Quick Questions for hunt next week...

Ltsheets · Oct 23, 2015

I have 2 quick questions...

Is electrical tape over the muzzle a good way to keep out dust and moisture on a Hawken?

Once you load your muzz (I have a hawken), do you leave it loaded until you either shoot at an animal or the hunt ends or do you shoot it at the end of each day and reload every morning?

Thanks guys.

heartshot · Oct 23, 2015

I use latex doctor gloves and cut off a finger to put over the barrel when there is inclement weather.

heartshot · Oct 23, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Oct-23-15 AT 12:07PM (MST)[p]I can't imagine black tape sticking very well.

What powder are you putting down the barrel?

Zeke · Oct 23, 2015

I've use black electricians tape for years on a CF rifle.

I'm too new to Mloaders to answer you powder question.

Zeke

matpat · Oct 23, 2015

I run a few caps thought mine to clear things out and then load it up. Once it's loaded it stays that way until I shoot at an animal or till the end of the hunt. I always keep it outside at night (sheltered) to keep it at more of a constant temp. If it's cold out and you bring it inside condensation can form in barrel and dampen the powder. Just my 2 cents.

Ltsheets · Oct 23, 2015

Pyrodex RS

>LAST EDITED ON Oct-23-15
>AT 12:07?PM (MST)
>
>I can't imagine black tape sticking
>very well.
>
>What powder are you putting down
>the barrel?

hank4elk · Oct 23, 2015

Been putting elec. tape on my barrel ends to keep stuff out for years.
I do on my inline w/BH and sabots.
I shoot it at the range,load it for a hunt then go.I do not empty til season is over and I clean it before winter storage.

DW · Oct 24, 2015

Small black balloons.

Idahoron · Oct 24, 2015

I use black tape for the muzzle and I have used it for a cow's knee over the lock. It works okay.

I keep mine loaded until they are shot. In super cold weather I try to keep them either cold or warm. I don't take them into the warm after they are cold.

WVHUNTER · Oct 25, 2015

I think all of the suggestions of tape, latex glove fingers, and balloons will work.

I would normally not discharge mine either unless I had been in the rain or dense fog all day and then I would consider it.

I think maybe the most important tip is to not take a cold loaded gun into a warm place. If it's sweating on the outside then it's sweating on the inside also.

I think the new black powder substitutes are less likely to absorb moisture than black powder.

The famous gunfighter Wild Bill Hickok unloaded his Navy Colts and reloaded with fresh powder every morning at breakfast and he never lost a gunfight because his guns wouldn't fire.

Civil War soldiers loaded right before going into battle and only then after going through inspection that included the officer holding a saber in front of the muzzle with it pointed towards the ground and having the soldier fire a cap to see if he could feel the concussion from the cap.