Although I'm new to inline MLs, I have been hunting for 25+ years. When I hunted with my old sidelock, I would practice safe gun handling (always, of course) but did have it constantly "capped" as soon as I got in the field,with the hammer completely "uncocked"

As I just bought a new Omega, I've been reading the owners manual and it says to never "prime" the weapon until you're ready to fire. Now I know that the Official word (Manuals) onmost weapons err on the side of caution and I, myself,do not plan to hunt (walk, stand, sit, whatever...in the field) w/o a "primed" ML.

Does anyone practice "safety" to this extent (leaving it "unprimed"???

Thanks

I can understand if you have a newbie (especially new young 'un)hunting with you, you may ask him to do that until you're sure of his safe gun handling practices and overall mechanical knowledge

Nope, always have a cap or primer in. I believe the Omega has a transfer bar in the hammer system so there isnt a worry about accidental discharge unless the hammer is fully cocked.

"Prime the weapon until ready to fire" could also mean when your ready to hunt. Face it, you step out of the vehicle and get loaded up, how many times have you jumped one going into a stand or walking a ridge to a area you're going to work. So you are ready to fire. You just have not cocked the rifle, or pulled the trigger. Alrhough keeping your safety on until moments before you actually pull the trigger is just common sense.

Besides that, walking around without the primer in place or a cap on a nipple, what ever, leaves that area open to elements. If you were using a powder that liked to suck moisture from the air (such as APP or Pinnacle so some claim), simply not having that area sealed in any manner could contaminate the powder charge somewhat, and effect the accuracy of the load.

No, I alway have the rifle capped and ready to shoot. Good luck with your Omega. A great safe rifle there.

i always have my inline primed however the hammer is down. i never rely on the safety therefore the hammer is never cocked until i am ready to fire.

"I believe" You better know!!!

Knight.. Has two saftys

My rifle is primed and put on safe right before I take my first step away from the truck. My Savage has a three position safe like a CF rifle, and it also locks the bolt shut on full safe. The only time I deprime is when I cross a fence or climb into a stand, and then of course when I get back to the truck.

Mike

When hunting I usually carry a "loaded" weapon when afield. A muzzleloader is "loaded" when it's charged AND primed. Un-primed it would be about as useful as a big stick for taking game.
Practice gun safety, but carry a loaded gun when you might need it quickly has always worked for me.

Well I never felt at ease with the Hammer down on any Rifle or Shotgun with the Primer on.My Sidelocks are Half Cocked,Inlines Cocked.But my Whites Lock the Hammer in real well.

big rockpile

I tree stand hunt and pull my rifle up with a rope, so I don't put a primer in until I am in the stand and ready to hunt. In the AM I am going in to the stand in the dark so no loss there, and in the PM scaring up a deer and shooting at a deer in flight is not a good shot, so no loss there either. Safety first.
Chap Gleason