Author Topic: Can you "unload" a 209x50 without firing it? (Read 1720 times)

teddy12b · « **on:** December 16, 2007, 03:38:41 PM »

I'm taking my Encore out for my first ever muzzleloader hunt. I didn't get out much during shotgun season and I'm hoping tomorrow is my lucky day, (cross your fingers and say a prayer).

I got thinking tonight about what to do if I don't shoot a deer. I'll be using powerbelts and pellets and I was wondering if there was a way to unload it without pulling the trigger. I'd rather not have to go through the trouble of cleaning it if I don't have to, and if I take off in the middle of the day and come back I don't want to have taken a shot and scared something off in the distance that would have come my way later on.

Any thoughts?

P.S. If I don't hear anything by tomorrow AM I'll just pick out a nice clump of dirt and blast it.

Buckskins & Black Powder · « **Reply #1 on:** December 16, 2007, 03:46:13 PM »

pull the breechplug and push the load out.

2 pellets or 3?

burntmuch · « **Reply #2 on:** December 16, 2007, 03:54:54 PM »

How bout pull the 209 out & put the gun back in the case. Next time you go out. its already loaded.

teddy12b · « **Reply #3 on:** December 16, 2007, 06:15:11 PM »

Good idea on the breach plug. I only use 2 50gr pellets. I've heard that 3 pellets is just way too much velocity for powerbelts and two is just right.

I've heard some good and bad things about leaving the pellets or other powders in the gun especially since there will be significant temperature changes.

davem270win · « **Reply #4 on:** December 18, 2007, 07:06:28 AM »

At the end of the hunt (or every second day) I shoot mine clear before leaving the woods.

Will_C · « **Reply #5 on:** December 18, 2007, 08:53:55 AM »

Pull the breech-plug, or if you want the ultimate ease of unloading, invest in a CO2 type un loader. I had for a cap lock rifle; I won't invest in one for the Encore because it is so easy to pull the breech.
Will

teddy12b · « **Reply #6 on:** December 18, 2007, 09:55:18 AM »

I pulled the breach plug. I would have rather taken a shot at a deer, but you do what you have to do.

GRIMJIM · « **Reply #7 on:** December 18, 2007, 12:22:21 PM »

Quote from: burntmuch on December 16, 2007, 03:54:54 PM

How bout pull the 209 out & put the gun back in the case. Next time you go out. its already loaded.

Here in Illinois taking out the primer makes it an unloaded firearm. That way you are ready to go for the next day or afternoon. There is also an adapter the uses a co2 cartridge from a bb gun to blow the charge out.

30-06man · « **Reply #8 on:** December 19, 2007, 02:35:24 PM »

If you are coming in from the cold to the warmth then you could cause the power to get damp and have a bad ignition. If you are going to not take it out leave it out in the cold in a shop or something locked up with no primer. Then take it hunting. About every few times it goes in and out just push it out and put in new power and use the same sabot because it doesn't hurt it.

rickyp · « **Reply #9 on:** December 19, 2007, 04:11:41 PM »

I normally leave mine loaded all season, I leave it in the case locked in my truck as much as possible WITH OUT A 209 PRIMER.
I do bring mine in and take it back out but it stays in the case when needed. I have never had a miss fire with a 209 primer, the 209s are a lot hotter and more powerful then the old #11 or musket caps. The 209s should be hot enough to overcome all but the wettest charge.
For a fun yard load I load a 350 gr Buffalo bullet with out powder and fire it with a 209M primer. This "load" will send that 350 lead bullet over 30 yards and hits my shed with enough energy to put a perfect out line of the bullets nose and as deep as the primer it's self.

If you are really worried about condensation take a FIRED 209 primer and place it in the breach plug and close the action, this will seal the charge in the barrel there will be very little air in there to cause problems.

To unload it, Just remove the 209 primer then remove the breach plug go out side and push the bullet and powder out. You will still need to clean the barrel and treads then re lube the breach plug. for long time storage a few runs with a patch and a good gun cleaner then a coat of light oil I like eezox it will not harm the powder and is a great rust preventer. If I am going to reload I just run a patch with the eezox and reload.
I always saves the sabot but get rid of the powder.

30-06man · « **Reply #10 on:** December 20, 2007, 02:33:01 AM »

Yes the fired 209 will work well. I would still leave it out side. The 209 will make it burn but it will delay it a little as I have had it happen twice. I don't really see a need for the CO2 as its a waste of money and its not hard to use the ram rod. I keep the power just in case I get board and have some cheap shot sabots around and Ill use them and the powder and just go shoot for a while.

toytruck · « **Reply #11 on:** January 03, 2008, 07:28:45 AM »

Like said above you can remove the breechplug and unload pellets, but if you are using loose powder you might as well shoot the load out, cause your gonna have the same mess to cleanup. Been there!!

rickyp · « **Reply #12 on:** January 03, 2008, 07:43:27 AM »

Quote from: toytruck on January 03, 2008, 07:28:45 AM

Like said above you can remove the breechplug and unload pellets, but if you are using loose powder you might as well shoot the load out, cause your gonna have the same mess to cleanup. Been there!!

You do not have the same mess, if you fire it you must clean it and remove all the salts from the entire barrel, any blow back out of the action breach plug and so on.

If you remove the barrel from the frame then the breach plug and push the powder out the back you Will have little clean up. the worst is cleaning the treads for the breach plug. all this takes is a bronze 50 caliber brush, whipe down the face of the breach plug put some lube on it's treads reinstall it and you are done. now if you are going to store it for any time you should put some good gun oil in the bore and on the out side of the barrel I like eezox it doesn't do anything to the powder and protects from rust.

toytruck · « **Reply #13 on:** January 03, 2008, 11:38:44 AM »

I disagree...granted the powder won't be burned if you don't shoot it, and the breech won't have as much fouling, but with loose your gonna have the powder in the threads and will have to run a cleaning rod down the barrel anyway. Besides the extra practice won't hurt to be sure the gun is still on target.

GRIMJIM · « **Reply #14 on:** January 03, 2008, 12:58:10 PM »

I've been in the woods when someone "emptied" their muzzleloader right by me and didn't appreciate it very much. I would rather do it quietly.

30-06man · « **Reply #15 on:** January 03, 2008, 02:15:01 PM »

Don't unload them in the woods. Not too safe.

sidekick · « **Reply #16 on:** January 03, 2008, 02:32:21 PM »

One more piece of advice; when you remove the 'extractor' in order to take the breech plug out, don't bother to put it back in after reinstalling the plug. As far as I can tell it is totally useless on the ML barrel, it's only purpose being to interfere with removing/installing the breech plug. I hope you haven't spent the money to buy the swingout extractor "upgrade" that is sold to make plug removal easier.

30-06man · « **Reply #17 on:** January 04, 2008, 03:28:19 PM »

It comes out just as easy without the extractor. Just another Gimmick. $:-\$

teddy12b · « **Reply #18 on:** January 04, 2008, 04:35:43 PM »

I fell the the gimmick then. I didn't think I could go too far wrong for $20.

30-06man · « **Reply #19 on:** January 04, 2008, 04:45:06 PM »

Its very loose after its fired. You can touch it with your finger it will fall out. I am going to make a FAQ on some stuff and Ill add it. Any other Gimmicks you guys know about that I may not will be greatly appreciated and can be posted in the FAQ as soon as I get it up.

toytruck · « **Reply #20 on:** January 05, 2008, 05:39:32 AM »

If and when I do shoot my inlnes to clear it after its been shot during hunting situations I will shoot an old stump or dead tree, and thats at the truck or along the farm lane out of the forrest. I have more respect for others than that....

As far as the Encore extractor goes in warm weather you don't need it, but I have found in cold Nov-Jan temps the 209 will stick on me and I use the extractor for a quick second shot, otherwise your digging it out with a knife or primer tool.IMO

30-06man · « **Reply #21 on:** January 05, 2008, 06:11:23 AM »

The primer is still loose in the winter unless you are way up their hunting in the sub zero temps. Its not worth the money.

toytruck · « **Reply #22 on:** January 06, 2008, 07:59:41 AM »

Well, my T7 209 sticks in 20-35 degree temps if yours doesn't then your lucky. I'm not taking any chances!! Whats the big deal of removing the barrel from the frame anyway?

30-06man · « **Reply #23 on:** January 06, 2008, 08:43:19 AM »

I don't use T7209s but I use the regular Winchester Shotshell Primers. The primers that don't burn as hot seems to be the ones that get stuck in cold temps.

toytruck · « **Reply #24 on:** January 06, 2008, 11:27:13 AM »

Thats good to know,,thanks!! I have some of the Winchester 209's, don't remember either way how they did before the T7's came out.

30-06man · « **Reply #25 on:** January 06, 2008, 11:45:30 AM »

I like these better than the T7 primers and that's why I use them. They work well with T7 and that's what I use.

woodchukhntr · « **Reply #26 on:** April 22, 2008, 03:59:03 AM »

I've been using a .50 Cal. T/C Firehawk with standard percussion cap ignition (never had a problem) and just remove the cap and put a tag on it that says "LOADED". I've stored it for a year and never had a problem, so keeping it loaded for the season is no big deal. Of course if it got soaked, I would pull the charge at the end of the day and load it fresh the next hunt.

I just picked up a .45 BP with 209 ignition Contender setup to replace the Firehawk. I'll probably just pull the primer and replace it with a fired one for storage along with a tag that says "LOADED". Maybe a rubber plug would work, I've got to look into that!