New to the game.

[crippleshot]

Being a new muzzleloader hunter there are a couple of what MAY be wives' tales about the sport, I need clarified. The 1st one is about sighting one in. Should I zero it at 50 or 100 yds.? I have it hitting dead on at 100 yds. and MAY not be able to shoot it again until I'm in my stand and shooting at a deer. I KNOW the smart thing to do would be to take time out of my hunting schedule and shoot it at various yardages but it's not JUST a question of time but of opportunity. I am severely, disabled and need my wife's help. She must load AND clean the gun for me. Her schedule is already hectic at virtually, every minute of the day, through hunting season. Her taking time out to help me shoot would be extremely difficult. Like I said, I KNOW it shoots dead on at 100 yds. using 100 grains of Triple 7 and a 250 gr. TC saboted bullet. Any ideas where it will hit at 50 yds. 2nd Is it necessary to unload your gun after an unsuccessful day's hunting? If you have to do this 4-5 days in a row it could get to be quite a chore!! Especially considering I would have to ask my wife to do it, every time. If it's OK to leave it loaded, I've heard that bringing a loaded gun into the house after a very cold day, outside, could make your barrel sweat. Getting the loaded powder damp and possibly causing a mis-fire. OK. That's three questions, I guess. And ALL of them, probably, make me sound like a moron but I am, totally, new to this game!! And, just in case, there are never any kids in our house so bringing a loaded gun inside poses little to no threat as it gets locked in the safe, that night.

Edited December 2, 2013 by crippleshot

[wtnhunt]

Again, welcome to the forums. Ask away, best way to learn is to ask questions, sure someone here can help. I am not by any means an expert, I have only been hunting with a modern ml'er for about 10 years. You may want to read through this Realtree: Bluelk, might find some useful info.

With the gun sighted in at 100 with that load, I would guess you will be in the vitals on deer at 50 if you are aiming dead center of the vitals, but that is assuming. No way to know for certain unless you shoot it at 50 and see, but I understand that is maybe not an option. We are using 120 grains loose pyro with a 240 grain xtp mag in the black diamond and 115 grains triple 7 with a 240 grain xtp mag in the cva, both guns sighted in at 100.

Far as unloading the gun, I would not and do not each day. If you absolutely have to, you can pull the breech plug and push out the load and save your bullet and probably most of your powder too. Only times I have ever pulled the load has been with very wet situations like sitting in the rain where I knew water could have gotten in the barrel in which case the powder is dumped. YES the barrel will sweat with temp changes just as all do. If you can leave it outside in a truck or in your garage, that would be great. I leave the loads in my guns until they are fired or until season ends. I am currently using pyrodex and triple 7 and never had any issues. Have gone several times with not firing the load in my gun for several days up to weeks and no issues with hanging/delayed ignition with the tc black diamond or the cva accura.

[Zizzer59]

We never unload ours until we shoot a deer or the end of the season. All we do is take the priming cap off.

[smha6784]

New to the game.

To answer your first question I don't know. Simple suggestion sight it in at 100 then shoot it at 50 and see where it hits.

Now the second question when to unload your muzzle loader. It all depends on when I do it and you hit on a lot of the points I would bring up. If it's a rainy day I would probably discharge my weapon after the days hunts. If it a good weekend I would just remove the primer cap between hunts, and discharge t end of hunting trip. I do not like to take the chances on a misfire as I've heard the pop with no boom many times before with the old side locks. I know the Inlines are a whole different animal but I won't chance it again. Another thing you brought up was barrel sweat if I feel the barrel sweat is excessive I will discharge. It's not what's really rite and wrong in this situation it's what you are comfortable with. I know many people who load their muzzle loader in the beginning of season and don't discharge it until season ends and usually with no hang fire but I won't ever do it. Ole Bucky has too many one ups on me for me to chance anything.

[dbHunterNY]

I think it's probably only like 3 inches high at 50 yards but like others have said you'd have to shoot it. in terms of leaving the load in the gun... refer to what Wtnhunt said. I'd put a piece of electrical tape over the muzzle to ensure no moisture gets down the barrel. one piece won't effect your shot.

[Zizzer59]

You could use the Gundom for the moisture problem also, but electrical tape would probably be cheaper.

[RangerClay]

We never unload ours until we shoot a deer or the end of the season. All we do is take the priming cap off.

Check your local laws before doing that in some states. A loaded weapon in a vehicle is a serious charge.

[wtnhunt]

Check your local laws before doing that in some states. A loaded weapon in a vehicle is a serious charge.

Yep, absolutely check your regs. Mentioned that in the blog this member posted, I may have missed repeating that here. Regs here say that an uncapped ml'er is not considered to be "loaded", but that is in TN.