Unloading your muzzleloader each day during season

[bod]

For those of you hunt during damp or raining conditions do you unload your muzzleloader each evening, does the type of powder make a difference?

[Blacktail Sniper]

When I hunted muzzie, I did every evening except one.

Next morning I parked off on a side road for lunch and to overlook a big draw.  Noticed a two-point bedded about 40-50 yards down hill from a very rough and rocky road.

No way to approach unless on hands & knees down that very rocky road.  Made the very painfull approach which was about 60-70 yards down the road.

Got just above the buck, capped-up, squeezed the trigger and "pop," no bang!!

Hands & knees back up the road, pull bullet and dig out bad powder, fire three more caps before finally get the rest of the powder clear, then recharge and back down the road on hands & knees.  He was still there so I got him, and can honestly say I never worked or suffered so much for a deer before or after!

Also, this was during the early season, so warm, dry conditions with no westside rain, the powder had drawn moisture from just sitting over night.  Never had had a missfire other than that one time, and always fired the rifle at the end of the day after that.

This was with real blackpowder, not sure if the more modern stuff would be the same or better...

[Sabotloader]

For those of you hunt during damp or raining conditions do you unload your muzzleloader each evening, does the type of powder make a difference?

I use to but I know longer do.  I have found if I take the right precautions I really do not need to... + I violate a few old practiced  ML rules along the way in how I treat the rifle after a days hunt...

Now in the next breath - if for some reason I think my load may have been compromised due to weather - then yes I pull the BP and push the load out.

[bod]

I'm asking this in trying to determine which ML to get.

[JimmyHoffa]

I shoot it off in the evening.  Then quick clean it.  Before loading in the morning, I put a leaf on the end and fire just a cap.  Then clean the nipple and load up for the day.

[Sabotloader]

I'm asking this in trying to determine which ML to get.

I am shooting a variety of different Knight rifles but in reality, I really do not think it makes much difference which muzzleloader you are using if you learn the different methods of protections and practices.

I often go 10 -15 days with the same load in the rifle - granted I do not have the weather conditions you guys on the west side have but we do have our share of rotten days here in no. Idaho also...

[GoexBlackhorn]

For those of you hunt during damp or raining conditions do you unload your muzzleloader each evening, does the type of powder make a difference?

(Inlines) I shoot the load every evening (away from where we hunt), then reload in the early morning. Doesn't matter what powder I use.

[Sabotloader]

For those of you hunt during damp or raining conditions do you unload your muzzleloader each evening, does the type of powder make a difference?

You might read through this this testing process that I tried several years ago...

https://www.huntingnet.com/forum/black-powder/375124-loaded-28-days-did-go-boom-today.html

https://www.huntingnet.com/forum/black-powder-reference-forum/394016-conclusion-nother-weather-test.html

https://www.huntingnet.com/forum/black-powder/173875-conclusion-nother-weather-test.html

[HntnFsh]

I never unload during season. I shoot a Knight Bighorn and have hunted for days on end in downpours with no issues.

[M_ray]

I’ve hunted with a couple Thompson Center’s for the last twenty plus years and I never unload and leave mine loaded all season. I hunted in rain before and a very wet couple days in Oregon once and never had a problem and it fired perfectly when I got my chance. 

[Calvin Rayborn]

Long as you stay away from Jim Shockey's Gold you should be all good leaving it be.

[GoexBlackhorn]

I never unload during season. I shoot a Knight Bighorn and have hunted for days on end in downpours with no issues.

OK - I'll bite!
What's your M.O? What are you protecting/weather-proofing that gun with? What's over your muzzle and action? Downpours are a completely different animal than light rains.

[HntnFsh]

I haven't ever felt the need to use anything to waterproof. I don't pack my muzzy on my shoulder with the barrel in the air. Its usually pointed down or at least a little below being level. When its real bad out I might protect the nipple area a little by covering it with my carrying hand or tuck it back under my arm a little covering it with my coat sleeve. Think about how tight a saboted bullet goes down your barrel. They conform to the inside of your barrel making a very efficient seal against the elements. Same with the cap. I use RWS #11 caps. They are a very tight fit and not very conducive to letting water in. I do change the caps on a daily basis. But have never had a cap failure or load failure when hunting in the rain and Ive killed a lot of elk and fired a lot of shots in inclement weather.

I'm more concerned about temp extremes causing condensation than the rain. Like hunting in bad, cold weather all day then bringing my muzzy in a hot house or tent etc. then back out to a cold environment. But honestly. I haven't had an issue with that either.

If a person is concerned about moisture intrusion put a piece of tape over the end of your barrel. Ive seen people put stuff over their breech to protect from the weather. But in Washington your breech is supposed to be exposed to the elements. Putting a cover over it isn't leaving it exposed. Ive just never seen the need to do these things.

[lokidog]

I wouldn't count on the sabot perfectly sealing the grooves in your barrel, they are designed to expand into them upon the shot. 

My ex hunted one day in wet snow and we had to squeegee the powder out of the gun. I don't remember if she was using roundball or sabot.  However, I will say there was no electrical tape over the barrel and she was, frankly stupid when it came to hunting and probably stuck the barrel into every blob of snow she could find.... 

I usually do not unload each day but also don't hunt in the nasty nasty crap that some people do....

[Magnum_Willys]

Tape/ballon over barrel, transparent  tape over inline nipple, standard operating procedure.  Dont unload at camp.  Don’t leave loaded at home. Fresh caps all the time.

[GoexBlackhorn]

I haven't ever felt the need to use anything to waterproof. I don't pack my muzzy on my shoulder with the barrel in the air. Its usually pointed down or at least a little below being level. When its real bad out I might protect the nipple area a little by covering it with my carrying hand or tuck it back under my arm a little covering it with my coat sleeve. Think about how tight a saboted bullet goes down your barrel. They conform to the inside of your barrel making a very efficient seal against the elements. Same with the cap. I use RWS #11 caps. They are a very tight fit and not very conducive to letting water in. I do change the caps on a daily basis. But have never had a cap failure or load failure when hunting in the rain and Ive killed a lot of elk and fired a lot of shots in inclement weather.

I'm more concerned about temp extremes causing condensation than the rain. Like hunting in bad, cold weather all day then bringing my muzzy in a hot house or tent etc. then back out to a cold environment. But honestly. I haven't had an issue with that either.

If a person is concerned about moisture intrusion put a piece of tape over the end of your barrel. Ive seen people put stuff over their breech to protect from the weather. But in Washington your breech is supposed to be exposed to the elements. Putting a cover over it isn't leaving it exposed. Ive just never seen the need to do these things.

I live an hour north of Toledo - use the best Dynamit Noble 1075 caps and suspect I use same/really similar blackpowder.

Our weather-tight inlines and non weather-tight sidelocks must stay dry when hunting 2-3 hours in downpours. Almost impossible to walk a 1/10th mile in the wet woods with gun, accessories pack and hunting seat - maybe even a flashlight also  and not get that gun wet, without artificial protection.

My original reply was reaction to a post that never mentions protection BTW. That's why I questioned the post without hesitation. 

[Sabotloader]

I wouldn't count on the sabot perfectly sealing the grooves in your barrel, they are designed to expand into them upon the shot. 

You are correct - do not count on sabots and most conicals to seal the barrel

My ex hunted one day in wet snow and we had to squeegee the powder out of the gun. I don't remember if she was using roundball or sabot.  However, I will say there was no electrical tape over the barrel and she was, frankly stupid when it came to hunting and probably stuck the barrel into every blob of snow she could find.... 

I usually do not unload each day but also don't hunt in the nasty nasty crap that some people do....

[HntnFsh]

I would never argue with Sabotloader as I'm sure he has more knowledge than the rest of us put together. I will say though that whenever I have pushed a load out of my barrel the sabot has noticeable rifling marks on the petals. I agree the base will expand into the grooves. Whether it forms a perfectly tight seal. I guess I cant say that Ive poured water down the barrel to see. But I will say that in over 20 years of muzzy hunting with Knight rifles, mostly Bighorns In any weather imaginable. From Upper 80s to below freezing, and snow, and pouring down rain I have never had a failure to fire. I'm very confident in the ignition of my loads no matter the weather!

[lokidog]

I would never argue with Sabotloader as I'm sure he has more knowledge than the rest of us put together. I will say though that whenever I have pushed a load out of my barrel the sabot has noticeable rifling marks on the petals. I agree the base will expand into the grooves. Whether it forms a perfectly tight seal. I guess I cant say that Ive poured water down the barrel to see. But I will say that in over 20 years of muzzy hunting with Knight rifles, mostly Bighorns In any weather imaginable. From Upper 80s to below freezing, and snow, and pouring down rain I have never had a failure to fire. I'm very confident in the ignition of my loads no matter the weather!

You are correct, they groove a bit upon loading, just not all the way or they would be a PITA to shove down the barrel, I would think.

[jackmaster]

I never unload during season. I shoot a Knight Bighorn and have hunted for days on end in downpours with no issues.

never unload it either, if I am nevous I pull the nipple clean t put a could grains or do of fresh powder behind the nipple and off to the races, the only tie I had a no fire is the day I unloaded it and reloaded the next day and took a shot at a coyote and pop no buenno !! Last time I unloaded at night, never failed since !!

[HntnFsh]

I would never argue with Sabotloader as I'm sure he has more knowledge than the rest of us put together. I will say though that whenever I have pushed a load out of my barrel the sabot has noticeable rifling marks on the petals. I agree the base will expand into the grooves. Whether it forms a perfectly tight seal. I guess I cant say that Ive poured water down the barrel to see. But I will say that in over 20 years of muzzy hunting with Knight rifles, mostly Bighorns In any weather imaginable. From Upper 80s to below freezing, and snow, and pouring down rain I have never had a failure to fire. I'm very confident in the ignition of my loads no matter the weather!

You are correct, they groove a bit upon loading, just not all the way or they would be a PITA to shove down the barrel, I would think.

They are! Barnes bullets are extremely hard to get down the barrel.

[Buck86]

I never believed that about muzzleoders, and thought that shooting it every day at the end of the day just didn't make sense?  I have hunted W was during modern deer season usually very wet and rainy left the muzz loaded all season.  Shoot at end of season and muzz goes boom without any issues.  Now I do usually put tape on the end of my barrel after loaded and use some sort of waterproofing method for my cap.  And again I have not had a miss fire due to weather.  The only time I have had a miss fire is because I did something wrong while cleaning.

Good Luck Buck

[wadu1]

I never unload, and never had a problem rain,  snow or BS (LOL). First of all I use cast lead and I wrap them in plastic wrap that seals some of the moisture, I also use a small cork in the barrel. Next on the nipple when using a RWS/R#10/CCI, I replace the nipple with a Uncle Mikes Hot Shot and when the cap is installed I use a drop of nail polish to seal the cap. I've never had a miss fire in 40 year of Muzzy hunting. Right now I have one TC hammer gun loaded from two years ago that I loaned to a fiend, it will fire when I put a new cap on it. 

[bod]

wow wadu1 great answer

[WAcoyotehunter]

I load mine on the first day of the hunt and it stays loaded until I shoot at an animal or the season ends.  Carry a safety pin on your jacket and ream the nipple every day before hunting.  I have never had a misfire or hangfire

[Squidward]

I use a TC Hawkins 50cal with FFF real black powder. I will hunt day to day with the same charge in the gun. I will never however set my hammer down (no cap on nipple) after being in the brush. the cup part of hammer will hold water and if you set the hammer down it will force water in the nipple. happy hunting, oh yeah keep your powder dry.

[Hart]

I hunt with a sidelock. I spent two weeks (off and on) hunting late season on the wetside, and left the rifle loaded the whole time. I was pretty careful to guard the muzzle and lock against the constant rain, but was unsure at the end of it all what would happen when I pulled the trigger.

When it finally came time, the gun went off perfectly. I feel a lot more confident about leaving it loaded after a rainy day after that. Funny enough, the only hangfire I have experienced hunting was on a sunny dry day.