What to do to keep powder dry?
 

What should I do to keep my powder and cap dry when hunting in wet weather? I will shoot a traditional using #11 caps and pyrodex.

Thanks

RE: What to do to keep powder dry?
 

put a piece of electrical tape over the muzzle, or a finger cot, or a chunk of handi wrap and a rubber band. Take a tire valve stem cap cover and put that over the nipple and then lower the hammer on it... you should be fine now.

RE: What to do to keep powder dry?
 

This is the best way!

RE: What to do to keep powder dry?
 

pse-archer

I know this is going to sound pretty silly to a lot of you, but, it is another one of those things that work for me....

If you can see the small orange neopreme boot on the roll of cling wrap - that boot is what I normally use in marginal weather - I got these from Cabelas several years back - they work great far better the rain cover caps from traditions - BUT - they are no longer in the Cabelas cat. anyway I could not find them anymore...

Now here is the other thing - in really bad weatherconstant rain, wet snow, Iwrap a couple of wraps of cling wrap around the whole area, you now the wrap you get at a lumber yard to hold thing together...

When it is time to drop the hammer on the cap - just drop it - no need to unwrap - of course after the cap blast you will need a newwrap... But this wrap totally protects the breech area. I roll up aseveral feet of the wrap on a small 1/4" wooden dowel and carry it into the woods with me. One dowel will last all season and I have it with me all the time. I always felt the advantage was no lost time when it comes to shooting - nothingto remove nothing to save and it certainly sheds the water. The tighter you wrap it the more it conforms to all the nooks and crannies.

Please don't laugh

This isn't a very good wrap because I was in a hurry but you get the idea...

RE: What to do to keep powder dry?
 

I've done the same thing with handi wrap for many years sabotloader and your right.. it works great.

RE: What to do to keep powder dry?
 

Would the wrap also be the best way to protect the cap area of an inline?

RE: What to do to keep powder dry?
 

So with the plastic wrap you can fire it with the wrap on? Also, will moister get up in the cap and nipple with nothing? Can you shoot the rifle with whatever is on the muzzle or not? Bass pro has a muzzleloader rain gear kit. I just assume use house hold products.

RE: What to do to keep powder dry?
 

stinkbelly

During ML season in Idaho the scopes have to come off the inlines, and then the wrap works great there also..

During regular season I have used the wrap but it is a little more difficult to get the wrap under the scope, but it works... If you are using one piece base like I it even becomes a little more difficult - but again it works...

RE: What to do to keep powder dry?
 

pse-archer

You do! - It only takes 2 wraps maybe three and your hammer will drop right through that.. of course make sure your cap is seated on the nipple correctly - it must be set all the way down...

No the moister will not - If you have wrapped and sealed the area - pull the wrap snugly and will cling and adhere...

Yes you can shoot right through the rain gear - air pressure rushing up the barrel usually blows the cap off or bursts it...

The "rain gear" kit show in Bass Pro contains both muzzle mits and #11 rain caps - the rain caps are so small and in cold weather so hard to handle in the field - but they work also. If you see that little orange one in my pic - those work great -but I can not find them anymore. Finger Cots from Wal-Mart work well also althought they are a bit thinner the black muzzle mits - and when you go to put them on a traditional there are some sharper edges on the ram rod guide that can tend to tear them.

RE: What to do to keep powder dry?
 

In wet weather:
For sidelocks:
I use cows knee to cover the lock and plastic saranwrap over the nipplewith a small rubber band and then trim the excessand muzzle with a rubber band holding the muzzle wrap in place.

Also finger cots and unlubricated condoms work on the muzzle as well.

Simply fire through the covers.

I'm going to try a tire valve stemcap for the nipple. Seems like it should work well. Then I just need to remember to remove the valve stem cap before firing. :)

For open breech inlines: A leather cover or plastic wrap over the breech and over the muzzle as mentioned above.

For Flintlock: Cows Knee and change the priming powder every 30 minutes if it's damp out.

Tahquamenon