Capped or Primed While Hunting? Safety considerations for Black Powder Hunters.

[Smokepole]

Been doing a lot of brush hunting for late-season blacktails.  I wonder how smart it is carrying my rifle capped and ready to go.  Been catching my safety in the brush a lot, tracking game.  I check it a lot, but still...

[B.G.hunter]

I carry my rifle with the cap on and the hammer down.  I shoot a T/C New Englander so I have to cock it before I am ready to fire. 

[bigpaw 77]

I always have a cap on while hunting unless its in my scabbard on my horse or in the truck.

[gotshot]

Just curious, is your hammer touching the cap while it is down?

[Wile E. Hunter]

When you hunt modern, don't you have your rifle loaded? The only people I'm aware of that put a round in the chamber when they see an animal are on TV. I see no difference between a loaded modern rifle and a capped muzzle loader. 

Wile E.

[JColony]

Capped and ready to rock.

[link]

When you hunt modern, don't you have your rifle loaded? The only people I'm aware of that put a round in the chamber when they see an animal are on TV. I see no difference between a loaded modern rifle and a capped muzzle loader. 

Wile E.

Just because pretty much all the shots showing them shooting, are re-created. Kind of a joke. Had a buddy go on a guided mule deer hunt. They were filming the hunt. They filmed the buck being shot, then had him re-enact the scene with the camera now on him. He said he felt like a complete *censored*.

[grundy53]

When you hunt modern, don't you have your rifle loaded? The only people I'm aware of that put a round in the chamber when they see an animal are on TV. I see no difference between a loaded modern rifle and a capped muzzle loader. 

Wile E.

 

[Smokepole]

I carry my bolt action inline with a cap on, but I'm considering removing the cap from now on when I'm out in the brush.  I've known quite a few modern guys who carry an empty chamber, and I always thought that was a good idea.  But I've always carried a modern rifle cocked & ready. 

B.G. Hunter, I like your setup.  My kid has a gun like that.  I think I can cap mine without pulling the bolt all the way back, which would be great.  Just cock and fire.  Brilliant.   

[Chukarhead]

Like a lot of folks here, I hunt with a Knight Bighorn/Wolverine/MK-85-family gun.  I usually hunt with the gun capped, bolt safety off, and trigger safety on.  If I'm in heavy brush, crossing a creek, riding my mountain bike, climbing into a stand, etc., I screw the bolt safety down in addition to the trigger safety.  Fumbling for a cap/digging for a capper while a bull wanders off into the reprod does not sound like a good time.

Hunting with the hammer down is a poor idea unless your gun has a half-cock setting (most traditional rifles do, as well as some inlines).

[markrjohn]

Capped, but check frequently.  Both for safety and any water issues.

[Lcl 66 Tinner]

 I have a traditional sidelock Lyman and I put the cap on the nipple and put the hammer down on the cap and give it a good push to seat the cap on the nipple. Then pull the hammer back to half cock and can walk in pouring rain with no fear of miss fires due to water. I was out since the Friday after Thanksgiving to the 8th of Dec. and when leaving the woods coming home I put a cap on and shot with no problem. I use a lubed patch for the ball and when I'm done hunting for the day I DO NOTbring my gun into the trailer, I leave it in the truck and put a lubed patch over the nipple to keep any moisture out. My theory is the change in temp can cause condesation in the barrel and thus get my powder wet. Have never had a problem with my gun not going off due to moisture.

[fair-chase]

I have a traditional sidelock Lyman and I put the cap on the nipple and put the hammer down on the cap and give it a good push to seat the cap on the nipple. Then pull the hammer back to half cock

Same here.

[TheFewTheProud]

capped, half cock

[B.G.hunter]

Half cock is what I ment I said hammer down.  I use musket caps so they do take some pressure to push them on to the nipple.  Then pull the hammer off the cap until you are ready.