Tips for backcountry with a muzzleloader

[RagnCajn]

I would probably get my rig set up shooting BH209 and 209 primers. This past year on our CO elk hunt, I was running BH209 and the two 9ther guys were using triple 7. Storm came in, we all had our barrels taped but guns were soaked. We all shot our guns that evening at camp. One of theirs delayed about a half second and was weak. Other had to use a second 209 primer and was also weak. Mine with BH209 had zero issues. It just doesn't attract moisture like the other black powder alternatives. I wouldn't worry about my gun being loaded for 8 days with it.

 

[taskswap]

On one particular trip we took muzzleloaders over 12 miles into the back country. 4 shots were fired with zero problems. We loaded plastic vials with pre-measured powder, bullets and primers. I think we packed 8 charges apiece. We loaded our first charge once camp was made. We kept them dry by using gun slickers. Never had a problem.

This is basically what I do, but I never found a "powder vial" product that I liked (and I'm pretty I've tried them ALL now). After some trial and error, I found that mini plastic "test tubes" from Amazon with mini corks actually work perfectly for this. They're just big enough for 90gr of Pyrodex RS with some head space if you want to carry a "hot" 100+gr charge or two.

They're also the perfect dimension for pouring powder into the end of your barrel - I've found many "charge tube" products are actually a bit too large, and it's easy to spill a few grains and have a short charge.

For stoppers I use mini corks, also from Amazon. I don't leave trash in the woods but if I drop and lose a cork in the heat of the moment at least it's a natural product.

Mini test tubes are about the diameter of a 30-06 cartridge, so they fit perfectly in an ammo holder. In my case my bino harness has an elastic side pouch that's basically good for nothing EXCEPT two test tubes fit in there perfectly.