Unloading and Decocking Inlines...

[flmason]

All the inlines have a breach plug of some sort...

So suppose you load up and don't get dinner that day. Is there a good way to unload and save your components?

Also, when carrying, it's easy enough to decock an exposed hammer without firing... how, and can that be done with the various plunger and bolt action types?

(Trying to decide the pros and cons of break action vrs. bolt actions here.)

[PA-Joe]

They all have a way of removing the primer. Best way to deload is to simply fire it. If your area does not go thru extreme weather shifts some of us leave the gun out in the shed over night so that we don't have to unload it. Assuming that you don't have kids running around.

[flmason]

Hi PA-Joe,
   Good points.

Any idea if it's possible to decock the bolt and plunger style inlines? Just a personal preference, but I like to be able to take the pressure off the mainspring like can be done with an exposed hammer. So for me, it would be a purchase decision point in favor of a break action of the bolt styles can't be decocked.

[Busta]

Hi PA-Joe,
   Good points.

Any idea if it's possible to decock the bolt and plunger style inlines? Just a personal preference, but I like to be able to take the pressure off the mainspring like can be done with an exposed hammer. So for me, it would be a purchase decision point in favor of a break action of the bolt styles can't be decocked.

flmason,

As long as you REMOVE the primer first, you can decock any of the bolt/plunger guns I have ever encountered. The Knights have a screw in secondary safety on the back of the bolt/plunger, this can also be used to control forward movement of the firing pin/plunger. This would allow you to relieve spring pressure without having to dry fire the rifle.

[flmason]

No doubt.

I guess the tree I'm barking up though, is, "Is it possible to carry the gun in the field decocked, easily?"

Clearly easy to do with an exposed hammer. Not sure about bolt and plunger types.

Consider it a personal oddity, but I prefer to go with springs under as little tension as possible for a given situation. Guess I still worry about springs taking a set.

[mirage1988]

Can't you just hold the trigger back while you close the bolt? I don't have a bolt action muzzleloader, but that Is how decock my savage and a-bolt centerfires. I would advise taking the primer out first though.

[Busta]

Can't you just hold the trigger back while you close the bolt? I don't have a bolt action muzzleloader, but that Is how decock my savage and a-bolt centerfires. I would advise taking the primer out first though.

Yes, a knight bolt cocks on the up stroke of the bolt. With the primer removed, you can open the bolt, pull trigger while closing the bolt, it will decock on the down stroke. To recock, just lift the bolt.

[ihuntbucks]

I'm with PA-Joe on this.I'd just shoot it.When I go hunting,no matter what gun I take,it will be fired at something ..............Rick

[Doe]

What i've always done for years is just remove the primer and put the the gun in the grage or live it in the car (open case) so it does not draw moisture.  Never had a mis fire includeing my side lock too.

[simonkenton]

Why do you want to unload it?
Unloading the muzzleloader at the end of the hunt is a habit of modern-day hunters.
No way the frontiersmen did this.
They had to keep their rifles loaded constantly. Their lives depended on it.
They couldn't afford to waste all the powder and lead that a daily discharge would use up.
Also, if they were in Indian territory, a discharge would alert their enemies.

I have kept a TC Hawken, loaded with black powder, loaded for 8 weeks in humid central Georgia.
When the big moment came, the gun fired flawlessly, dead deer.

I have kept my Savage loaded for a year, and it has fired flawlessly.

[flmason]

Why do I want to unload it?

Basically same reason you take a cartridge out of a cartridge firearm. No point in burning powder and lead just to clear the gun. And by some accounts the modern black powder subs are more hygroscopic and thus prone to either caking or corroding the barrel.

Agreed, back in the day, I suspect it was as you say? I've heard of muzzle loaders being loaded and hanging on the mantle for years.

Given that we're not in a frontier situation these days, seems a safer way to go, to unload the gun that is. And probably better for the gun from a corrosion perspective as well.

[simonkenton]

I can't speak to the hygroscopic properties of BP subs.
But as for black powder, I have a cap and ball pistol that I have left loaded in a dresser drawer for 3 years. This is in the humid NC mountains.
I just fired this pistol a month ago, all five cylinders fired fine, full power.
No corrosion of the steel cylinder walls.
30 gr of Goex fffg

Also, as I mentioned, smokeless powder loads can stay in a rifle for at least a year and will still fire flawlessly.

[SHOOTALL]

As far as un loading , remove the cap, disc, or primer then the plug and push the load out with the ram rod . I would not mix reclaimed powder with new and same for pills . There is also a co2 charge remover that works thru the nipple or primer hole , the game dept uses them to check where jacketed bullets are not allowed . I live in Va. humidity can be in the 90% for weeks at a time . Son left his knight , a blue gun loaded for a year . It had beed fired several times and reloaded . When cleaned there was no damage YES HE WAS VERY LUCKY . I load mine the first day of the season and unload when i shoot at a deer or turkey on on or near the last day . We bring un capped guns inside and place the ramrod in the bore as a sign that it is charged as it is not considered loaded until it is also capped .

[Glanceblamm]

as it is not considered loaded until it is also capped .

Regulations read the same here and I have done this many times. Precautions are to leave the rifle outside (the garage in my case) during the deer hunting season (three days then a two week break followed by four more days) so that it won't start sweating from being brought into the warm house after being out in the cold. I will not leave the gun loaded if I go the first three day's without firing it though.

[flmason]

I suppose one could fabricate a rubber or cork stopper for the 209 fitting to prevent moisture from coming on from that direction for the sub powders.  Same for the muzzle if loose fitting projectiles are being used.

[simonkenton]

When I keep a loaded muzzleloading rifle in the house, I make a flag out of a strip of white cloth.
This flag is a foot long and an inch wide.
I stuff this flag down the muzzle, leaving 3 or 4 inches sticking out.
This keeps warm moist air from rusting up the bore. Hard to miss that flag when you pull the rifle out to shoot it.
Of course I have removed the primer or cap.

[montveil]

I also live in the NC mountains and during the hunting season I place a finger cot over the muzzle end and keep it there all the time. Finger cots are found in the "band aid" section in Walmart they look like small condoms, ~ $5 for a bunch of them.
I have a fired primer painted red with finger nail polish that I insert into the ML
Bottom line is that both ends of the ML are "sealed" from moisture until I insert a live primer. I leave the cot on the muzzle and fire through it.
I read some where where a test was done doing this and no accuracy effects were observed. The theory was that the air inside the barrel above the bullet destroys the cot long before the bullet exits.
Just what I do and it seems to work just fine

[SHOOTALL]

Trapping air in the tube dosen't sound good to me . If you use a sabot it should seal on that end . If you want to seal the bbl. for what ever reason then just put a piece of black elec. tape over the end of the muzzle and the same over the cap end or sitck a tooth pick in the hole .
I have hunted for several days in and out of rain and not had a problem with my encore , leave it in the truck some and take it in the house some .
My side lock is a different animal though .