Unload or Not?

[deadyote]

So last year was my first season Muzzleloading and I only hunted elk.  Lucky for me it was dry and pretty warm, so at the end of the day I didn't unload the gun.  Now that I have gone to ML for everything, I will be hunting in the rain.  I cover the muzzle with tape, but am assuming that water will get inside anyways.  My question is do you guys unload at the end of the day or not?  If you do unload and it had been raining, do you leave the powder out for a bit and let it dry or can you use it again the next day?  I use pellets, if there is a difference in what I should do.  Thanks for the info. 

[Dan-o]

I tape the muzzle (carefully) and I actually paint my cap on with clear nail polish.

I've never had a problem getting good ignition when I take these precautions.    I find that much easier than unloading/reloading.......   Besides, no matter how crappy the weather is, I feel confident that I''ll get a "BOOM".........   not a "pop".

[Skillet]

So last year was my first season Muzzleloading and I only hunted elk.  Lucky for me it was dry and pretty warm, so at the end of the day I didn't unload the gun.  Now that I have gone to ML for everything, I will be hunting in the rain.  I cover the muzzle with tape, but am assuming that water will get inside anyways.  My question is do you guys unload at the end of the day or not?  If you do unload and it had been raining, do you leave the powder out for a bit and let it dry or can you use it again the next day?  I use pellets, if there is a difference in what I should do.  Thanks for the info.

I don't know about reusing pellets, but I know I would never reuse my loose powder - especially if I thought I needed to take it out because it may have gotten too moist.
That in mind, I always assume it has gotten too moist and unload every day.  The idea that I'd risk my ONE SHOT I get with a M/L at game because I was trying to save a couple bucks worth of powder and boolits a day is a little beyond me.  When it is the moment you've worked all year to get to - the moment of truth - and you pull the trigger, you want to have 100% confidence that you get the BOOM, don't you?

[conwaydave]

That's a good question. I have been hearing conflicting ideas on this also. This is my first year ML and one thing is for sure...some people agree on stuff...some people disagree on stuff 

[ghosthunter]

I use pellets and I dump the load every night when raining. Hunted down on the big river few years back. Rained and snowed every day. Even with tape the pellets (2) were welded together like a plug. Why take the chance. What else do you have to do at night in a tent. Fresh load when wet out every day. The powder is the cheapest part of hunting.

[huntnnw]

wet days I dump it..if dry Ill leave it for days

[wadu1]

I've been using the nail polish and tape for years rain or snow; never had an issue. If I do shoot I save the round for my New Years Eve noise maker.

[vern96]

tell me more about the nail polish thing,..... not exactly following.....

[vern96]

tell me more about the nail polish thing,..... not exactly following.....

Nevermind,... found this:
http://www.roosterpheasants.com/hunting_resources/hunting_tips/deer_more/muzzleloaders.php

[dscubame]

That's a great tip

[scudmaster]

I also use teflon plumbers tape to seal the breech plug and nipple threads.  I have a rubber stopper made out of a synthetic wine cork with a bit of string epoxied to the back and a loop I string around the trigger guard.  I put it over the nipple then drop the hammer or close the bolt. I use this when raining and for storage between hunts or when ever I uncap.  I have hunted in some amazing rain on the peninsula and my powder stayed dry the entire time.  My partner's not so much.  The plumbers tape made the difference.

I like the nail polish idea, but how difficult is it to uncap and recap.

[HntnFsh]

With the Knigt Bighorn,and previously the Wolverines that i had.I load them and leave them loaded till I get the shot I want.I have never had a charge not go off.I use Pyrodex select and 777 with with #11 RWS caps. Thats been a lot of years and a lot of miserable wet weather.

[deadyote]

Thanks for all the ideas.  I like the nail polish idea. 

[sirmissalot]

I like the fingernail polish idea. You must just leave the gun capped then? I have a knight bighorn so with 2 safetys I don't worry about having the gun loaded in the truck, but the way I read the regs that is a loaded gun.

[HntnFsh]

If theres powder and projectile in the barrel your ok.The second you put that cap on,its loaded.

[Rooster1981]

I dont unload every day while hunting from camp, But I always unload and clean no matter what when I get home. I cant remember ever having a prob with wet powder hunting in any conditions, but my primmers got wet once and that screwed me out of a shot on a buck. I would imagine hunting with a inline would be very easy to empty out at the end of the day, I just use my air compreser to pop out the slug and then dump the powder at home.

[washelkhunter]

I like the nail polish trick, i will try it. My muzzys been loaded for 2 years now, it will go bang when i drop the bolt.

[Heredoggydoggy]

I got wet powder once, hunting in the wet snow.  The one time I tried hunting with Powerbelts, and they didn't seal the bore very well.  Should have seen me snapping caps out in the Motel parking lot trying to dry it out for the next day's hunt. 

Never bought Powerbelts again!

[carpsniperg2]

Always have left mine loaded. Never had any problems with any of my smoke poles

[deadyote]

So I tried the nail polish thing the other day and am not sure if I am doing it right?  The web page that was given won't work for me.  I tried putting the cap on and then painting the base around the nipple to seal it and then the second time I just put the polish in the cap and put it on the nipple.  Both ways worked when I wanted to shoot, but I don't know if they will keep the cap dry?  How do you all paint them up?

[CP]

I loaded back in Sept. and it’s still loaded.  Hopefully I’ll empty it on a deer during the late season, if not I’ll take it to the range and fire it out.