Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Muzzleloader Hunting => Topic started by: nocklehead on August 10, 2013, 09:04:28 AM

Title: leaving a smokepole loaded
Post by: nocklehead on August 10, 2013, 09:04:28 AM: I searched on here but didnt quite find an answer::

How long do you leave a smokepole loaded?
Assuming youre hunting everyday but not shooting, whats youre routine?
Do you like to shoot it out and re-clean? Pull it out? Out the breech end?
Do you re-use powder youve poured out or unloaded?
Also, if you just got home from hunting, its 9 or 10pm, and youre going out again at 5am, do you unload/clean? :dunno:
Title: Re: leaving a smokepole loaded
Post by: baldopepper on August 10, 2013, 09:22:21 AM: Kind of depends on the weather with me-cold, rainy I shoot it out at the end of the day. Dry and warm I'll go a couple of days, but it's pretty cheap insurance to just go and shoot it off at a target rather than have a "plink" on a good animal. I just find a good sight- in target and shoot, clean the barrel and start from scratch. I never take a charged weapon home.
Title: Re: leaving a smokepole loaded
Post by: Mfowl on August 10, 2013, 09:24:18 AM: While hunting I will leave a load in for 2 days. If I don't have a chance to shoot I 'll fire it at the end of the seccond day, clean and reload. I don't like to leace it in too long because when your out hunting the conditions are much more adverse then at the range. I mean you have more opportunity to get moisture down your barrel or in your breach. To be on the safe side I don't like to leave a load in too long. However I've heard others say on this site that they have left a load in for an entire season and had no trouble. For me I wouldn't trust that. I don't try to reuse the bullet/load, I just fire it off and start over. :twocents:
Title: Re: leaving a smokepole loaded
Post by: TommyGun496 on August 10, 2013, 10:20:19 AM: I unload it through the breach every night. I would never reuse the powder.
Title: Re: leaving a smokepole loaded
Post by: washelkhunter on August 10, 2013, 10:30:23 AM: My knights been loaded for the last year. I dont use blackpowder tho. I load it at the start of season, tape the barrel and thanks to a tip from a member here seal the nipple with nail enamel. Pretty much watertight. I only reload after a shot.
Title: Re: leaving a smokepole loaded
Post by: nocklehead on August 10, 2013, 11:55:35 AM: Quote from: washelkhunter on August 10, 2013, 10:30:23 AM
My knights been loaded for the last year. I dont use blackpowder tho. I load it at the start of season, tape the barrel and thanks to a tip from a member here seal the nipple with nail enamel. Pretty much watertight. I only reload after a shot.

You seal your primer cap onto the nipple?
Title: Re: leaving a smokepole loaded
Post by: washelkhunter on August 10, 2013, 12:03:03 PM: Yep!
Title: Re: leaving a smokepole loaded
Post by: Sitka_Blacktail on August 10, 2013, 01:03:24 PM: Then you are illegal when you drive home.
Title: Re: leaving a smokepole loaded
Post by: Sitka_Blacktail on August 10, 2013, 01:09:24 PM: On the wet and humid wet side of the state we always shoot our guns off every night. Black powder is like salt, it attracts moisture. The act of warming up and cooling down also attracts moisture to the metal of your gun. Fresh powder is cheap insurance if the opportunity for a shot arises. A misfire or hang fire is no fun, and then you may have to deal with getting the slug out to reload.
Title: Re: leaving a smokepole loaded
Post by: JLS on August 10, 2013, 01:11:27 PM: Quote from: Sitka_Blacktail on August 10, 2013, 01:03:24 PM
Then you are illegal when you drive home.

:yeah: = loaded firearm in a vehicle
Title: Re: leaving a smokepole loaded
Post by: CedarPants on August 10, 2013, 01:13:31 PM: Quote from: JLS on August 10, 2013, 01:11:27 PM
Quote from: Sitka_Blacktail on August 10, 2013, 01:03:24 PM
Then you are illegal when you drive home.

:yeah: = loaded firearm in a vehicle

I assumed he meant he had the cap sealed while hunting and removed it afterward, in which case he'd be perfectly legal while driving home.

I could have assumed wrong though :dunno:
Title: Re: leaving a smokepole loaded
Post by: snowpack on August 10, 2013, 01:16:42 PM: maybe he doesn't have to drive to his hunting grounds. I would leave the muzzy loaded and just grab it as I walked out the door and down the road.
Title: Re: leaving a smokepole loaded
Post by: JLS on August 10, 2013, 01:17:38 PM: Quote from: CedarPants on August 10, 2013, 01:13:31 PM

I could have assumed wrong though :dunno:

As I could have also.....
Title: Re: leaving a smokepole loaded
Post by: grundy53 on August 10, 2013, 01:18:11 PM: Quote from: TommyGun496 on August 10, 2013, 10:20:19 AM
I unload it through the breach every night. I would never reuse the powder.

:yeah:

sent from my typewriter
Title: Re: leaving a smokepole loaded
Post by: nocklehead on August 10, 2013, 02:05:18 PM: Quote from: JLS on August 10, 2013, 01:11:27 PM
Quote from: Sitka_Blacktail on August 10, 2013, 01:03:24 PM
Then you are illegal when you drive home.

:yeah: = loaded firearm in a vehicle

yeah I have to drive to hunt, so having a loaded .50 cal in the car aint gonna work for me I like the idea though, do you shoot through the tape or take it off to shoot?

.....hmmm I guess I could try to conceal it? :o :o
Title: Re: leaving a smokepole loaded
Post by: MountainDevil54 on August 10, 2013, 02:13:42 PM: most places consider it unloaded as long as its unprimed " flintlock" or uncapped.
Title: Re: leaving a smokepole loaded
Post by: nocklehead on August 10, 2013, 02:20:36 PM: Quote from: MountainDevil54 on August 10, 2013, 02:13:42 PM
most places consider it unloaded as long as its unprimed " flintlock" or uncapped.

yes, exactly....we were talking about driving with a cap glued to the nipple and the gun loaded
Title: Re: leaving a smokepole loaded
Post by: Sabotloader on August 10, 2013, 03:14:56 PM: I am shooting T7, just so you know - I leave mine loaded for months or if I think the load may have been compromised, then I will shoot it or pull it...
Title: Re: leaving a smokepole loaded
Post by: oneshot12 on August 12, 2013, 01:12:20 PM: once i load up for Hunting season my rifle stays loaded until i ether shoot at something or it has gotten so wet i need to clean the gun up i have left my 45 cal Ruger pistol loaded for two or more years before shooting and then cleaning it back up as long as you keep the powder dry it should be ok for a good long time
Title: Re: leaving a smokepole loaded
Post by: Bean Counter on August 12, 2013, 01:16:27 PM: stupid question time: do i assume correct that once you load a muzzy that the only way to get that round out is to fire it?
Title: Re: leaving a smokepole loaded
Post by: CP on August 12, 2013, 01:20:33 PM: Quote from: Bean Counter on August 12, 2013, 01:16:27 PM
stupid question time: do i assume correct that once you load a muzzy that the only way to get that round out is to fire it?

No:

you can pull the bullet with a screw puller (traditional ML)
You can remove the breech plug and push the load out (in-line)
Some people like the compressed air method through the nipple (both)
Title: Re: leaving a smokepole loaded
Post by: lostbackpacker on August 12, 2013, 01:21:58 PM: The compressed air way is how to do it.
Title: Re: leaving a smokepole loaded
Post by: D-Rock425 on August 12, 2013, 01:27:44 PM: Last year I left mine loaded a good week before I shot it.
Title: Re: leaving a smokepole loaded
Post by: Sabotloader on August 12, 2013, 01:41:55 PM: Quote from: Bean Counter on August 12, 2013, 01:16:27 PM
stupid question time: do i assume correct that once you load a muzzy that the only way to get that round out is to fire it?

Not necessarily... if it is an inline pull the BP and push it out...
Title: Re: leaving a smokepole loaded
Post by: oneshot12 on August 12, 2013, 01:52:11 PM: :yeah: like sabot loader said the inline you can push out pretty easy, the side hammers i like the CO2 extractor method works well just swab the barrel a few times and your ready to reload and shoot after you the charge out of ether weapon
Title: Re: leaving a smokepole loaded
Post by: Natas5150 on August 14, 2013, 10:31:43 AM: I don't leave powder in my muzzy at the end of the day. I empty and clean even if I have not shot. I may even pick a target before heading home such as can or something and shoot. I then take it home and clean it. I am picky about my muzzleloader I keep it super clean. You have to remember black powder and black powder substitute are corrosive and let alone if moisture gets to the powder and having a misfire, thank but no thanks. Clean and empty always for me.
Title: Re: leaving a smokepole loaded
Post by: Wose on August 14, 2013, 02:31:43 PM: This will be my first muzzleloader season.

I don't want to hear the second loudest sound in the world when squeeze the trigger while aimed in at a deer, so I was planning on changing my load after each day fo hunting.

I'm also a cheapskate, so I was planning on setting the "used" T7 pellets in an airtight box, and using them for next years practice. I've also got extra Sabots for the projectiles.
Title: Re: leaving a smokepole loaded
Post by: Wose on August 14, 2013, 02:34:04 PM: Oh, and I'm shooting an inline.
Title: Re: leaving a smokepole loaded
Post by: oneshot12 on August 14, 2013, 03:10:34 PM: :dunno: its all up to each shooter how long they want to keep their gun loaded ,as I said during hunting season it is loaded until I ether shoot at a critter or its got really wet from being over here in the west side during later season .Most important thing is to have a good dry charge in the gun or it just isn't going to go off when it is time to take down a critter :yike: