Will keeping a muzzleloader loaded cause any problems?
#11
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: GA
Posts: 51
RE: Will keeping a muzzleloader loaded cause any problems?
Shouldn't be an issue. I will typically load mine at the beginning of BP season in GA, and hunt with it for the rest of the season. Obviously, I'll re-load if I shoot at something.... I won't rely on a load if I've been out hunting and it was raining or really damp; I'll typically either shoot it or unload it by removing the breach plug because I don't want to take the chance on soggy pellets. But, if it's dry, I'll leave it loaded for weeks at a time.
I, too, unintentionally left mine loaded from one season to the next with no ill effects. We were supposed to get down to the lease and do more hunting, but one thing led to anothe and we never got down. Finally, the next season, I pulled the old smoke pole out and realized it was still loaded from the previous season. After unloading and a little bit of light cleaning (just to be safe and sure), it shot just fine.
I, too, unintentionally left mine loaded from one season to the next with no ill effects. We were supposed to get down to the lease and do more hunting, but one thing led to anothe and we never got down. Finally, the next season, I pulled the old smoke pole out and realized it was still loaded from the previous season. After unloading and a little bit of light cleaning (just to be safe and sure), it shot just fine.
#12
RE: Will keeping a muzzleloader loaded cause any problems?
I pretty much agree with everyone. .... Teperature changes like being out in the cold hunting then going into a car and getting warm or into a house where it is warm starts condensation. Think of a cold drink in the summer.
There is less mosture in the air but even then repeated heating and cooling will cause moisture to build up.
If your shooting a 209 primer this probably won't hurt you. But #11's aren't a ton of fire like a 209 so you have to be carefull. If its not that cold out your probably fine. Another option is to leave it in the back of your car or truck (in a case of course)so it never warms up. Then you'd probably be fine.
I have left mine loaded, well my inline I have. As for my percussion (side lock) I like to unload that every night or I try to.
I've never had a missfirewhen it counted.I alwaystry to cleanthe gun before I load it the first time (probably helps)
I did go out one time with my first inline (a cheap CVA) Iwalked in and sat down. Whenthe sun started to come up I could see I was near a guy so I got up and tried to sneak out as quiet as possible. I went up the road and to the other side and sat down 40 yards or so off the road. 15 minutes later I shot a big doe. It was cold so it took me a while to field dress her. As I did I hear the guy I crowded shoot (or so I thought) I was glad he had had an opertunity. Unfortunatly it turn out tobe a cap going off. A few minutes later I hear another pop. then finallyI hear it go off.
I was mad at myself for walking in on him but his hunt had ben ruined from the start. I fear a missfire sometime (probaly when thenew world record walks out in front of me) So I tend to play it safe.
So anyway whats your setup. Pellets and a 209 primer and your probably fine. A sidelock and a #11...you might need to unload.
Just my thinking.
Jason
There is less mosture in the air but even then repeated heating and cooling will cause moisture to build up.
If your shooting a 209 primer this probably won't hurt you. But #11's aren't a ton of fire like a 209 so you have to be carefull. If its not that cold out your probably fine. Another option is to leave it in the back of your car or truck (in a case of course)so it never warms up. Then you'd probably be fine.
I have left mine loaded, well my inline I have. As for my percussion (side lock) I like to unload that every night or I try to.
I've never had a missfirewhen it counted.I alwaystry to cleanthe gun before I load it the first time (probably helps)
I did go out one time with my first inline (a cheap CVA) Iwalked in and sat down. Whenthe sun started to come up I could see I was near a guy so I got up and tried to sneak out as quiet as possible. I went up the road and to the other side and sat down 40 yards or so off the road. 15 minutes later I shot a big doe. It was cold so it took me a while to field dress her. As I did I hear the guy I crowded shoot (or so I thought) I was glad he had had an opertunity. Unfortunatly it turn out tobe a cap going off. A few minutes later I hear another pop. then finallyI hear it go off.
I was mad at myself for walking in on him but his hunt had ben ruined from the start. I fear a missfire sometime (probaly when thenew world record walks out in front of me) So I tend to play it safe.
So anyway whats your setup. Pellets and a 209 primer and your probably fine. A sidelock and a #11...you might need to unload.
Just my thinking.
Jason
#13
RE: Will keeping a muzzleloader loaded cause any problems?
ORIGINAL: superstrutter
That may be true, but I think most of us are not going to store our guns where they will beexposed to moisture or extreme heat.
ORIGINAL: DeerandbearhoG
Actually it can be a problem, temperature changes can create moisture inside the gun. BP and BP substitutes are orthoscopic, meaning they soak up moisture, causeing ignition failure. Its happened to me in the past, which is one of the reasons I bought a Savage(smokeless). You will more than likey be OK if your shooting an inline 209 w/ BH209 or 777 but BP and pyrodex is very sensitive to moisture and#11caps might not be hot enough ,if powder was exposed to moisture at all. If you dont want to take a chance, you might want to fire it at the end of the day and load it fresh every morning, to me its a little extra effort well spent. If not ,you might want to at least aviod drastic temp. changes like bringing it inside or in your car w/ the heat on.
Actually it can be a problem, temperature changes can create moisture inside the gun. BP and BP substitutes are orthoscopic, meaning they soak up moisture, causeing ignition failure. Its happened to me in the past, which is one of the reasons I bought a Savage(smokeless). You will more than likey be OK if your shooting an inline 209 w/ BH209 or 777 but BP and pyrodex is very sensitive to moisture and#11caps might not be hot enough ,if powder was exposed to moisture at all. If you dont want to take a chance, you might want to fire it at the end of the day and load it fresh every morning, to me its a little extra effort well spent. If not ,you might want to at least aviod drastic temp. changes like bringing it inside or in your car w/ the heat on.
#14
RE: Will keeping a muzzleloader loaded cause any problems?
ORIGINAL: DoctorDeath
I shoot a Savage also ...
dd
I shoot a Savage also ...
dd
BTW what load ya using? I use 40gr IMR4759/ 250 gr SW/ MMP short black (2000fps cronied, no recoil)
#15
RE: Will keeping a muzzleloader loaded cause any problems?
Leaving the powder in, can cause a misfire under the right conditions. Just because most people get away with it doesn't mean it is 100% going to work.If you can, the best way is to fire the gun off safely, clean the gun and reload just prior to hunting. I just wouldn't want to have the gun misfire on anyanimal or especially a trophy animalbecause I didn't want to discharge/clean it properly.
#17
RE: Will keeping a muzzleloader loaded cause any problems?
last year, i went hunting, and kept it loaded over night, and the next day i saw 4 deer, and i got 3 shots, and each time the only thing that would go off was my cap. so i wont do that again this year.
#18
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 1,607
RE: Will keeping a muzzleloader loaded cause any problems?
ORIGINAL: DoctorDeath
What do you guys think ...will loading a muzzleloader and keeping the same powder and bullet in it for over a week cause any problems when it comes time to fire it?
dd
What do you guys think ...will loading a muzzleloader and keeping the same powder and bullet in it for over a week cause any problems when it comes time to fire it?
dd
One suggestion though: keep it in a truck or garage if possible. Going from heat to cold will cause moisture to accumulate.