I did a test with smokepoles

[Adjam5]

OK, many of us hunt with muzzleloaders and some do not get to fire their weapon at days end.

What to do? 2 choices.

Fire the gun, then you have to clean it with no venison to show for...Pull the bullet and deform it, which effects ballistics I'm sure.

This is what I did.

I loaded my 2 smokepoles Friday afternoon. The CVA gets 3 pellets of 777 with 295gr powerbelt and a 777 primer. The T/C ThunderHawk gets 90gr of pyrodex, standard 209 primer with a 350gr Maxihunter bullet. I did not get a shot at any deer the whole weekend. Today after 5 days of the guns being loaded. In and out of the house many times, but left outside on the deck during the day, brought in the house at night. I discharged them today to go home from camp.

Results after 5 days loaded going from cold to hot to cold many times...

Tadaaa!

The CVA Wolf with the power belt went bang, 1st try and the T/C with the loose pyrodex and maxihunter bullet took 3 primers to make it go bang..I think the fat/borebutter around the bullet after a few days made the powder damp a bit. To the point where it took 3 primers to make it go bang.

I think the powerbelts sealed the powder better and the wad that it comes with is dry and will not contaminate the powder with moisture.

BTW, I keep black electrical tape over the muzzle to keep out debris.

I have always wondered how long a charge will stay good for.

I believe the plastic bottom introduces no moisture to the charge.

Thought I'd share my findings.

Edited December 17, 2008 by Adjam5

[stcif]

Intersting. Yesterday I went out with my muzzleloader, Knight Revolution. Off and on rain and snow. Very damp and windy. I get an opportunity to shoot a nice doe at about 20 yards. I get her in the crosshairs and pull the trigger, and pffffff. It took me a second to realize the only thing that ignited was the primer. I am fairly new to muzzleloading and this was my first shot opportunity in three seasons with the Knight. The deer looked around as I attempted to insert another plastic jacket/primer. If things couldn't get worse the old plastic jacket/primer falls out of the gun and hits about every other step on the ladder of the stand. Deer is getting nervous now and begins to walk away. I insert the new primer and pffff. I was thinking maybe the pyrodex pellets absorbed water. I am ticked now and the deer no doubt began thinking about that wierd sound she has been hearing. She walks out of range. Now I can't take out the breech plug as the tool is in my car. I am still hoping that maybe the powder is just damp and I put in another primer. I then proceed to pull the trigger three more times at two more does later on.

I think that is what is defined as insanity - doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

After spooking the third deer I decide there is more of a problem than damp powder, I go home and take out the breech plug. Out pours a black thick liquid that looks like driveway sealer. I then notice the bullet was about halfway up the barrel.

I know it wasn't smart to keep trying to get it to shoot, but I had no idea the pyrodex was liquid. When I bought the Revolution I watched a video that shows the gun being loaded then a guy swims underwater with it. He then shoots it after it is totally submerged.

I guess a more accurate scenario would be to bring it in the woods for a day during wet weather!

This was the perfect end to a season filled with great memories but no deer. Oh well. I was lucky just to be out there.

I am going to do the tape over the barrel in the future and will make every effort to keep moisture out of the barrel.

I should have known the afternoon was going to be like this as I was walking I spooked a small doe. As I stood there watching my hat blew off my head. She was staring right at me. Something tells me it's a good thing the season is over. That was the first time I ever heard a deer laugh!!

[PotashRLS]

Very interesting findings. My TC Encore is still loaded from Nov. 22 and now that all our firearm seasons are done, I'm gonna set up a target at 100 yards and see how it works.

By the way, I have 120gr. fff Pioneer Powder under a 300gr Hornady SST. I'm quite curious now. Thanks.

[whttlbucksteve]

I have never had a problem with my T/C Encore,I left it set for three days after a rain storm and it still fired.I also use power belt bullets.

[Buzz]

A couple of season ago I get done MZ hunting one afternoon and put it in the shop where I store my guns. Well the next day we got into ducks and that's what we hunted till end of season.

So the next fall I get the Encore out and find it still has a load in it. Put in cap, pull trigger, bang.

I've gun hunted the last 20+ years with nothing but a muzzle loader and can't ever remember shooting at a deer and the gun not going off. Talking to people over the years who's MZ didn't go off, 90%+ of the time it was improper cleaning/loading that caused the problem.

[Adjam5]

Welcome to the forums Buzz.

From hot to cold, from the house to the woods, woods to the house over night. Condensation builds up and could contaminate the charge. Thats what I was looking to find out.

One of the guns was a breech opening type ML, and the other was a open breech striker fired type. The open breech T/C Thunderhawk is the gun that failed to fire on the 1st primer. Personally have never had a charge not go bang in the field in 23 years.

Normally, I would leave my ML in the truck over night, and get it in the am, so condensation could never be an issue.

What I found out was that one gun is more sensitive than the other regarding charges staying loaded for 5 days from hot to cold ect.

[Predator]

Rainy or moist days and muzzleloaders just don't mix well in my experience with civil war style muskets. If I can I pass on those days. I also do not trust a load sitting in the gun.

[Buzz]

Welcome to the forums Buzz.

From hot to cold, from the house to the woods, woods to the house over night. Condensation builds up and could contaminate the charge. Thats what I was looking to find out.

One of the guns was a breech opening type ML, and the other was a open breech striker fired type. The open breech T/C Thunderhawk is the gun that failed to fire on the 1st primer. Personally have never had a charge not go bang in the field in 23 years.

Normally, I would leave my ML in the truck over night, and get it in the am, so condensation could never be an issue.

What I found out was that one gun is more sensitive than the other regarding charges staying loaded for 5 days from hot to cold ect.

Thanks but I've lurked and posted on this forum for some time. It's just I was away for a while and upon returning couldn't remember my username.

As for the MZ, I usually load it and leave it loaded until I shoot something or end of season. The way I see it once the charge goes in and the sabot behind it the charge is about as well protected as it can be. It's worked for me.

[Hoosierbuck]

I loaded my Knight DISC Extreme about 3 and a half weeks ago, and Friday night, BANG! First try. Meat in the pot.

HB

[lungshooter]

On the knight disc style, once you load the gun and insert the disc try putting some crisco around the outside of the disc. This not only water proofs the breech area but also keeps it from rusting. This is what knight told my buddy and he's not had any problems since.