The one that got away......

[Loco Ken]

Had my Traditions Tracker misfire twice this last weekend while staring down a 5x5 bull elk.  Any suggestions on how I keep the moisture from building inside the gun legally and/or suggestions on how to keep this from happening again in the future?  I had the gun loaded from the day before so the pyrodex pellets were sitting in the barrel for about 18 hours or so.  Is it not a good thing to leave the gun loaded like this (without a cap of course) overnight because failure is more than likely gonna happen?

[whacker1]

I have discontinued use of pyrodex pellets for this reason.  I also unload and reload my muzzleloader every evening/morning to prevent condensation issues.  These muzzleloaders will draw moisture over time, changes in temperature, etc.   I noticed it getting in and out of the cold into a warm pickup and then warming up in a house and then back out in the cold again.

TripleSeven loose powder has worked best for me and I still try to unload/reload every day.

[jjhunter]

    I use triple 7 loose 3Fg and never had an issue.   Even on 7-8 day hunts in the snow, wind and rain.   The only hang fire I ever had was because of not following routine and not firing a cap after cleaning and before loading - the excess oil in the nipple got me.

[Loco Ken]

The only hang fire I ever had was because of not following routine and not firing a cap after cleaning and before loading - the excess oil in the nipple got me.

Yeah, I'm upset to say I didn't know you should do that.  Guess this was a learning experience and not a disappointment of a hunt really.  Thanks for the tip.

I have discontinued use of pyrodex pellets for this reason.  I also unload and reload my muzzleloader every evening/morning to prevent condensation issues.  These muzzleloaders will draw moisture over time, changes in temperature, etc.   I noticed it getting in and out of the cold into a warm pickup and then warming up in a house and then back out in the cold again.

TripleSeven loose powder has worked best for me and I still try to unload/reload every day.

My hunting partner has said he wants to move away from pyrodex as well and go to powder.  I think I might join you guys because I don't think I could handle another disappointment like this.

[PyroBlack]

Pyrodex attracts moisture more than most powders. Only one that might be more of a moisture attraction is American Pioneer/Shockey Gold. Plus, pellets must be kept in drier conditions than loose powder.

I fire three 209 primers before loading the first shot and I keep my breechplugs out of my inlines, while storing it in my gun safe. I even double the protection of not letting lubricant oil seep into actions and breechplugs by storing my rifles muzzle-down.

Once we get burned badly by a hang/misfire - right in sight of a nice buck, we all seem to learn our lessons, so it doesn't happen again.

[LDennis24]

A couple years ago I shot 4 caps at 2 different bulls and a cow elk over the span of a week and I got pretty frustrated as well. My problem wasn't my powder, it was the caps not being hot enough to ignite thru the short neck of the nipple to the powder. I found a #11 nipple that had a slightly bigger hole thru it and I started buying RWS primer's instead. Never had a misfire since. Not even last week after I pulled my gun out and found that it was still loaded from last winter's late muzzleloader elk season!  It fired no problem... I also quite using pellet's some time ago. Because they always seemed to have trouble firing after being loaded for a couple days in cool weather. After your first shot if you don't reload quickly your barrel will begin to draw moisture from the cooling down. Shot mine yesterday and in 2 mins the nipple area was very damp. It was 21 degree's out also. It still fired the second time 3 hours later, it didn't hit the spike bull I was aiming at though!  I get a little excited sometimes when I'm that close to an animal.

[pilebuck]

I leave my gun in the truck loaded with 777 always just don't bring inside it will sweat causing condensation.

[PyroBlack]

Dennis mentioned the need to have hot caps. I use RWS Dynamit Nobel 1075s. Those are hot #11 caps.  Another good one are the CCI #11 Magnum caps.

[LDennis24]

Yes but not the regular CCI caps. They are horrible...

[Loco Ken]

Thanks for the advice, guys.  I sincerely appreciate it.  Now to go back out there and find that bull again!

[Gobble]

I have discontinued use of pyrodex pellets for this reason.  I also unload and reload my muzzleloader every evening/morning to prevent condensation issues.  These muzzleloaders will draw moisture over time, changes in temperature, etc.   I noticed it getting in and out of the cold into a warm pickup and then warming up in a house and then back out in the cold again.

TripleSeven loose powder has worked best for me and I still try to unload/reload every day.

I do the same thing, you can put a round sticker like the ones you use for a garage sale over the end of the barrel to keep additional moisture out of the gun

[Labs07]

I have never had issues with my powder or primer.  I leave my gun in the truck w/o cap on it over the night.  I also put electrical tap over the muzzle.  I change the powder out after 2 days and clean the gun and then fire 2 caps to dry things out and reload.  I did have one issue this year though....the cap fell off while I was moving in on a cow elk and when I fried on her at 50yrds it went click.  I guess I need to crimp the cap a bit more from now on.

[JJB11B]

We all have at least one "One that got away". in my case I have one for each big game species...plus one more

[shorthair15]

get rid of the pellet's. i only use triple seven 3f in my inline goes off every time.

[Thehowler]

Never, ever had problems with pellets. Have friends that dump a little powder down, than drop there pellets down the pipe for a little added insurance. Couldn't  hurt.

[Jonathan_S]

Condensation is a problem with muzzleloading...late season more than early.  Bringing a cold weapon into a warm house, tent, or pickup will build up moisture regardless of what propellant is used.

I "know" of someone who has used a small drill bit to increase the size of the pathway for spark

[PolarBear]

   I use triple 7 loose 3Fg and never had an issue.   Even on 7-8 day hunts in the snow, wind and rain.   The only hang fire I ever had was because of not following routine and not firing a cap after cleaning and before loading - the excess oil in the nipple got me.

My daughter and I both use T-& fffg and never had a problem even in torrential down pours.  We hunted all last season and through January in the rain, snow and sun, forgot to discharge before storing in the safe and this summer it still fired perfectly.  I know a lot of folks who have misfire or hangfires with pellets.   

[PolarBear]

Yes but not the regular CCI caps. They are horrible...

If you notice (the white tin) it says right on it "for reenactment use).  They are not meant for hunting!

[LDennis24]

I was referring to #11 percussion caps. CCI makes regular and magnum caps.

[Loco Ken]

Yes but not the regular CCI caps. They are horrible...

If you notice (the white tin) it says right on it "for reenactment use).  They are not meant for hunting!

Oh boy.  Those are the caps I was using and the only ones available if I remember correctly when I bought them at Wholesale Sports (also recommended by the sales associate).  I didn't even notice that on the can.  Lesson learned.  It's amazing though that they still fire off the pyrodex just fine when I first load up.  I've shot my rifle many times with it now, but after leaving it loaded overnight, I've had two misfires in two different situations.  I will go buy new before I go out in the field to hunt for sure.

[dadeo316]

Yes but not the regular CCI caps. They are horrible...

If you notice (the white tin) it says right on it "for reenactment use).  They are not meant for hunting!

Oh boy.  Those are the caps I was using and the only ones available if I remember correctly when I bought them at Wholesale Sports (also recommended by the sales associate).  I didn't even notice that on the can.  Lesson learned.  It's amazing though that they still fire off the pyrodex just fine when I first load up.  I've shot my rifle many times with it now, but after leaving it loaded overnight, I've had two misfires in two different situations.  I will go buy new before I go out in the field to hunt for sure.

I always fold up about 3 layers of electrical tape and place it between the hammer and nipple whenever I pull a cap off.

Sent from my SGH-T399 using Tapatalk

[Loco Ken]

Yes but not the regular CCI caps. They are horrible...

If you notice (the white tin) it says right on it "for reenactment use).  They are not meant for hunting!

Actually, my case says "Multiple Use" and not "For Reenactment Use".  The guy behind the counter said they should work just fine for hunting.  What sayeth y'all?

[Soady]

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=134829.0

Just buy these and forget the other ones.

 

[PolarBear]

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=134829.0

Just buy these and forget the other ones.

 

[dadeo316]

The ones I have are RWS 1075 plus.

Sent from my SGH-T399 using Tapatalk

[Loco Ken]

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=134829.0

Just buy these and forget the other ones.

 

Well, I'm heading back to Wholesale Sports to pick those up.  They had some for $11 I think.  That coupled together with the Triple7 powder and we should be in business! 

[shorthair15]

the cci magnums are good pellets as well. i used them last sunday on my hunt. it was pouring down raining all day. at the end of the day i discharged my gun as i was going to clean it any ways. i mainly use the rws number 11's have a ton of them and the rws musket caps as well.

[Loco Ken]

the cci magnums are good pellets as well. i used them last sunday on my hunt. it was pouring down raining all day. at the end of the day i discharged my gun as i was going to clean it any ways. i mainly use the rws number 11's have a ton of them and the rws musket caps as well.

Bought the RWS musket caps but didn't get any powder.  Heading back out tomorrow to find that bull and at least one more with a friend.  Hoping for great success in the last few days of the season!

[MD36]

Pellets and loose are the same when it comes to moisture, make sure to unload when exposed to moisture or if your rifle will sit for more than a few hours. When I am out hunting in the rain I carry my rifle upsides down to keep the rain from directly getting in to the open part of the cap and nipple.