Another Cold Weather Hunting Question...
12-08-2005, 07:23 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 11
Another Cold Weather Hunting Question...
okay northern hunters,
i live in north texas (dfw area) and we finally got a good cold front (below freezing).
so i went to the rifle range. i've never shot my muzzleloader below freezing before. i'm going to iowa this christmas to hunt with my muzzleloader, way below freezing there.
powder worked fine, bullets were just as accurate as in warm weather.
the problem i had was running a cleaning (dry) patch between shots. twice i had to have someone hold my rifle so i could pull out the rod and patch (i swab between every shot)!
i also noticed plastic fouling from the base of my powerbelts. that is not supposed to happen with powerbelts.
i also had difficulty seating my caps. they just seemed tight and sometimes i had to pull the trigger twice before they would go off.
i use American Pioneer Powder. it burns cleaner, yet i still had this difficulty. i also noticed more fouling than usual.
does a muzzleloader barrel shrink in below freezing weather? is this typical?
not concerned with my accuracy, just wondering about the increased difficulty.
thanks for any advice,
hookset
i live in north texas (dfw area) and we finally got a good cold front (below freezing).
so i went to the rifle range. i've never shot my muzzleloader below freezing before. i'm going to iowa this christmas to hunt with my muzzleloader, way below freezing there.
powder worked fine, bullets were just as accurate as in warm weather.
the problem i had was running a cleaning (dry) patch between shots. twice i had to have someone hold my rifle so i could pull out the rod and patch (i swab between every shot)!
i also noticed plastic fouling from the base of my powerbelts. that is not supposed to happen with powerbelts.
i also had difficulty seating my caps. they just seemed tight and sometimes i had to pull the trigger twice before they would go off.
i use American Pioneer Powder. it burns cleaner, yet i still had this difficulty. i also noticed more fouling than usual.
does a muzzleloader barrel shrink in below freezing weather? is this typical?
not concerned with my accuracy, just wondering about the increased difficulty.
thanks for any advice,
hookset
12-08-2005, 08:10 PM
#2
Typical Buck
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location:
Posts: 878
RE: Another Cold Weather Hunting Question...
Metals will contract (shrink) when cold, water on the otherhand expands. As far as sabots go I have no clue what they do except most plastics get more brittle when cold. Just for giggles try keeping your bullets in a pocket that isn't warmed by your body heat and see if that helps. They should "shrink" as well.
I have never worried about cleaning in a hunting situation so the patch problem I can't answer. My only guess would be try to clean as soon after firing so the barrel is still warm from the shot.
Doubt I helped but I felt like typing
I have never worried about cleaning in a hunting situation so the patch problem I can't answer. My only guess would be try to clean as soon after firing so the barrel is still warm from the shot.
Doubt I helped but I felt like typing
12-08-2005, 08:21 PM
#3
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 501
RE: Another Cold Weather Hunting Question...
When it gets colder and colder, the air is usually drier and drier...as humidity gets lower/drier,the fouling gets harder faster, and I've noticed I have to use a much wetter cleaning patch to wipe under those conditions.
I use nothing but Natural Lube 1000 for bore and patch lube9-10 months out of the year and don't have to wipe between shots at all.
However, during Dec/Jan/Feb dry monthsI do have to wipe someand I've recently tried Hoppes No9 BP PLUS solvent & patch lube on wiping patches during such days...works great...one stroke down and back up, load and shoot...repeat the cycle, etc
I use nothing but Natural Lube 1000 for bore and patch lube9-10 months out of the year and don't have to wipe between shots at all.
However, during Dec/Jan/Feb dry monthsI do have to wipe someand I've recently tried Hoppes No9 BP PLUS solvent & patch lube on wiping patches during such days...works great...one stroke down and back up, load and shoot...repeat the cycle, etc
