Most people on this board may already know better, but make sure when you're hunting on a wet, rainy day that you either keep your muzzleloader level or pointed down while walking to and sitting in your stand. One of the guys in our group had a nice buck right below his stand last Friday evening and when he squeezed the trigger, all that exploded was his 209 primer. Turned out that he had his gun hanging in the stand all day with the muzzle end up. Some of the rain that made it into the barrel must have gotten into the rifling and found its way to the powder.
He learned a big lesson at a big price!

I FIND IN WET WEATHER TO USE A PLASTIC SANDWHICH BAG OVER THE MUZZEL WITH A RUBBER BAND KEEPS THE WATER OUT OF THE BARREL .
I YET HAD A MIS-FIRE WITH MY THUNDERHAWK,I ALSO SEEM TO FAVOR THE RWS 1075 CAPS NO#11 OVER THE 209 PRIMER,REASON THEY FIT SO TIGHT THEY ALSO KEEP MOISTURE OUT OF THE NIPPLE AREA.
I DID USE THE OTHER DAY FOR THE FIRST TIME THE CO2 DISCHARGES,MAN THEY ARE GREAT WOULD RECOMMEND THEM TO ANYONE THAT WANTS TO REMOVE A LOAD WITHOUT FIRING THE GUN.
I FOUND ALSO THAT IN MY THUNDERHAWK I USE THE NOSLERS FULL PARTITION BULLET AND AFTER THEY ARE REMOVED WITH THE CO2 DISCHAGERS THEY CAN BE REUSED AGAIN.

I was out opening day in Maryland also. I thought I had some barrel condoms but couldn't find them so I took a latex glove with me. After loading, I ripped off one of the fingers and pulled it over the barrel. Pellets were nice and dry when I unloaded it. Wish I had a deer in my sights to pull the trigger on but they didn't cooperate with me.

I was at Wal-Mart the other day and picked up a new box of Finger Cots. You get a whole box for $1.95 and there must be a 100 of them in that box. I never used them before, but after reading about them on forums I decided I would give them a try.

Never heard of "finger cots" before, but I will try them. Sam Fadala recommends a balloon over the barrel, and I will try to locate and purchase some *black* balloons for that purpose. And using a flintlock GPR, I will get a "cow's knee" for the lock area.

Kenneth

I hear finger cots work well. I have always used "muzzle mitts" which are little black condom looking things that simply roll down over the barrel. Cabelas, etc have them.

That's all a finger cot is... a small latex ballon looking thing. In the box there are three different sizes, so I am sure I can find one to fit the barrel no matter what caliber I use.