how long do you leave your muzzleloader loaded
12-16-2003, 06:24 PM
#2
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: The OH-IO
Posts: 7,103
RE: how long do you leave your muzzleloader loaded
If it is cold outside and you take it into a heated area you are asking for big trouble (read misfire). Condensation will build up inside the barrel and cause your powder to get wet. If you want to leave it loaded (minus primer or cap i would hope) leave it in an unheated garage or somewhere where it isn't heated so no condensation has a chance to form.
12-16-2003, 06:30 PM
#3
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: PA
Posts: 9,085
RE: how long do you leave your muzzleloader loaded
never....i shoot a flintlock and regaurdless of what anyone says its not safe to do in a flinter....a guy i know shot his a bunch of times...no power in the pan and it went of...took a lot of times but it did go off eventually....what if it falls over?evne in a shed or garage...someone or something will get hurt....i shoot mine at the end of the day...now if im going spot to spot i will leave it in the trunk and leave the frizen open..but at the end of the day its getting fired.....and i dont want to take a chance of the powder going bad in there and finding out when my deer come by.......
12-16-2003, 07:58 PM
#4
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Dahlonega Ga. USA
Posts: 1,626
RE: how long do you leave your muzzleloader loaded
I have left my T/C Hawken loaded for as long as five months with no problems with ignition. Not a generally accepted practice I'm sure, but it went bang when I pulled the triggers. I shoot Pyrodex so that may have some bearing on the whole thing as opposed to Black Powder but I'm not so sure about that. Our ancestors used Black Powder for centuries before the convenience of our modern technology and seemed to get along quite well. Oweing to their situation of being (sometimes) days away from the nearest Cabellas, Outers or other Sporting supply I'm sure they didn't go out each evening and cap off the trusty rifle, nor did they wait until they needed it to load the blessed thing. Load it up, store it safely and clear it out after the season is over if you haven't got a shot.
12-16-2003, 09:24 PM
#5
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Walnut MS USA
Posts: 871
RE: how long do you leave your muzzleloader loaded
Loaded mine first day of season, didn't get out too many days and didn't see anything when I did. The two week ML season is now over. Will take it to my range and target it and then clean it.
Russ
Russ
I had mine loaded 10 days in snow and etc and when i shot out the bullet never used at a turkey decoy i never use and worked fine.
12-16-2003, 09:49 PM
#7
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: chiefland Florida USA
Posts: 5,417
RE: how long do you leave your muzzleloader loaded
I have been hunting with the M/L for 35 years and have never had a misfire.I leave mine loaded till the season is over.
If I shoot it and there are several days left in the season I will clean and reload.
I have hunted in the rain , and in cold weather with no problem.I think a lot depends on how well it is dryed and cleaned. if I lived up north where it gets to 0 or below,it may be different.
I am not saying that other people don't clean there guns.it is just that I make sure it is clean and dry,before I load.
if the powder does not get wet in the can,why would it get wet in the barrell??
back to the question : I load the day before the season opens and fire it the day after the season closes , unless I shoot something inbetween.
If I shoot it and there are several days left in the season I will clean and reload.
I have hunted in the rain , and in cold weather with no problem.I think a lot depends on how well it is dryed and cleaned. if I lived up north where it gets to 0 or below,it may be different.
I am not saying that other people don't clean there guns.it is just that I make sure it is clean and dry,before I load.
if the powder does not get wet in the can,why would it get wet in the barrell??
back to the question : I load the day before the season opens and fire it the day after the season closes , unless I shoot something inbetween.
12-17-2003, 07:03 PM
#9
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 17
RE: how long do you leave your muzzleloader loaded
Sounds like you need to specify between leaveing a charge in the breech (barrel) and having both a charge and a cap on...or if a flintlock a charge in the pan and a charge in the barrel.... both are LOADED weapons only to be that way when ready to SIT and hunt . But I think your refering to leaving a charge in the barrel in that regards.... powder and bullets will leave less a dent in the wallet as it will the time energy and embarassment and the big one gettin away.......so I would recharge it everytime you have a drastic temp. change or if you go a week or so. Some people after a week may forget it has a charge and do the unthinkable double charge it. (To stop double charges put a mark on the ramrod with white finger nail polish while the rod sits on top of a charge and bullet in the breech this also tells you everything has seated well and won't cause an abstructed barrel situation!) Hope this helps!!!!!! Just a lil help 4 ya feel free to correct me guys if needed
12-17-2003, 08:03 PM
#10
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,693
RE: how long do you leave your muzzleloader loaded
I leave my TC Gray Hawk loaded all season, unless of course I get a shot on a deer. Never had a misfire because of this.
My dad has a TC Hawkens - he left it loaded one year all year from season to season. Fired just fine.
My dad has a TC Hawkens - he left it loaded one year all year from season to season. Fired just fine.