How do you store your muzzleloader between hunts?

[RedlegHunter]

I am new to muzzleloading, and have a question for any veteran smoke poler. How do you store your muzzleloader in between hunts, if you don't fire your weapon?

I have been told that you can remove the cap and store it until the next hunt without firing the charge and bullet. I wonder if the powder will be affected by moisture.

Please advise.

[brl]

i just take my primer out and leave the bullet in there as long as you keep it out of the moisture it should be good. I shoot mine about every week if i havent shot it just to make sure it will go of if i want to shot a deer

[archerjg]

I fire it and clean it then store it into a soft sided case until the next muzzleloader season or next target practice.

Archerjg

[tedicast]

During the season, I just pull the primer, and leave the bullet and charge in the barrel. I keep the gun in my unheated garage, instead of bringing it in the house, so moisture shouldn't be a broblem. At the end of the season, I pull the breech plug, and push the charge and the bullet through, and give the gun a thorough cleaning.

[LETMGROW]

As long as you haven't shot the gun you don't have much to worry about. I keep my M.L. in the house clean, warm and dry. If it has been fired, I clean it as soon as possible!

[WABS]

Because I always pop a cap or two as the first step to loading it I always unload it at the end of every day and clean it. Then I start with a fresh load each day. I've only got a week of hunting and I like the thought of having a fresh load every day. Besides for us it isn't a problem taking a practice shot at the end of the day to verify nothing has happened to your zero during the course of the day. I don't have a problem with folks unpriming the gun and storing it properly - my only caution is not to forget you have a load in. Double loads aren't too conducive to muzzle loader longevity.

[too_pointer]

[ QUOTE ]
During the season, I just pull the primer, and leave the bullet and charge in the barrel. I keep the gun in my unheated garage, instead of bringing it in the house, so moisture shouldn't be a broblem. At the end of the season, I pull the breech plug, and push the charge and the bullet through, and give the gun a thorough cleaning.

[/ QUOTE ]

tedicast said the same thing I also do. I have never had any problems. You don't want to move your powder from the cold to heat, or vice versa LOL.
too_

[wtnhunt]

[ QUOTE ]
During the season, I just pull the primer, and leave the bullet and charge in the barrel. I keep the gun in my unheated garage, instead of bringing it in the house, so moisture shouldn't be a broblem. At the end of the season, I pull the breech plug, and push the charge and the bullet through, and give the gun a thorough cleaning.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do pretty much the same thing here.

Welcome to the forums.

[RangerClay]

[ QUOTE ]
During the season, I just pull the primer, and leave the bullet and charge in the barrel. I keep the gun in my unheated garage, instead of bringing it in the house, so moisture shouldn't be a broblem. At the end of the season, I pull the breech plug, and push the charge and the bullet through, and give the gun a thorough cleaning.

[/ QUOTE ]

I do the exact same thing as Tedi but with one difference. I use a silent discharger to empty my gun at the end of the season.

[johnf]

I do pretty much the same as the other guys.

I did leave a charge in it when I first got it and forgot it was there. 3 years later I shot a yote with that charge. The powder was definately affected and I've got a pretty rough spot at the bottom of my barrel. I wouldn't recomend leaving a charge in for more than a couple weeks if your going to hunt with it.

[billkay]

[ QUOTE ]
don't have a problem with folks unpriming the gun and storing it properly - my only caution is not to forget you have a load in. Double loads aren't too conducive to muzzle loader longevity.


[/ QUOTE ]

After you have come up with your best load, make a mark on the ramrod with a fresh load fully seated. By simply running the ramrod down the barrel, you can then tell if you have a load and it is seated properly. Eliminates all the guess work.

[RedlegHunter]

Thanks for all the replies fellas.

[GWSmith]

Empty, Cleaned(wet/dry patches until clean), and lightly Rem-Oiled.

The longest I've left a charge in the barrell is 3 days.
At the end of the 3rd day(which was hunting in the rain) I unloaded it by firing it. I had hunted that day through the rain with scotch-tape over the end of the barrell.
I knew that night it was going to need the complete "Works" in a cleaning anyways

[VTbowman]

During our ML season its pretty cold out side.
Its in mid December in VT.
I remove the primer/cap and leave it loaded as is and leave it in a gun boot in the garage.
I DO NOT take the gun inside where it can warm up to room temps and them back out into the cold as this will make condensation and could effect the powder. I use pellets only but feel it can still be bad on them as well.
Not to mention I dont want a fogged up scope. LOL
JMO

[superguide]

Ty cleans his Omega every 7-8 shots but it stays with a charge in it pretty much all deer season.