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I know its only the tail end of June....
But I can't wait till hunting season starts.
With that in mind here are some reminders / tips for muzzle loading hunters.
( Keep in mind , these are aimed at traditional muzzle loaders...)
Use a patch lube other than spit...
Your rifle will be loaded for a while and spit which works great for shooting on the line can promote rust if left in the bore...
Or so the old wisdom goes....
To be honest , I haven't tried to experiment with this....
I use a spit patch when on the line at a shooting match...and either bear grease or deer tallow when hunting....why take a chance with a rusty bore...?
I have not noticed a difference of point of impact with my rifles when I do this....your results may vary....
Speaking of that...
Summer is here....take your rifle and shooting pouch with when you scout out areas....
See what works for carrying , loading and shooting under field conditions...Hunting is vastly different then when shooting on the line or off a bench.
Also some folks use a "range load" for target shooting , which is lighter than their hunting charge...
Its a good idea to shoot your hunting charge to see if you need a different point of aim.
BTW...I do not recommend two or more different charges...I do all my shooting with my hunting charge.
Easier to remember and I get lots of practice with my rifle and "hunting load" during rifle shooting matches and our rendezvous...
If you go from one area to another via a truck or car....and you leave your rifle loaded
( un-capped or un-primed )....
Before you re-cap or re-prime....be sure to run your ramrod down your bore , to see if your load shifted forward.
Also if you leave your rifle loaded....its a good idea to mark it so you remember....
I like to thread a red piece of cloth between the ramrod and the stock / barrel near the muzzle...works as a great visual reminder.
Some folks like a "cows knee" which is a leather or waxed canvas / linen lock cover for wet weather....
I do not...but if you cradle your rifle across your arm...you can cover your lock with your hand.
If the terrain gets treacherous its a excellent idea to un-cap or un-prime ....maybe even leave your frizzen open...
( Some folks have a "flint stall" ...this is a leather covering for the frizzen to prevent it from sparking )
If your rifle is equipped with double set triggers....it may be a good idea to disengage that feature , while hunting in cold weather...
Cold fingers or a gloved hand may not give the same sensitive trigger finger , you have during warm weather shooting.
Be sure to take some tools with you when out hunting...
A vent pick , nipple wrench , patch puller , ball puller , extra caps or flints....are handy to have in case something goes amiss...
Also it can be helpful to put a little bit of powder under the nipple if the weather is wet....
Several companies offer a no drill / slip on sling system...If you want a sling but you do not want to permanently alter your rifle.
To all of you who go hunting this season with a muzzle loader ....I wish you a safe and good hunting season.
Andy
But I can't wait till hunting season starts.
With that in mind here are some reminders / tips for muzzle loading hunters.
( Keep in mind , these are aimed at traditional muzzle loaders...)
Use a patch lube other than spit...
Your rifle will be loaded for a while and spit which works great for shooting on the line can promote rust if left in the bore...
Or so the old wisdom goes....
To be honest , I haven't tried to experiment with this....
I use a spit patch when on the line at a shooting match...and either bear grease or deer tallow when hunting....why take a chance with a rusty bore...?
I have not noticed a difference of point of impact with my rifles when I do this....your results may vary....
Speaking of that...
Summer is here....take your rifle and shooting pouch with when you scout out areas....
See what works for carrying , loading and shooting under field conditions...Hunting is vastly different then when shooting on the line or off a bench.
Also some folks use a "range load" for target shooting , which is lighter than their hunting charge...
Its a good idea to shoot your hunting charge to see if you need a different point of aim.
BTW...I do not recommend two or more different charges...I do all my shooting with my hunting charge.
Easier to remember and I get lots of practice with my rifle and "hunting load" during rifle shooting matches and our rendezvous...
If you go from one area to another via a truck or car....and you leave your rifle loaded
( un-capped or un-primed )....
Before you re-cap or re-prime....be sure to run your ramrod down your bore , to see if your load shifted forward.
Also if you leave your rifle loaded....its a good idea to mark it so you remember....
I like to thread a red piece of cloth between the ramrod and the stock / barrel near the muzzle...works as a great visual reminder.
Some folks like a "cows knee" which is a leather or waxed canvas / linen lock cover for wet weather....
I do not...but if you cradle your rifle across your arm...you can cover your lock with your hand.
If the terrain gets treacherous its a excellent idea to un-cap or un-prime ....maybe even leave your frizzen open...
( Some folks have a "flint stall" ...this is a leather covering for the frizzen to prevent it from sparking )
If your rifle is equipped with double set triggers....it may be a good idea to disengage that feature , while hunting in cold weather...
Cold fingers or a gloved hand may not give the same sensitive trigger finger , you have during warm weather shooting.
Be sure to take some tools with you when out hunting...
A vent pick , nipple wrench , patch puller , ball puller , extra caps or flints....are handy to have in case something goes amiss...
Also it can be helpful to put a little bit of powder under the nipple if the weather is wet....
Several companies offer a no drill / slip on sling system...If you want a sling but you do not want to permanently alter your rifle.
To all of you who go hunting this season with a muzzle loader ....I wish you a safe and good hunting season.
Andy