Loaded muzzle loader for multiple days

[MuleyFever]

I’ve consistently seen this advice with full bore conicals, yet people say not to use a wad with Thor bullets, probably due to the hollow skirt. I wonder if this makes Thor a bad choice since there’s no wad sealing the powder.

Not in my experience.

 

[OR_Hunter]

Is it better to discharge to unload or remove the breech plug with an in-line to unload.

 

[Wapiti1]

Is it better to discharge to unload or remove the breech plug with an in-line to unload.

Six of one half dozen of the other. If I can, I shoot it out. If in a spot where that isn't feasible, I'll point the muzzle down, pull the plug and push it out from the breech end. If you go the other way, its a mess and powder will get all over the threads.

Another option is a CO2 discharger if one will fit your rifle.

Jeremy

 

[tdhanses]

I use bh209 and haven’t had an issue leaving the load in it for 10 days, just use common sense and don’t take it into a hot tent and then out into the cold, keep the barrel covered with a finger cot that can easily be removed each day to verify the bullet is still fully seated, duck under a tree if it rains and pull the primer when not actively hunting.

 

[highcountrymuley]

i leave mine loaded for the hunt. tape the barrel really good. i put mine in a contractor bag and leave it outside the tent for backpacking mz hunt, so it does not get my condensation inside tent. cva accura with bhorn 209, federal bor loc bullet , cci primer

 

[Yarak]

Depending on weather will determine how long i leave a load in the ML
I always cut a finger off a surgical glove and stretch it over the muzzle no matter the weather
As far as BH209 I've opened up my flash holes to .030 and havent had any issues since
I also add 10 gns of T7 to ensure proper ignition

 

[Nontypical1]

Interesting thread. I feel like muzzleloading is all about finding the ritual that works for you and your gun.

I leave my gun loaded w/ powder and conical all season unless I go through a real wet spell and get worried enough about it. If it doesn't get used on game, I always shoot it at a target at the end of the season to see how it would've worked, and it has always gone bang. I'm still using a #11 cap and 777 because the supply I bought a decade ago has held out and the gun still works fine.

At the beginning of the season I clean the gun, take a fouling shot, then load powder and conical. I tape the barrel and keep the breech covered if it rains, avoiding temperature swings best I can as others describe. The fouling shot gives me a more consistent point of impact than a clean barrel and helps lock the conical in place (powerbelts can move in my barrel when it is clean). I am in CO, where it is overall pretty dry.

I believe that most misfires I have had over the years while target shooting have been caused by debris in the flash hole. It seems like that is consistent with the detailed response from sabotloader.

 

[vonb]

I still use a Knight Mk-85 with #11 caps and loose 777. My routine is to fire a couple caps prior to loading it. Once loaded, it stays loaded the entire week I hunt or until I shoot it. I’ve never had a misfire. I do take it in every night and put it in the room where the stove is which has very dry heat.

I will shoot/reload if it gets wet in the rain.

 

[browning2480]

Mine is still loaded from deer season last December. I need to go shoot it and get it ready for Colorado in September.