Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Muzzleloader Hunting => Topic started by: jstone on September 17, 2010, 10:00:23 AM

Title: Keeping caps dry while hunting
Post by: jstone on September 17, 2010, 10:00:23 AM: Almost time. My first year with a front stuffer. Its sucks not being out with a bow hunting elk.. Question... How do you keep your caps dry while hunting? and acessable too??
Title: Re: Keeping caps dry while hunting
Post by: vandeman17 on September 17, 2010, 10:05:11 AM: What we do is put a little piece of cloth between the cap and the hammer. This serves to keep it protected and dry. When you are ready to shoot, all you do is pull back the hammer, and if the cloth doesn't fall off, take it off and you are ready to shoot. :twocents:
Title: Re: Keeping caps dry while hunting
Post by: beagledog on September 17, 2010, 03:09:12 PM: If you are using #11's then a little coat of clear finger nail polish around cap and nipple will work
If musket caps are what you are using I wouldn't really worry to much the produce enough spark you should be good
You would have to really get the gun wet for it not to fire off. :twocents:
Title: Re: Keeping caps dry while hunting
Post by: WestPlains_Drifter on September 17, 2010, 03:14:32 PM: Quote from: beagledog on September 17, 2010, 03:09:12 PM
If you are using #11's then a little coat of clear finger nail polish around cap and nipple will work
If musket caps are what you are using I wouldn't really worry to much the produce enough spark you should be good
You would have to really get the gun wet for it not to fire off. :twocents:

Musket caps do seem to take a good soaking before the spark degrades, so unless the original poster is holding the smokepole out in the rain all day it should be good.
Title: Re: Keeping caps dry while hunting
Post by: Whitelightning on September 17, 2010, 05:00:01 PM: I have never had an issue with #11 caps (RWS) being bothered by weather. Push them on good and they should be fine.
Title: Re: Keeping caps dry while hunting
Post by: yelp on September 17, 2010, 06:04:19 PM: I keep a capper dry under my vest, but I use the RWS caps and haven't had any issues. Beagle Dog has a great tip too.
Title: Re: Keeping caps dry while hunting
Post by: cmiller85 on September 17, 2010, 06:16:03 PM: Saran Wrap around the nipple and tape it off at both ends.
Title: Re: Keeping caps dry while hunting
Post by: jstone on September 17, 2010, 06:17:35 PM: Thanks Everyone i use Musket Caps..
Title: Re: Keeping caps dry while hunting
Post by: yelp on September 17, 2010, 07:06:49 PM: Quote from: cmiller85 on September 17, 2010, 06:16:03 PM
Saran Wrap around the nipple and tape it off at both ends.

Wrap the entire gun in Saran wrap..then before you shoot unwrap it..

LOL

Sorry can't help it!
Title: Re: Keeping caps dry while hunting
Post by: bigpaw 77 on September 17, 2010, 08:09:30 PM: I keep my musket capper on a string around my neck with my cow call. When it is raining i tuck it under my coat or between under shirt and top layer.
Title: Re: Keeping caps dry while hunting
Post by: robodad on September 17, 2010, 10:12:05 PM: Just keep the capper on the dash by the defroster, it will stay dry all day !! :P
Title: Re: Keeping caps dry while hunting
Post by: boots on September 17, 2010, 11:01:56 PM: A light coat of nail polish and you will be good to go
Title: Re: Keeping caps dry while hunting
Post by: Blsum on September 17, 2010, 11:06:53 PM: Quote from: yelp on September 17, 2010, 07:06:49 PM
Quote from: cmiller85 on September 17, 2010, 06:16:03 PM
Saran Wrap around the nipple and tape it off at both ends.

Wrap the entire gun in Saran wrap..then before you shoot unwrap it..

LOL

Sorry can't help it!

Sad to admit this but I know a guy who did wrap his entire gun in saran wrap one year. Only to get it to camp. Once there he unwrapped it. All but the little he left wrapped around the breech.
Title: Re: Keeping caps dry while hunting
Post by: ML_Hunter on September 17, 2010, 11:43:02 PM: I carry two capers with one, one is around my neck so i can easily get to it. Even when raining it hardly gets wet and even when it does they don't get soaked and still work. I keep a second one in my vest in a plastic sandwich bag.
Title: Re: Keeping caps dry while hunting
Post by: ML_Hunter on September 17, 2010, 11:46:40 PM: Quote from: Blsum on September 17, 2010, 11:06:53 PM
Quote from: yelp on September 17, 2010, 07:06:49 PM
Quote from: cmiller85 on September 17, 2010, 06:16:03 PM
Saran Wrap around the nipple and tape it off at both ends.
Wrap the entire gun in Saran wrap..then before you shoot unwrap it..
LOL
Sorry can't help it!

Sad to admit this but I know a guy who did wrap his entire gun in saran wrap one year. Only to get it to camp. Once there he unwrapped it. All but the little he left wrapped around the breech.

I had a friend who use to take a piece of tire tube from a bicycle and pull it over the barrel to the ignition system, cap his rifle, then cover it up. It would actually seal up his system very well. The only problem is that a game warden saw this and wrote him up for not having the action open the the elements...
Title: Re: Keeping caps dry while hunting
Post by: bobcat on September 18, 2010, 07:06:33 AM: Quote from: ML_Hunter on September 17, 2010, 11:46:40 PM
I had a friend who use to take a piece of tire tube from a bicycle and pull it over the barrel to the ignition system, cap his rifle, then cover it up. It would actually seal up his system very well. The only problem is that a game warden saw this and wrote him up for not having the action open the the elements...

:bs: You can cover your gun with anything and any way you want. As long as it's a legal gun, you're legal.
Title: Re: Keeping caps dry while hunting
Post by: ML_Hunter on September 19, 2010, 12:48:14 AM: I know he took it to court, never heard the out come. I see him about twice a year which is typically during hunting season. I'll have to ask his what the outcome was. Sometimes you can get hit when either the warder is not clear on the rule, or if you just piss them off. Kevin is the guy who I swear goes out of his way to piss of the warden. :bdid:
Title: Re: Keeping caps dry while hunting
Post by: Hangfire on September 19, 2010, 05:00:33 AM: My son-in-law wipes the out side of the cap and nipple with a little wax from a toilet seal. The people who used muzzle loaders when there was nothing else, often wiped the area with either bee's wax or bear grease. A very good tight fitting cap is almost weather pruf. With a little wax or grease is should be very good. I have had the most problems when using musket caps. They did not fit as tight on the nipple. I carry two capers in dry pockets. One is very reachable. I also carry a extra tin of them in my belt pouch.
Title: Re: Keeping caps dry while hunting
Post by: Elk4me on September 20, 2010, 08:12:39 PM: Quote from: Hangfire on September 19, 2010, 05:00:33 AM
My son-in-law wipes the out side of the cap and nipple with a little wax from a toilet seal. The people who used muzzle loaders when there was nothing else, often wiped the area with either bee's wax or bear grease. A very good tight fitting cap is almost weather pruf. With a little wax or grease is should be very good. I have had the most problems when using musket caps. They did not fit as tight on the nipple. I carry two capers in dry pockets. One is very reachable. I also carry a extra tin of them in my belt pouch.

Not to hijack the thread but another little known use for toilet bowl wax( bee's wax ) is as a penetrating fluid for breaking through rust/ corrosion. Heat up the part, touch the wax to the threads and you will be amazed at how well it works. I have used it on old steam lines, manifold bolts and many other stubborn threaded joints as a maintenance plumber/ steam fitter. It should work great to keep caps dry, there is no moisture in the makeup of the material.