General ML Elk - So Close

[_gloomis]

So, I returned from the Utah general ML elk hunt last night with mixed emotions. This is my first year hunting with a muzzle loader. Earlier this year I received the Thompson Triumph as a gift. Well I wasn't able to get out hunting until Tuesday of this week. The weather was cold and snowy for two days. On Tuesday night I spotted a heard of elk with at least one bull so the plan was set to get on them the next morning. Wednesday morning I found myself hiking through 8 inches of snow and still piling up. The wind was blowing like crazy all morning long. Well, to make a long story short, I found the heard of elk from the previous night and was able to get within 150 yards of a 4x5 bull bedded in a little clearing just below a patch of quakies where the rest of the heard were bedded. As I tried to move in closer the bull caught my movement and stood up. Thinking this was my moment, I cocked the hammer and squeezed the trigger, "click", "click", "click". I tried it three times and nothing so I popped in a new primer as the bull disappeared in the trees. My opportunity had passed. Assessing the situation it appears my firing pin had froze.

Not being very familiar with muzzle loaders, is this a common problem in cold wet weather? What can I do to prevent this from happening in the future? Also, I was using Remington 209 primers. Are these primers reliable and what primers would you guys in MM land prefer?

Even though I was not able to close the deal (equipment malfunction), I was on elk all four days of hunting and had a blast. I'm hooked on ML elk and will be hunting with my Thompson next year.

Thanks for any information / suggestions you can provide.

 

[johnbang]

Here in MN our deer ML hunt is always in December and its usually really cold, down to the single digets cold even, I also shoot a Thompson never had that happen to me. Are you sure you didnt get some, rain/ snow in the hammer area that then froze on ya?

 

[_gloomis]

It's possible snow may have got in the hammer area and froze the pin. Is there any product (lubricant etc.) that I could use on the pin to prevent freezing?

Thanks

 

[utahheadgear]

I would tend to think it had something to do with getting moisture in the breech than a frozen firing pin, but I was obviously not present so what do I know.

MZ hunting is definately a blast, that much I do know. Better luck next time!

 

[Deerlove]

Preston did you muzzy hunt CO?

 

[_gloomis]

When your hunting in nasty weather like that, is there a method or trick to keep moisture from this area? I'm asking because I'm new to muzzy hunting.

"MZ hunting is definately a blast" I second that. This was my first muzzy hunt and I'm hooked. Anybody in the market for a 300 mag kidding!