Muzzleloader safety and knowledge

[ted_kennedys_liver]

Been reading some very scary and troublesome threads regarding muzzies - not only on the GS but other sites as well. Yall please be careful with these things. If you are new to them please read up on them thoroughly before shooting. please double check advice you get etc. they require same amount of safety as a regular rifle but in terms of care and operation - twice as much. Just don't want to see anyone get hurt or screw up a gun or lose an animal due to improper care of the firearm

[Razorback01]

If someone in the DFW area needs some education on the muzzleloaders, shoot me a PM, I need to get back out to the range. I've spent a good bit of time shooting and cleaning them, more time cleaning than shooting. I have three myself.

[Buckrider]

The main thing to know and absolutely must do is to make sure that you seat the ball tightly against the powder charge leaving no dead air space. Failure to do so can lead to excessive chamber pressures resulting in a bigger boom than you wanted!

[KevBow]

my ears are open to all advice you guys have. i have been reading up on a lot of stuff and would rather be safe than sorry

[KevBow]

I have a question. Is it ok to leave the muzz loaded w pyrodex and bullet for a few days?

[sharkhunter]

Been reading some very scary and troublesome threads regarding muzzies - not only on the GS but other sites as well. Yall please be careful with these things. If you are new to them please read up on them thoroughly before shooting. please double check advice you get etc. they require same amount of safety as a regular rifle but in terms of care and operation - twice as much. Just don't want to see anyone get hurt or screw up a gun or lose an animal due to improper care of the firearm

What have you been hearing?? I have shot one for many years without issue. I also bought a copy of the Muzzel Loaders Bible and read it cover to cover to or three times before firing the first shot.

[Slick8]

I have a question. Is it ok to leave the muzz loaded w pyrodex and bullet for a few days?

I've had this question as well. I've been thinking of buying one to take advantage of the late season that some counties offer as ML only.

[shiner78]

I have a question. Is it ok to leave the muzz loaded w pyrodex and bullet for a few days?

How many days is a few days? Depends on u. I wouldn't.

[Txjourneyman]

I have a question. Is it ok to leave the muzz loaded w pyrodex and bullet for a few days?

As long as it's not stored in a humid location I think it's OK. I will leave mine for up to a week. It is 20 years old and there is no corrosion in the breech.

[YLEKeyeOT]

How many days is a few days? Depends on u. I wouldn't.

I would say it depends more on the environment you are in - if you are in wet/humid conditions, the pellets will absorb moisture out of the air at a much higher rate...impacting performance. In dry conditions, I've not found it to be a problem for several days.

[Hagen]

try shooting a flintlock. Clean, then clean some more.

[ted_kennedys_liver]

I have a question. Is it ok to leave the muzz loaded w pyrodex and bullet for a few days?

I have never shot with pyrodex but BELIEVE it is more corrosive than blackhorn. Since I have never shot pyrodex I havent researched it but thought you had to clean them after every shot anyway due to the "crud" ring left by the pellots in front of breech plug, etc??

I shoot Blackhorn, which you can shoot many times without having to clean (10+ for me, probably could shoot more but cleaning these things as you know is hard enough after 1 shot much less 10) and have left it in my gun for 4-5 weeks once....wasnt intentional and my barrel did ok but never would make it a habit. I routinely leave my barrel fouled for 2 - 3 weeks without any bad consequences but ANY signs of moisture or humidity - it gets cleaned.

Be careful about leaving loaded muzzy around. I have reda where some take the primer out and leave the charge - not sure how that effects the loaded charge but its safer than leaving it in.

[GILBERT]

Back to the danger involved with shooting blackpowder muzzle loaders. When you shoot a muzzle loader not all blackpowder or Pyrodex gets burned. There exists the possiblity of smoldering blackpowder embers still in the barrel, so when pouring you blackpowder load into the muzzle, the new blackpowder load can be ignited, and not always immidiately. I have seen it in one occasion where the man poured the load into the muzzle after the shot, then proceeded to ram the miniball with the ramrod. It was when the ramrod had gone approx half way into the barrel that the blackpowder was ignited. The ramrod, and the miniball when thru the range canopy...the man was extremly lucky, not a scratch. It is adviceable to run a damp patch, and then a dry one down the barrel first because of that possiblity.It happens often. I met a black freckled man (blackpowder tattoos) that claimed his muzzle loader ignited the blackpowder load, and he had his face over the muzzle, imagine had he had his ball starter on the muzzle as well.

There are other dangers but i will let others chime in on them.


GILBERT

[ted_kennedys_liver]

What have you been hearing?? I have shot one for many years without issue. I also bought a copy of the Muzzel Loaders Bible and read it cover to cover to or three times before firing the first shot.

I dont want to embarass or pile on anyone on the GS. so I will stick with some generalities from here and on other sites. You are doing it right.

One of the worst was an individual that was loaded powder by weight when he had heard about a load which was by volume. Its too different things. for instance 100 gr by volume of BH 209 is appr 74 gr by weight.

Person who was not familar where stopping point was with their ramrod which lead to air pocket in barrel due to not shoving bullet in sabbot all the way down.

Pushing bullet in sabbot should be steady and firm - no need to hammer ramrod.

Using any primer one can find

[ted_kennedys_liver]

I've had this question as well. I've been thinking of buying one to take advantage of the late season that some counties offer as ML only.

You should definitely get one. I will be honest, it isnt a gun I like taking to the range because it is hard work. Very expensive in the beginning - like a regular rifle, finding the right recipe is key but they can be incredibly accurate. Consistency cleaning and loading is key to accuracy. And the only reason I got mine was the adding two weeks of hunting. I got the TC Triumph and topped it with a redfield revolution. Kicks like a mule but is light is heck and a tack driver. Now that I can put two bullets in a quarter at 100 yds with this thing I am gonna be bringing it out throughout next season.