Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Muzzleloader Hunting => Topic started by: vern96 on September 19, 2011, 04:18:05 AM

Title: unload? leave outside,.... bring inside???
Post by: vern96 on September 19, 2011, 04:18:05 AM: Good morning-

Just got back from archery elk hunting....and am gearing up fro the muzzle loader season (have multi-season elk tag). The elk were JUST starting to show signs of the rut (eastside), so hoping the ML season is going to be very interesting!

Question:
After a day of unsuccessful ML hunting, do you:
a.) uncap, remove BP and unload, put in case and reload the next morning?
b.) uncap, leave loaded, cover end of barrel and breach hole,.... store OUTside.
c.) uncap, leave loaded, cover end of barrel and breach hole,.... store INside.

What do you guys do between days of ML hunting.....I am trying to figure out what option gives me the least chance of fouling my load with condensation/moisture.

any info is much appreciated!
Title: Re: unload? leave outside,.... bring inside???
Post by: couesbitten on September 19, 2011, 04:57:18 AM: Uncap, leave loaded, DO NOT cover the end of the barrel (wouldn't want to trap any moisture in there).
Title: Re: unload? leave outside,.... bring inside???
Post by: Whitelightning on September 19, 2011, 07:42:46 AM: I have always just Uncaped and leave the barrel open. Never had an issue.
Title: Re: unload? leave outside,.... bring inside???
Post by: ghosthunter on September 19, 2011, 07:48:21 AM: Quote from: Whitelightning on September 19, 2011, 07:42:46 AM
I have always just Uncaped and leave the barrel open. Never had an issue.

:yeah:
Title: Re: unload? leave outside,.... bring inside???
Post by: vern96 on September 19, 2011, 08:42:01 AM: ok, good info!...... now, bring inside camper, or leave outside?
Title: Re: unload? leave outside,.... bring inside???
Post by: Dirty Mike on September 19, 2011, 09:05:03 AM: Depeneds on heat we had a nov hunt in ewa last yr and it had lots of snow so we left the gun the guns in the truck because we didnt want the barrels to condinsate from the heat difference between hot motel to 5 deg and vise versa. Now im not sure if its needed but we didnt have a single hang fire in a week
Title: Re: unload? leave outside,.... bring inside???
Post by: wapiti hunter2 on September 19, 2011, 09:38:06 AM: I have tape over the end of the barrel. Stays there till I shoot. I don't even uncap unless I am driving. I have a Bighorn and I just make sure both safetys are on. I use German caps and they go on tight. Good water seal and all that. Last year I came home (I Hunted by bike from my house) put my gun in the storage room and forgot about it till May. I took it out to see if it would shoot and BANG. 7 and a half months. :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: unload? leave outside,.... bring inside???
Post by: fair-chase on September 19, 2011, 09:50:42 AM: Sabotloader had a good write up in this post about a test he did to see the effects of moisture and leaving it loaded.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,77296.msg949100.html#msg949100 (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,77296.msg949100.html#msg949100)

I must admit I'm not as trusting of my muzzleloaders as Sabotloader after a few misfires on both cougar and elk. But I think it shows what can be accomplished with proper equipment. I do my best not to change the temperature too much by not bringing it inside or cranking the heat up in the truck when it must go in there. Also If I'm hunting extremely wet conditions I will empty and reload at the end of the day. Not that this is necessary but it makes me feel more confident that it will work as intended.
Title: Re: unload? leave outside,.... bring inside???
Post by: 50CalJim on September 19, 2011, 03:42:07 PM: I've always just decapped & leave the gun in the Truck & I've never had an issue. Normally I'll load the Gun on the 1st morning of the hunt & leave it alone until I either kill something or my seasons over then I'll touch it off & I've never had a misfire since I started using the Remington #11 caps. :tup: Now using them CCI #11 caps was another story I hated them damn things. :bash: