Muzzle Loader in wet weather.

[MikeC]

Hey guys, just trying to find out what you do to protect water from entering through the muzzle on your smoke poles? Electrical tape is what I've heard most often but is that legal here in Washington?

[JakeLand]

Yep legal !

[boneaddict]

+1 electrical tape

[Sabotloader]

Hey guys, just trying to find out what you do to protect water from entering through the muzzle on your smoke poles? Electrical tape is what I've heard most often but is that legal here in Washington?

I use muzzle mitts - they are really effective for me!

Muzzle Mitts fit right over your barrel. Used properly they keep out snow, dirt and moisture from entering inside your barrel. The Muzzle Mitt does not alter your firing power or accuracy; just shoot through the mitt. 10 per package.

Follow this link

http://www.octobercountry.com/muzzle-mitts/

[MikeC]

Thanks for the replies guys, appreciate it 

[M_ray]

The only way I can get a muzzle condoms to stay on would be to cover my front sight so electrical tape for me

[Crunchy]

The only way I can get a muzzle condoms to stay on would be to cover my front sight so electrical tape for me

Yeah electrical tape! 

[Magnum_Willys]

The only way I can get a muzzle condoms to stay on would be to cover my front sight so electrical tape for me

.  Let site bead poke thru works

[floatinghat]

The only way I can get a muzzle condoms to stay on would be to cover my front sight so electrical tape for me

.  Let site bead poke thru works

yup, yup, yup

[flyfishWA]

electrical tape.

[CAMPMEAT]

Those little yellow squish ear plugs work great with zero problems.

[robodad]

Tape, ear plugs or condom for the muzzle, what about the nipple area ? How do you keep that dry ?

[Dan-o]

I use electrical tape, too.

TIP:   stick a couple extra pieces to your stock, for future use.

[Dan-o]

Tape, ear plugs or condom for the muzzle, what about the nipple area ? How do you keep that dry ?

I used to paint a seal around my cap with clear fingernail polish when i hunted really wet.

I've noticed with musket caps and a tight fit I don't need to worry about it.

[Turner89]

I use seran wrap. I start at the muzzle and wrap all the way down. I put tape around the sights and then cut the seran wrap. Looks funny , but worked very well.

[HntnFsh]

In 20 years of muzzy hunting Ive never had an issue with leaving the bore or cap open. I rarely pack my muzzy slung over my shoulder in the rain and I change caps daily.

[floatinghat]

I use seran wrap. I start at the muzzle and wrap all the way down. I put tape around the sights and then cut the seran wrap. Looks funny , but worked very well.

That is funny but I bet it's effective.  I have never had an issue, condom on front an tight fitting cap over the nipple.

[usmc74]

I'm going to do a test this morning.  After shooting my bull Monday, and reloading "just in case" , my rifle lay next to the stump, in the rain for about 5 hours.

Heading to the range to see if it will fire.  After my first shot, there was nothing left protecting the charge (tape on the muzzle).

[usmc74]

Did not even fire the cap(saved it).  New cap did not fire the charge.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[lokidog]

Did not even fire the cap(saved it).  New cap did not fire the charge.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Sabots?  They don't seal the bore until fired, a tiny bit of water can travel down the barrel to dampen the powder.

I use electrical tape as many do. This weekend was quite wet, left gun in truck overnight with no cap. Fired just fine on day 4.  My ex had a day hunting in the snow, years ago, thought she didn't need to cover her barrel (because she always knew better    )... her powder was the consistency of toothpaste when we pulled the bullet out....

[Buck86]

electrical tape all the way, I criss cross two strips and then cut a thin strip to go around the end to secure it down even better. I do the same with my modern rifles when hunting even if not wet just to keep crap from getting in the barrel. tape does not affect accuracy at all. A roll of electrical tape is a lot cheaper than those barrel condoms. and will last a lot longer. I also have several strips on my barrel just incase it needs to be replaced or if I need to tape up again after a shot.(so far haven't needed that).

Good Luck
Buck

[usmc74]

Did not even fire the cap(saved it).  New cap did not fire the charge.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Sabots?  They don't seal the bore until fired, a tiny bit of water can travel down the barrel to dampen the powder.

I use electrical tape as many do. This weekend was quite wet, left gun in truck overnight with no cap. Fired just fine on day 4.  My ex had a day hunting in the snow, years ago, thought she didn't need to cover her barrel (because she always knew better    )... her powder was the consistency of toothpaste when we pulled the bullet out....

WOW! Totally invalid test, except for the cap.  Evidently, after 2 shots, and reloading, I did not put the bullet in on top of the charge .  Went to clean, and there was no powder or bullet left in the barrel.  Lost both speedloaders, so cannot check them.

[fly-by]

 Better than 2 bullets on top of one charge.....

[usmc74]

Better than 2 bullets on top of one charge.....

I have "never" done that

[lokidog]

Did not even fire the cap(saved it).  New cap did not fire the charge.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Sabots?  They don't seal the bore until fired, a tiny bit of water can travel down the barrel to dampen the powder.

I use electrical tape as many do. This weekend was quite wet, left gun in truck overnight with no cap. Fired just fine on day 4.  My ex had a day hunting in the snow, years ago, thought she didn't need to cover her barrel (because she always knew better    )... her powder was the consistency of toothpaste when we pulled the bullet out....

WOW! Totally invalid test, except for the cap.  Evidently, after 2 shots, and reloading, I did not put the bullet in on top of the charge .  Went to clean, and there was no powder or bullet left in the barrel.  Lost both speedloaders, so cannot check them.

  not about losing the loaders, that sucks.

[usmc74]

Just glad I didn't need to finish off the elk.

[bkaech]

I had some hunting partners empty there loads after a wet day this year and found wet powder (Pyrodex pellets) around the bullet. Just a thought, I'm sure these loads would have went off if fired but maybe would have been a "light load" with wet powder only 1/2 or 1/3 of their powder would have ignited.

I'm just saying this to say....just because you shoot your gun and it "goes off" doesn't mean it was an effective round for killing an elk/animal.

[Harald]

I use the black condoms on my muzzle (they can be had really cheap off ebay) and will use tape over the breech when it's raining.  Never a problem in my limited muzzleloader hunting experience.

An a related note, I was reviewing the hunt regs now that 209 primers are legal and don't see anywhere in there where the primer must be exposed to the elements.  I'm pretty sure it used to say something about this in the regs because I specifically bought my Knight Disc Extreme in the northwest version that has a cutout in the bolt to expose the primer.  Anyone know if this changed also with the new 209 primer rule?  If it's still in the regs, where is it?  I searched for "exposed" and there's only one hit talking about baiting.

On edit: never  mind about the priming question.  I see that Bob 33 posted in another thread:
It is the new; the WAC was changed this year. The requirement to have exposed ignition was eliminated.

[MADMAX]

Wasp nest patch



https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/hornets-nesting.675740/

[flyfishWA]

Wasp nest patch

[Skillet]

Electrical tape is cheap and easy, never affected my accuracy as far as I could tell. 

I used those plastic gaskets over caps on my Hawken.  Worked great.

[carpsniperg2]

food gloves or any stretchy glove. Cut the thumbs off as short or long as needed and they work great.

[Sabotloader]

food gloves or any stretchy glove. Cut the thumbs off as short or long as needed and they work great.

Never thought of that one! That could be a really good one! - Gonna have to try that one.  Good wet morning here to give it a try. thanks -mike

[Sabotloader]

food gloves or any stretchy glove. Cut the thumbs off as short or long as needed and they work great.

So after reading your post - I had to try your thoughts.... I had two different types of gloves, the food grade you referred to and some black mechanics gloves...



But then as I was trying out your thoughts my wife walks through and asks what I am doing?  I explained to her your thoughts and she pops off "you know they make finger cots just for that" I did not acknowledge her remarks at the time and still haven't but I did look them up...
 
https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=finger+cots+size+small&tag=mh0b-20&index=aps&hvadid=78134070602540&hvqmt=b&hvbmt=bb&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_8nwr8563yk_b

[carpsniperg2]

Thank you for the credits. It is worth a note all those gloves come in different sizes. We have large and medium gloves. Depending on the barrel size makes a difference. I have a cva optima and accura. The med sized thumb works perfect and is a nice tight fit and no rubber band needed. I will get a pick in a bit.

For standard rifles barrels the other fingers work great just got to play with sizing.


I have used the finger cots before however the ones I got are latex and I have a bad latex allergy. So I thought of the food gloves we use and the mechanic gloves that are made out of non latex and came up with this idea. They do make non latex ones as well that a guy can get.

[carpsniperg2]

Pics on my accura.

[carpsniperg2]

You can see in the pick how it’s very snug on the barrel. A guy just has to play and find the right size. Some of the more stretchy gloves a guy might get away with like the middle finger glove stretched out to stay nice and tight. These gloves have a little stretch that I use but not as much as like the black mechanic gloves I’ve used in the shop. Like you used and looks like you found a great fit on your gun with the blk mechanic glove.

[HntnFsh]

I would be concerned that if they aren't really tight and you carry your weapon muzzy down in wet weather that you will be doing yourself more harm than good. I can see rain running down the barrel. Pooling in the cover and then dumping a bunch of water down your barrel when you raise it up or sling it over your sholder.

I think I'll stick with a naked barrel. Like I said, been hunting muzzies for 20 plus years on the wetside in some torrential down pours and have never had an issue with my powder getting wet.

[carpsniperg2]

If you can get the right size its a very tight seal. I haven't had any issues as you describe but in the case of a loose fit I could for sure see your point.

[bkaech]

I would be concerned that if they aren't really tight and you carry your weapon muzzy down in wet weather that you will be doing yourself more harm than good. I can see rain running down the barrel. Pooling in the cover and then dumping a bunch of water down your barrel when you raise it up or sling it over your sholder.

I think I'll stick with a naked barrel. Like I said, been hunting muzzies for 20 plus years on the wetside in some torrential down pours and have never had an issue with my powder getting wet.

Yep, all you need is to keep the muzzle down, but not everyone has the ability to stay diligent enough for this to be affective.

[HoofsandWings]

Mountain men used buckskin to wrap the muzzleloader. It works for me.