Well i'm all dialed in and shooting this old TC Hawken pretty fair now....you guys have any sugestions, or tricks of the trade to share with this rookie muzzle loader...i'm all ears....Is there any way to cock these dad burn things without making any noise? i keep picturing an elk standing there feeding and this metalic sounding ....CLICK -CLICK!!!! ............and the elk taking off like his ass is on fire! :shock:
i had one guy tell me to keep the gun pointed up so the bullet doesn't fall out.....i about spit coffee through my nose laughing! these conicals wont really move once tamped will they? i thought the guy was pulling my leg....but hey! This is a first for me.....Kirk

what bullet are you using and did they go in snug or really loose?

Take your rifle and practice this with it unloaded. Hold back on the trigger and then cock the hammer. With the hammer back, and still holding it, release the trigger and GENTLY let the hammer come forward. See if it does not lock in place and it made no noise when you cocked it.

Sometimes a conical can move off a load. I often times during the day will take the ramrod and check to make sure it is back on powder charge.

Also to help the cap stay dry, try taking a tire valve stem cover, put that over the cap on the nipple and let the hammer come forward to hold the cap down in place. This will help keep water out of that area. Some people feed a small piece of fishing line through that valve stem cap and tie it to the trigger guard. Then just flick it off and you will not loose the cap.

Excellent advice already given. Good luck.

Hey Gander, i'm using a Hornady 410 gr conical, and these things are damn snug getting started and seem to be seating into the riflings well....i took a couple of them and loaded them in the barrel with no powder, tamped them down like i always do, then blew them out of the barrel into a rag using my Co2 unit. i wanted to see what i was doing to the end of the bullet with the ram rod first of all, second i wanted to see the riflig grooves in the bullet to see if this thing was doing its designed job....

actually i really cant see that bullet moving after seating it tight against the powder....but what i did was file a small notch in my ram rod after getting her tamped down solid and ready to fire....i figured i can always slide the ram rod in and look at the notch to see whether i'm good to go....


Cavugad, that's a great idea for a weather cover for your cap...wonder if it will fit over a musket cap? i was actually thinking ofthat issue some being in Oregon....but August is pretty dry down there....
i'll try that trigger technique too. maybe hold my hand over the dap letting off the trigger would be wise when i have a charge going........ Thanks a lot guys!...i'm starting to get pumped about my trip now....

If they go down snug, you should be fine.

12 DAY's Thats it go ahead and RUUUUB it in I wish you the best of luck remmember post pic if you score.