dogdoc Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 Do you guys shoot off your load if you are not going to be hunting for a few days. I hunted Saturday evening and will be going out again Wed morning. I didn't shoot off the load--just took out the 201 primor. Should I shoot it out before i hunt wed or will ti be ok? just wondering what most folks do? thanks todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iowa Cornfed Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 I assume most folks probably do shoot 'em clean. I don't generally though. I've however proven to have a bit of a longer learning curve than others! Thing is, all our kids are out of the house and it's just me and my wife. So for the past few years when I was shooting my TC Thunder Hawk, I'd head straight for the garage when I came home (I hunt only on my own ground) and store my gun there. Never had a problem even if I left the No.11 cap on. No mis-fires or anything, and no corrosion problems that I could ever tell. This year after switching to the TC Triumph using 209 primers, I did the same thing pretty much. Well we had rain during the early ML season and I'd sat out in it for 5 hrs. I have black duct tape over the muzzle so no rain gets in. Next day after sitting for 4 hrs, and tall and wide 8-pt comes out and walks to within 50 yards, gave me a standing broadside shot. "Click" I thought "...hmmm, wonder if the hammer isn't striking the fireing pin hard enough?" So I pull back the hammer again and "click" Well I do this 5 or six times and he finally bolts. I get home and put in a new 209 primer and "Boom" it thundered like it knew how. No powder prob, but apparently my primer got a bit damp somehow. So I said all that to say this. I do not think the charge itself should be impacted if left for a couple days, but that's just my experience. I'm guessing some of the folks on this forum know a whole lot more than I do on the subject, so maybe they'll weigh in. I guess I kinda think shooting it clean would be a good habit to get into for most situiations for several reasons (safety being #1 and reliability #2, maybe some corrosion issues as a 3rd reason) but again, hopefully some others will chime in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billkay Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 I don't unload after each days hunt. I do make sure that I don't bring the gun in from the cold in order to prevent the formation of any condensation in the barrel. I always remove the primer at the end of the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lil hunter Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 I just take out the primer. I might keep the same load in there for a couple weeks if needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 Pretty sure most states are the same in regards to what is considered a loaded muzzleloader, and here it is considered to be unloaded if the primer or cap is removed. Removing the primer it will be fine Todd. Unless I hunt in wet conditions, I leave mine loaded all week for our season here, or until I shoot a deer with it whichever comes first. If it gets wet, it gets unloaded after that hunt, I usually pull the breech plug and push my load out the breech end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michiganbowhunter_SQ2 Posted November 2, 2007 Report Share Posted November 2, 2007 If i am hunting the next day, i'll leave it loaded, just take out the primer. if it is going to be a couple days or more i always take out the round. really no reason why, i just don't like it sitting in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
too_pointer Posted November 6, 2007 Report Share Posted November 6, 2007 Do you guys shoot off your load if you are not going to be hunting for a few days. Geez doc, isn't that kind of personal Sorry, couldn't help myself, must be in a goofy mode today lol. too_ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
too_pointer Posted November 6, 2007 Report Share Posted November 6, 2007 I always have left my muzzlebaster in the garage if the weather has been cold. I agree with everyone in here, and I have never had one not go off. Before I put down powder and bullet, I shoot off 2-3 primers to burn any oil residue or dirt that might be in the barrel or primer channel OH YA, can you take me hunting with you LOL I know you have prime property. Good luck my friend :) too_ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmoss Posted November 7, 2007 Report Share Posted November 7, 2007 Everything but the primer stays in except the primer until I am finished using it that year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted November 7, 2007 Report Share Posted November 7, 2007 Have you ever used a silent ball discharger? One little puff of CO2 and my bullet/pellets are laying on the blanket, ready to use again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted November 8, 2007 Report Share Posted November 8, 2007 I might get beat up over this, but I left one in for a year and shot a coyote with that load the next year. It was fine. The load was fine, the yote was dead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest outdoorgirl Posted November 8, 2007 Report Share Posted November 8, 2007 Geez doc, isn't that kind of personal Sorry, couldn't help myself, must be in a goofy mode today lol. too_ That is just to funny.... :D If i know i am hunting for a few days i take out the primer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted November 15, 2007 Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 I don't unload after each days hunt. I do make sure that I don't bring the gun in from the cold in order to prevent the formation of any condensation in the barrel. I always remove the primer at the end of the day. Ditto. I asked this question last year Todd, and based on the answers I got, I loaded my ML during November's gun season, and left it loaded (minus the primer) until late December, and it was fine. In fact, I took mine indoors, and it still shot fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okiedog Posted November 15, 2007 Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 I know this thread is a little old but..... Our M/L season is 9 days. I load my gun the night before the opener and leave it load the whole time unless I shoot a deer. I just remove the 209 primer and store it either in the truck or in the shop. The only problem I ever had was when I use to bring the gun into the house for the evenings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 16, 2007 Report Share Posted November 16, 2007 Just thought I would also mention Todd, if your seasons are like here with split ml seasons, and you happen to fire the ml you would definitely want to at some point take and unload it and clean it. The wife and I both shot a deer on the Saturday our ml opened up, I took the gun apart after the ml season close that Friday and gave it a good cleaning, and noticed some rust in the breech area. Now it is ready for the next ml segment in December. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoyt03 Posted November 18, 2007 Report Share Posted November 18, 2007 Just for an update I left a load in for just over a month and smoked a doe with that same load yesterday at 90 yards, shot was right on. Gun was kept indoors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedicast Posted November 25, 2007 Report Share Posted November 25, 2007 I load my muzzleloader the night before the opener, minus the primer. And I leave it loaded until I'm done hunting. I do leave the gun out in the garage, so as not to have it get hot and cold, so moisture doesn't build up. At the end of the season, if I haven't fired the gun. I pull the breech plug, and push the load out with the ramrod. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted December 23, 2007 Report Share Posted December 23, 2007 Our season is split also. I load my MZ the night before the first week and unload it after the first season closes. Unless of course I have fired it. Then it gets a good scrubbing and a dose of bore butter. This is one reason I don't believe in " fouling " a barrel. Any MZ with a removable breech plug is easy enough to unload. I simply remove the B- plug and push the bullet and charge out. Before I reload I run a dry patch down the barrel to remove excess bore butter. I NEVER leave the primer in my gun unattended! Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted December 24, 2007 Report Share Posted December 24, 2007 Todd..I leave my ML outside in the truck to prevent condensation between warm and cold etc... and just remove the primer...if I want to unload it, I shoot it, clean the gun and then shoot a primer or two after Im done cleaning. LOL at too pointer..I dont think Todd can do that any longer?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest decotathehunter Posted December 31, 2007 Report Share Posted December 31, 2007 ha I Keep mine loade all season. in fact my dad left his loaded ,minus the primer,all year. Shot it off for the next season and cleaned it. still shotin today . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlott89 Posted December 31, 2007 Report Share Posted December 31, 2007 it depends on where u planning on storeing your gun.me and my dad dont,we just leave it in the backroom where its somewhat neutral temp's(not hot but not cold) and not where theres any moisture.so it should be fine as long as its not in a place where theres going to be moisture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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