFW asking them about covering it up with tape and using gun condoms.  They responded that it was illegal.  I pushed and maintained that it wasn't an integral part of the weapon proper.  They told me they asked enforcement officers and they said they would write the ticket.

I still think they're wrong.  I'm extremely careful because to be honest - while I think I'm right - I don't feel like going to court over duct tape.

[CP]

I emailed WDFW asking them about covering it up with tape and using gun condoms.  They responded that it was illegal.  I pushed and maintained that it wasn't an integral part of the weapon proper.  They told me they asked enforcement officers and they said they would write the ticket.

I still think they're wrong.  I'm extremely careful because to be honest - while I think I'm right - I don't feel like going to court over duct tape.

That are wrong. 

""Exposed to the weather" means the percussion cap or the frizzen must be visible and not capable of being enclosed by an integral part of the weapon proper."

integral
[in-ti-gruh l, in-teg-ruh l]


adjective
1.  of, relating to, or belonging as a part of the whole; constituent or component:
integral parts.
2.  necessary to the completeness of the whole:
This point is integral to his plan.
3.  consisting or composed of parts that together constitute a whole.
4.  entire; complete; whole:

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I emailed WDFW asking them about covering it up with tape and using gun condoms.  They responded that it was illegal.  I pushed and maintained that it wasn't an integral part of the weapon proper.  They told me they asked enforcement officers and they said they would write the ticket.

I still think they're wrong.  I'm extremely careful because to be honest - while I think I'm right - I don't feel like going to court over duct tape.

Use your hand, they cant tell you how to carry a gun in the field! 

[2labs]

I think our state is ambiguous on purpose. How tough is it to write in every day non lawyerd up layman terms.
Maybe in Bold......hey *censored* no tape. Or I need to be able to see your cap and no clear tape

[Shank]

Ya know I've never even worried about any form of protection from the elements. Well maybe the hand covering technique.  I've had miss fires in perfectly dry conditions and ignition on the wettest of the wettest days. I quit worrying about.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

[M_ray]

Ya know I've never even worried about any form of protection from the elements. Well maybe the hand covering technique.  I've had miss fires in perfectly dry conditions and ignition on the wettest of the wettest days. I quit worrying about.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

  me too!

[NWKrenz]

Take the time to to clean it after your done hunting for the day if it's questionable. It might seem like a drag to clean it after hunting hard all day but it's worth it.

[wadu1]

•   

• Cover the muzzle with tape, balloon or condom
  Apply nail polish to the cap
  

[/color]•   Tape the cap opening (no it isn’t illegal)
•   Use a cow’s knee aka lock cover
•   Carry it upside down – trigger up, hammer down

I've been using the top 2 for years without any issues. Sometimes I'll use a rubber cork that I get at Ace Hardware. I also wrap my pre-lubed bullets in plastic wrap and secure with thread, it will leave a plastic wad over the powder that works for both heat and rain.  I even leave the round in until new years and then boom away. The only misfire I've had was with a borrowed CCI cap that took 2 hammer strikes to go off.

[erk444]

I use my hand to cover the cap and keep water out.  I never use a sling unless it is dry, best way I have found so far.  No issues yet.

.                                                                                        and the little finger cots you get in the bandaid section work perfect over the muzzle. Also holding it trigger up worked well for me too.

[ghosthunter]

I have used tape on the barrel. But I knock the load out every night in wet weather and dry It good. Than keep it in truck at night.
Reload fresh in am.

[PyroBlack]

With really wet weather (rain), I'll stay in the cabin or head over to a bar or restaurant. If the wet weather begins while seated in the woods, I get up, pack my gear and head back to the pickup truck.

I'll hunt outdoors / uncovered in a light rain with a muzzleloader. But not moderate or heavy rain.

[Curly]

I used to wear a poncho when ml hunting in the rain and I'd keep the rifle under the poncho and out of the rain.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Tape the barrel and tuck the breach area of rifle under armpit.

[ghosthunter]

With really wet weather (rain), I'll stay in the cabin or head over to a bar or restaurant. If the wet weather begins while seated in the woods, I get up, pack my gear and head back to the pickup truck.

I'll hunt outdoors / uncovered in a light rain with a muzzleloader. But not moderate or heavy rain.

Not me I will have some grounds blinds set up. And when its starts raining I head for one and park till the sun goes down or it stops.

[trophyhunt]

I just carry mine upside down(flipped over) and pointed down, been in plenty of rain storms and never had a problem with my Thompson center XR.

[Westside88]

Hunting these coastal elk most likely means rain (if we're lucky) I appreciate the input so far. Does anybody know of a waterproof scabbard or lightweight case of some sort? My reality is I may be on elk hours from camp during wet weather. As for unloading, other than firing is removing the breach plug and pushing the bullet through a good way to go? I definetly want yo start each morning with confidence in my setup. Thanks again for all the help

[Smoke]

I use a condom over the barrel (only chance I get to use em anymore) or a balloon, then a bit of Vaseline over the cap (again only time I get to use it)... as for unloading after the day... if any question I just shoot it into a tree and start with a fresh load in the morning... serves two things... I get to shoot something.. and I get to check my sites are still on after dropping my rifle down that damn canyon...

[Damnimissed]

I only tape my barrel if it's really nasty out but I do use the little pieces of tubing on my #11 caps, which cover the area where the cap meets the nipple. No water is getting through it unless submerged. I also cover the breech with my hand while carrying it. I don't use a sling.
Also, I wouldn't try and push the bullet out, especially if using loose powder. Way too messy.

[PyroBlack]

Because so much public land exists in Southern Lower Michigan, I exit our hunting area  - drive a mile or two down the road and shoot my muzzleloader after every evening hunt. Birchwood Casey 2 in 1 Bore Scrubber also contains a small amount of rust inhibitor in it. So when I return to the cabin, I put the Scrubber on a patch -then follow with a dry patch.

Nice thing about Blackhorn 209 powder and break-action inlines that completely cover the ignition, is I can repeat the process all week-long and not worry about rust forming. Actually I can repeat this process for 15 days. My Knight Vision and T/C Omega have completely sealed ignitions and wonderful anti-moisture properties, compared to sidelocks and exposed ignitions.

With absolutely nothing added to the bore, I've shot Blackhorn 209 powder 15 consecutive times  without swabbing at the range. But I would never try that in the woods, for moisture lurks around every corner of Lower Michigan. So I shoot and do the swab-thing - then reload in the early morning, every day.

The entire exterior of the ML gets wiped-down every-other-day if dry..... every day if damp. I use Ballistol on the entire exterior..... everything except the scope lens. I have fog-proof lens spray cleaner for that.

Because my ML is shot everyday, that allows me to bring it indoors into the warm cabin and remove it from the gun case. I stand it up against the wall and let it slowly adjust back to warmer temps. Because I reload 10-11 or-so hours later, no concerns exist for having wet powder or ignition. With a little rust inhibitor in the bore and Ballistol on the exterior, there's also no concern about rust.

After arriving at my hunting area and sitting down, I sometimes add a cotton ball to the muzzle opening. That minimizes the chance droppings from overhead trees and light rain getting into my bore when pointed a little upwards.

If that cotton ball should ever slide down the bore enough so I cannot retrieve it by hand, that would forewarn me something got inside it.

[Stickerbush]

http://www.blackovis.com/solo-hunter-rifle-cover never ml hunted but this product might be a good option to keep the rain out

[Westside88]

Well no a Elk on this trip, but I still consider it a success. I've learned a lot about muzzle loaders in a short time and had a lot of action. The weather was quite wet and I was heading out an hour before daylight and returning late, at least a couple miles in most of the time.Sometimes as many as 5.  I employed many of the tips shared and ended up choosing to fire my gun at the end of the day on three occasions, followed by a quick cleaning emphasizing getting everything dry and verifying the fire hole was clear. Even after torrential wind driven rain and plowing wet brush all day it went Boom each time with no hesitation. I'm very pleased with my choice to go with the Disc Extreme Western and the #11 caps. I feel it to be a very reliable combo. Thanks to everyone who has shared their experience and guidance. Theses muzzle loaders are a lot of fun