Hunting with a muzzy for the first time

[jasnt]

Me and my girlfriend will be hunting with a tc hawken for elk this year for our first time. What are some things we should know about hunting with a muzzy.  Season starts October 1-7th. Forecast shows some rain and prob several wet days ahead.  How do you keep things dry and protect the nipple and cap from moisture?

Any tips/ advice is appreciated!
We are using the load shot by the previous owner
110 gr of ffg goex and precision rifles QT 235gr/.50 cal or precision rifle Dead Center 240 gr
RWS no 1075 plus caps

[Blacktail Sniper]

For my old school Hawken, I took a bike innertube and cut it into small rectangles.  Folded them in half, then placed over the nipple hole and lowered hammer the to hold them in place. 

They have to be bigger than the hammer and folded, so when you cock it, they pop off.

Small piece of tape over the muzzle end, gas pressure will pop it off when you fire.

[solomtnhunter]

Hypothetically speaking  One could say placing small piece of electrical tape over it works great because if in case "someone" shows up you can quickly just peel it off before inspection.

[JimmyHoffa]

I put tape or a piece of plastic bag over the end of the barrel.  And have a piece of rawhide that would go between the hammer and nipple.  When you cock the hammer the rawhide falls away and you're ready for a cap.

[ghosthunter]

Take what you need to break it down and clean it to camp. If it rains I would empty and fresh load each day.
For me I take a gun vise to camp.

[jasnt]

Take what you need to break it down and clean it to camp. If it rains I would empty and fresh load each day.
For me I take a gun vise to camp.

that brings up another question.  What do I need to un load these sabot's

[Hunter15]

A cap and powder

[Smoke]

moisture... tape over the muzzle works, but if damp the tape wont stick... I use a small balloon, or a condom... the bullet will pass right thru it without affecting aim.. as for the nipple, with no cap installed, the rubber works fine, leather can attract moisture so I'd stay clear of that.. once in the woods and you install your cap, vaseline works great, just rub some on the OUTSIDE of the cap and nipple to seal it... make sure not to get any inside the cap... it can cause a misfire (dud)
unloading...  just fire into a tree or the ground... or if you want the rich peoples way, there are CO2 kits that attach at the nipple and push the charge out with compressed gas... a lot of the newer rifles come with a removable breach plug, if thats the case you can remove the breach and using your ram rod push it out....

good luck

[jasnt]

Thanks for the reply's.  Shooting an old tc hawken so no breach plug. 

[Goex2Fwithroundball]

I have been hunting with my TC Hawken .54 for many years in all weather. I used to worry when I hunted in the rain. During heavy rain I just cover the hammer and cap with my hand. Be sure to pinch the cap a little before you put it on the nipple to ensure a snug fit.
At the end of each day of hunting I always shoot and swab. Then start the next day with  a fresh charge. Even after hunting in heavy rain all day my Hawken has always fired.
Good luck.

[JimmyHoffa]

When I would fire at night/clean/reload in the morning--right before reloading, I would have just a cap and put the muzzle near a leaf or paper and then fire.  Did this to make sure it went poof and make sure the gas from the cap made it into the barrel. 

[Romeo 2-6]

I use soft beeswax (toilet sealing ring from the hardware store is cheap) to smear around the cap on the nipple. Keep a little Ina Baggie in your pocket for when you re-cap. Keeps moisture outta the cap.


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[MD36]

Or you could just carry the rifle upside down when raining mine always ignites.

[crowinghen]

unloading...  just fire into a tree or the ground... or if you want the rich peoples way, there are CO2 kits that attach at the nipple and push the charge out with compressed gas... a lot of the newer rifles come with a removable breach plug, if thats the case you can remove the breach and using your ram rod push it out....

good luck

I am able to remove the breech plug on my gun. I was wondering if it's okay to use the bullet and sabot? Obviously if not shot.
Thanks!

[jasnt]

Thanks for all the info! I don't know how I'll sleep tonight.

[HntnFsh]

unloading...  just fire into a tree or the ground... or if you want the rich peoples way, there are CO2 kits that attach at the nipple and push the charge out with compressed gas... a lot of the newer rifles come with a removable breach plug, if thats the case you can remove the breach and using your ram rod push it out....

good luck

I am able to remove the breech plug on my gun. I was wondering if it's okay to use the bullet and sabot? Obviously if not shot.
Thanks!

I would reuse the bullet. But not the sabot. It will have rifling marks in it. May affect accuracy.

[bobcat]

Hypothetically speaking  One could say placing small piece of electrical tape over it works great because if in case "someone" shows up you can quickly just peel it off before inspection.

Why would you want to "quickly peel it off?"

[TriggerMike]

Hypothetically speaking  One could say placing small piece of electrical tape over it works great because if in case "someone" shows up you can quickly just peel it off before inspection.

Why would you want to "quickly peel it off?"

Bobcat,

Do you think it is legal to cover the "opening" on a muzzleloader breech with tape? I could see it going either way with a Game Warden in the field, unless there is some sort of legal precedent that has ruled it to be legal that I'm unaware of.

[Duckslayer89]

I'm all for open sights but the whole open breech plug thing is kind of ridiculous! Closed breech but require musket caps and open sights would still be sporting and traditional

[JimmyHoffa]

Hypothetically speaking  One could say placing small piece of electrical tape over it works great because if in case "someone" shows up you can quickly just peel it off before inspection.

Why would you want to "quickly peel it off?"

Bobcat,

Do you think it is legal to cover the "opening" on a muzzleloader breech with tape? I could see it going either way with a Game Warden in the field, unless there is some sort of legal precedent that has ruled it to be legal that I'm unaware of.

I thought it had to be part of the gun that prevented exposure to the elements that made it not legal.  So as long as it is something like tape, wax, glue that isn't part of the design of the gun it should be okay.

[jackmaster]

Finger condoms work great for the barrel and I always put a little electrical tape over the nipple. I never unloaded my hawken unless it was really wet that day, what I did do EVERY MORNING was remove the nipple run a piece of strip phone wire through the nipple hole and then dropped a few brains of powder in the nipple hole before screwing the nipple back in, never once did I have a hang fire or a no fire.. Not once which is very rare in the hawken world

[bobcat]

Hypothetically speaking  One could say placing small piece of electrical tape over it works great because if in case "someone" shows up you can quickly just peel it off before inspection.

Why would you want to "quickly peel it off?"

Bobcat,

Do you think it is legal to cover the "opening" on a muzzleloader breech with tape? I could see it going either way with a Game Warden in the field, unless there is some sort of legal precedent that has ruled it to be legal that I'm unaware of.

Yes I do. There's nothing that says you can't cover up any part of your muzzleloader in order to keep water out. You can wrap the entire gun in Saran Wrap if you wish.

[BigGoonTuna]

i was kind of curious about that myself.  the sticky point(at least last i saw in the regs) is that you can't have anything "mechanical" covering up the breech.  sort of sounds like tape may or may not fall into a gray area there.  i'd be worried about running into a warden looking to make an example of me.