Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Muzzleloader Hunting => Topic started by: Smokepole on December 08, 2011, 06:05:53 PM

Title: Capped or Primed While Hunting? Safety considerations for Black Powder Hunters.
Post by: Smokepole on December 08, 2011, 06:05:53 PM: 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...
Title: Re: Capped or Primed While Hunting? Safety considerations for Black Powder Hunters.
Post by: B.G.hunter on December 08, 2011, 06:35:35 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Capped or Primed While Hunting? Safety considerations for Black Powder Hunters.
Post by: bigpaw 77 on December 08, 2011, 06:38:45 PM: I always have a cap on while hunting unless its in my scabbard on my horse or in the truck.
Title: Re: Capped or Primed While Hunting? Safety considerations for Black Powder Hunters.
Post by: gotshot on December 08, 2011, 06:44:14 PM: Just curious, is your hammer touching the cap while it is down?
Title: Re: Capped or Primed While Hunting? Safety considerations for Black Powder Hunters.
Post by: Wile E. Hunter on December 08, 2011, 06:51:22 PM: 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. :twocents:

Wile E.
Title: Re: Capped or Primed While Hunting? Safety considerations for Black Powder Hunters.
Post by: JColony on December 08, 2011, 07:17:52 PM: Capped and ready to rock.
Title: Re: Capped or Primed While Hunting? Safety considerations for Black Powder Hunters.
Post by: link on December 08, 2011, 07:47:53 PM: Quote from: Wile E. Hunter on December 08, 2011, 06:51:22 PM
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. :twocents:

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*.
Title: Re: Capped or Primed While Hunting? Safety considerations for Black Powder Hunters.
Post by: grundy53 on December 08, 2011, 08:03:37 PM: Quote from: Wile E. Hunter on December 08, 2011, 06:51:22 PM
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. :twocents:

Wile E.

:yeah:
Title: Re: Capped or Primed While Hunting? Safety considerations for Black Powder Hunters.
Post by: Smokepole on December 09, 2011, 07:25:05 AM: 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. :tup:
Title: Re: Capped or Primed While Hunting? Safety considerations for Black Powder Hunters.
Post by: Chukarhead on December 09, 2011, 09:25:26 AM: 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).
Title: Re: Capped or Primed While Hunting? Safety considerations for Black Powder Hunters.
Post by: markrjohn on December 09, 2011, 11:43:06 AM: Capped, but check frequently. Both for safety and any water issues.
Title: Re: Capped or Primed While Hunting? Safety considerations for Black Powder Hunters.
Post by: Lcl 66 Tinner on December 09, 2011, 07:50:38 PM: 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. :twocents:
Title: Re: Capped or Primed While Hunting? Safety considerations for Black Powder Hunters.
Post by: fair-chase on December 09, 2011, 07:55:24 PM: Quote
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.
Title: Re: Capped or Primed While Hunting? Safety considerations for Black Powder Hunters.
Post by: TheFewTheProud on December 09, 2011, 08:23:06 PM: capped, half cock
Title: Re: Capped or Primed While Hunting? Safety considerations for Black Powder Hunters.
Post by: B.G.hunter on December 09, 2011, 08:32:02 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Capped or Primed While Hunting? Safety considerations for Black Powder Hunters.
Post by: 400out on December 10, 2011, 05:43:09 AM: I would say capped, unless you plan on throwing the stick in your hand at the deer :twocents:
Title: Re: Capped or Primed While Hunting? Safety considerations for Black Powder Hunters.
Post by: dawhunt on December 10, 2011, 07:18:59 AM: Capped and ready to go !!! all the time when hunting (EXCEPT IN THE TRUCK !!! :yike:)
Bob
Title: Re: Capped or Primed While Hunting? Safety considerations for Black Powder Hunters.
Post by: Smokepole on December 10, 2011, 12:19:41 PM: Wish I could carry half cocked. My gun is an Evolution bolt action. When you lift the bolt, it cocks the gun when you open it. Can't figure a way to carry safely in the brush, and the safety lever sticks up like a sore thumb. Of course, I'm hunting dense brush right now. If I was out in open country it wouldn't be too big a concern.
Title: Re: Capped or Primed While Hunting? Safety considerations for Black Powder Hunters.
Post by: muzbuster on December 20, 2011, 06:18:52 AM: Quote from: JColony on December 08, 2011, 07:17:52 PM
Capped and ready to rock.
:yeah:
Title: Re: Capped or Primed While Hunting? Safety considerations for Black Powder Hunters.
Post by: Dhoey07 on December 20, 2011, 07:11:41 AM: Capped but not cocked