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.