Quick Muzzleloader Questions

[ltsheets]

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.

[tmkrueger]

Tape works great. I keep mine loaded until the end.Good luck!

[El Paisano]

I used some thin plastic and a rubber band over the muzzle. I left mine loaded for the season if needed, but I made sure everything was dry when I loaded it. After loading, I would run a patch dampened (not wet) with oil down the bore and then cover the end.
Taking it on and out of cold and hot may cause some condensation in the barrel but not sure.

[ltsheets]

Thanks guys. This will be my first muzz hunt and i'll be chasing some sandhill muley's in NM. Gonna be a tough hunt for sure!

[Phillip Fields]

Electrical tape will work if you can get it to stick. I leave mine loaded and have never had a problem.

[Alley Dog]

You do want to make sure the barrel is dry before loading. I found out the hard way. I did not get all the oil from last time I cleaned it get ready to make the shot power was oil soaked.

[chrisk]

I always tape the muzzle but only leave it loaded for a couple days. Little different environment up here in Indiana.

[Bowyer]

Since you are hunting with a Hawkin, percussion, you would be better off unloading after every hunt and be sure to pop a couple caps every time before loading for a hunt. Also keep the rifle outside, in truck or some place the same temp as outside. This will help to eliminate condensation, that can ruin a hunt. While hunting I wouldn't worry about anything getting in the barrel but you need to keep the cap dry. I used to keep a quart ziplock bag with the edges cut so I could wrap it around the cap and hammer to keep dry.

[DFWPI]

Small balloons, like you find for a kid's party. As far as keeping it loaded, when I was big into ML, with a percussion, I would leave it loaded if I was hunting the weekend. Never had a problem, but be sure you keep the cap dry.

[ted_kennedys_liver]

Small balloons life dfwpi stated. I leave mine loaded for no longer than a weekend BUT REMOVE THE PRIMER WHEN I AM NOT HUNTING. At end of weekend I will dump the charge and finish pushing the bullet all the way through the barrel toward breech.

[ltsheets]

Thanks for the inputs everyone!