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Author Topic: Muzzleloading in the rain  (Read 851 times)

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Offline Bob the Cynic

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Muzzleloading in the rain
« on: October 29, 2004, 03:45:22 PM »
Tomorrow marks the begining of muzzleloader season in my state and the weather guy is calling for rain.  How do you all weather proof your in-lines, especially the barrel?  I've used balloons and tape before but I've never had to shoot through either of those things.  Any other suggestions?
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Offline quickdtoo

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Muzzleloading in the rain
« Reply #1 on: October 29, 2004, 04:39:16 PM »
Duct tape on the muzzle, and since I use flangeless musket caps on my black diamond, I slip a short piece of surgical tubing over the cap and nipple. TC also makes a nifty leatherette breech cover to keep snow out of the striker area.

http://www.tcarms.com/mlaccessories/miscellaneous/7337.php
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Offline TCShooter

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Muzzleloading in the rain
« Reply #2 on: October 30, 2004, 05:53:14 PM »
I have actually carried my Rem 700ML in the pouring rain for two days and it still fired at the end of the second day!  The Rem. has a rain shield that bridges the gap between the bolt face and the breech plug to help keep the rain out and as far as the muzzle goes I just tried to keep the barrel down when I could.  When on stand I did try to keep my arm over the bolt area for added protection.  

I like quickdtoo's duct tape idea as long as I remembered to take it off!   :roll:
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Gen 27:3  And now, I pray thee, take thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field and hunt me venison.

Offline quickdtoo

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Muzzleloading in the rain
« Reply #3 on: October 30, 2004, 06:15:46 PM »
Quote from: TCShooter
I like quickdtoo's duct tape idea as long as I remembered to take it off!   :roll:


No need to take it off until you're ready to clean it, shoots just fine with it on. In the better part of 50 years, I've shot hundreds of rounds thru everything but a shotgun with tape on the muzzle, doesn't affect bullet impact or the barrel as the popular myth proclaims. But I can bet you any amount of money, if you shoot a rifle with a bit of snow in the bore, you'll be headed to a gunsmith soon after, if you're lucky!  Seen it happen first hand, blew the front sight right off the barrel of a model 742 remington, put a split between the screw holes and bulged the barrel at the sight. That rifle became a carbine!
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Offline lonewolf5347

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rain days hunting with a m/l
« Reply #4 on: October 31, 2004, 01:21:16 AM »
I have a t/c thunderhawk in 54 cal. and do cover the barrel with a small zip lock plastic sandwhich bag and as far as the breech area the thunder hawk breechplug is not removeable and I do apply knight grease to the tread of the nipple and use the no#11 RWS 1075 pluc caps,these cap fit so tight over the nipple ,no water or moisture enter at all.from the breech area.Ialso have to say the only mis-fire I ever had was when I went to musket caps,musket caps are hotter but they don't fit as tight over the nipple area letting moisture into and threw the nipple.
I have to use the edge of my knife at the end of the hunt to remove the nipple otherwise that RWS  caps will not come off.I have been in rain, cold sleet, snow with this thunderhawk and he gun has never ever lwt me down.
I also have now the CO2 discharger now I pick up a while back that is made by t/c (no longer made) to discharge the load without firing the gun ,man it works great,make sure the barrel is always pointed in a safe direction when using the dis-charger
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Offline TCShooter

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Muzzleloading in the rain
« Reply #5 on: October 31, 2004, 02:29:53 PM »
Thanks for the tidbit quickdtoo, I'll give it whirl next time it rains as I usually have some duct tape on me when I hunt anyway!
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Gen 27:3  And now, I pray thee, take thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field and hunt me venison.

Offline sabotloader

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Muzzleloading in the rain
« Reply #6 on: October 31, 2004, 05:17:38 PM »
Bob the Cynic

Surprised no-one has suggested this yet, so I guess i will.  I go to my local Wal-Mart in the pharmacy department and I purchase a package of finger cots - darn cheap for a lot of them.  They are latex rubber and slide down over the barrel and provide a perfect water barrier - shoot right through them- actually I think the compressed air coming up the barrel blows them off b4 the bullet even gets there.  Hunted three weekends in a row now, in some really wet weather.  Did not get the opportunity of seeing a bull Elk so anyway I thought today i would shoot the gun just to satisfy myself that all was working.  The load had been in for the Remington for 3 weeks - I would just take the primer out and store the rifle in the non-heated garage - well today 3 weeks later I sighted it in on a piece of basalt about 75 yards away touched it off - rock gone - all is well.
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Keep shooting muzzleloaders - they are a blast....

Offline Bob the Cynic

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Muzzleloading in the rain
« Reply #7 on: November 01, 2004, 10:15:35 AM »
The finger cot idea is great!  Thanks sabotloader!  Thanks all to the rest of you as well.  
   
I used electrician's tape Saturday and it rained most of the day.  When I pulled the breech plug at the end of the hunt and dumped out the load it was dry as a bone so the tape worked, but I think I am going to give the finger cots a try next time.  
   
Thanks again.
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Offline quickdtoo

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Muzzleloading in the rain
« Reply #8 on: November 01, 2004, 02:14:08 PM »
I've tried the finger cots, but they can come off in brush too easy, ended up taping them on, might just as well use tape to begin with.
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"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain
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