I found a great shooting load for my Knight Bighorn, its 90gr 777 & 240xtp. This gun will shoot 1.5 inch groups at 75 yds all day long with this load, my question is will I get reliable ignition in -10 to +10 deg temps during our SD muzzleloader season with #11 caps or should I try to find either a hotter ignition or a load with black powder?
These in the below link are the best caps for #11 ignitions. I do not hunt when it's that cold anymore. I have no hunting land, no roof blinds... etc. I tried the "walking back to the vehicle & warming it up for a half hour" routine too many times. No more!
Actually I read an article in a magazine that spoke of many tests done with different primers. Most of the magnum primers performed worse than standard ones at temperatures well below freezing. I'm talking -30F on hunting caribou in the arctic, in the lower 48 I don't think you'll have any problems. Maybe in Colorado.
I have no experience with 777 in very cold weather, but have used #11 caps with Pyrodex when it was cold enough that I stuck my finger to the barrel by accident. About an hour later I shot a nice buck - no problem (I had removed my finger from the barrell by that time).
I'm planning on using 777 and #11 caps this comeing muzzleloading season - mid-December in Michigan, Brrrr. I'll let you know if I have a problem.
T7: Did you stop hunting when it's that cold because you were experiencing problems with your gun, or because you just don't like to be out in that cold weather?
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Thanks, Dad, for taking time with me.
I have experienced no problems with lighting pyrodex or T7 in sub 0 temperatures with either #11's or 209's. However one must make sure to take precautions to not contaminate the charge in the first place.
Ie:I tape the barrel with electrical tape to avoid moisture entering from the muzzle end. Make sure to protect the breech area if exposed in some form - saran wrap, wool sock, case, etc?? At the end of the day dump the load -discharge it into the dirt, pull it,whatever get rid of it if you have been in elements that may hinder its performance. If no moisture seen keep the ML at hunting condition temp, meaning don't bring into your warm house or vehicle to form condensation. I personally leave mine in a unisulated shed when it is cool and heading back out the next morning. I also place the muzzle on a clean rag or a few patchs downward, just in case. If I need the heater in the truck I just dumb the load to be safe. Like said I have never had a problem in +20 to -30 here in saskatchewan with using an inline and subs.
You should have no problems at all if you prepare the rifle properly for the hunt and then keep it dry.I hunted our Wisconsin deer season last year with a Knight Wolverine LK-II using RWS 1075 caps and Triple Se7en and Goex with 240 grain XTP's. Never once had a failed ignition or even an hint of a hang fire.
Swab that bore clean with alcohol before you load.Then run two or three dry patches to insure that bore is clean and bone dry. Pop off a couple of the #11 caps prior to loading it insure the breech plug is clear, and dry. Then load it and hunt with it. It will go off. I use a finger cot over the muzzle and just really make sure no snow or rain gets into the breech area of the rifle. I did cover it with Handi Wrap on afternoon because it was really snowing. At the end of the day I always fire the rifle off. I touched it off and it fired perfect, with the handi wrap and finger cot....
If you have doubts, load it like you normally would, set it outside on one of them bitter cold days and then test it in a couple hours. It will fire. The bitter cold days never seem to humid, just clear crisp and cold... good luck, that's a great rifle and a great load..
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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, a total wreck, screaming Yahoo, with a big smile on your face."
T7: Did you stop hunting when it's that cold because you were experiencing problems with your gun, or because you just don't like to be out in that cold weather?
Those one mile hikes back to the vehicle 3-4 times a day is what turned me off. I have all the proper clothes, face masks,footwarmers, electric sox& gloves, polar boots... etc.... etc.
I used to hunt as low as 15-20 below - back in the my days with Pyrodex P. Never had a misfire then using #11 caps. I would powder-prime below my nipple back then to remove any air passageways to myfirst ML......CVA Plainsman 1-66" twist.
__________________ Make Smoke - Not War with those using a different style muzzleloader than you.
i'd junk the #11 nipple and convert to the musket or 209 primer. i got sick of hearing the cap go off and not the main charge, especially in a sidelock. You'll feel alot more comfortable and not have this little " will it go off or just pop" sitting on your shoulder when u take aim at an animal.
i have had problems with the #11 caps when i first started it was gone befor i started to hunt and ., that is why i went to the 209 primer. 209 has not failed me yet to date.,
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I have nothing to say ., i stay trouble free that way!!
In all my years of shooting, I've had very few problems with the #11 cap igniting the charge. If you load the right kind of powder for the rifle, follow some simple rules of how to get the rifle ready to shoot, have a quality hot shot nipple, and a quality cap like the RWS 1075 or the CCI Magnum #11 the rifle fires rain or shine..
An example is, hunting a couple years back with my T/CRenegade, I had the misfortune of finding my creek during deer season. I actually submerged the rifle into the water. I had the rifle with a finger cot on one end, and handi wrap over the nipple that day. I picked the rifle out of the water, walked back home to change, and on my range at the house fired the rifle with out a problem.
Also my theory is, if the rifle was made to shoot a #11 cap, I really do not like to alter it to do something the manufacturer did not intend it to do. I think the new hot #11 caps are more then adaquate to ignite loose powder charges, and I use #11 caps in most allof my rifles. Of my five inlines I use 209 primers in three of them. All my traditional rifles still use #11 caps.
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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, a total wreck, screaming Yahoo, with a big smile on your face."
777 + 11cap + cold weather
