I have just switched from a TC Hawkin (shooting it from 1980) to a new Black Diamond in-Line. With my old system, I had powder in 35mm film canisters, maxi-balls in their container and #11 caps in a capper. I could load pretty quick.

Now What??

The Sabots are in one container, the pyrodex pellets are in little tubes, and I can' t find a capper for musket caps.

What do you guys do to organize and reload quickly in the field?

Also, do I have to clean this gun as often as they say? When I practice, I swab the barrel every shot and clean it when I get home. Can I make several shots and not clean th gun at home before tomorrows hunt?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Greg

Try using a " speedloader" . It is designed to hold the powder (pellets) the sabot and the cap all in one container.

I also have the same M/L and I swab it between every shot when at the range. When I get home, I then give it a good cleaning. I would probably hunt only one day with a dirty gun. Would a few days or longer harm the gun?...I honestly don' t know, but I would not want to ake that chance.

Adding to what Jimmy S said, there are also cappers for 209 shotgun primers, which are the only recommended primers for use with pellets. Most modern in-lines come set up for 209s, or with a replacement breech plug.

Cleaning is essential. Don' t let your in-line sit overnight after firing it, or you may quickly run into corrosion problems. Black powder (and the substitutes) is very corrosive, and in-line barrels are generally not chrome-plated inside.

BP can be a pain in the behind, but it does extend the season

I used to leave my hawkins loaded for a week or more if I didn' t shoot it. (In the cold and not capped) I' d clean it after the hunt if I shot it. Or after the next days hunt if I was hunting two in a row. On the range, I could shoot ten or more before I had to swab the barrel. I guess the new gun has new rules. Thanks for the help, I' ll look for the speed loaders tomorrow night when I check in my deer.

Thanks

Greg

Gryan,

There are different size speed loaders for different types of loads or caliburs. I too have an in-line 50 calibur and I use the green speed loaders. I also use a plastic ziploc bag to hold the caps and capper, only the pelets and bullets fit into the speed loader.

Good luck....

there are little tin that breath mints come in.a couple of bullets and 4 to 6 pyrodex plettes and a pieace of a package of 209 primmers will fix in it OK. the capper will also fit across it inside.
try that.

bring a screw in extension for the ramrod b/c most are just as long as the barrel. hey tree climber, our signatures are almost the same!!