A Note on Pulling a Load

[Bob J]

On a four-day hunt last weekend, I pulled the load from the flinter each night and loaded fresh each morning.

Upon pulling the ball and dumping the charge, I noticed not much powder came out. So I attached a breech scraper (also called fouling scraper) to the rod, gave it a few turns, turned the rifle bore downwards, THEN the rest of the powder came out. No, the powder was not damp, but the powder compresses somewhat when you seat the ball.

Be sure and get ALL the powder out when you pull a load.

 

[boar]

I use a brass cleaning rod. Your right on. Dilly

 

[Russianblood]

I've noticed that too. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[MikeFromON]

Not to be persnickitty, but I have to ask why would you pull a load like that? Would it not be easier and more fun just to take a shot at some inert object, since you are going to ruin the ball and powder anyway?

 

[roundball]

Not to be persnickitty, but I have to ask why would you pull a load like that? Would it not be easier and more fun just to take a shot at some inert object, since you are going to ruin the ball and powder anyway?

I also pull the load after every hunt...if I fire it, then I have to completely clean it...avoids all that...just patch wipe, dry, lube the bore & patent breech...2 minutes

 

[Birddog6]

If the powder is pac ked tight, put a patch worm on the end of the RR and turn it & that will loosen the powder, dump it out, then a breech scraper, dump again & then swab it out.
:thumbsup:

 

[tg]

If i am going to unload my gun at the end of the day I almost always shot it out, i don't mind cleaning the gun afterwards, and I feel good knowing it would have went off had I seen a deer, and I usualy pick a kill zone sized target at hunting distance to keep my eyes sharp.

 

[jdixon]

I'm with you tg. I have done both but, it seems some days it is easier to shoot out the charge than it is to pull the ball and dump it out. I never can seem to be certain that I got all of the charge out using the pulling and scraping method.

 

[MikeC]

When I plan to hunt the next day I don't pull the load. I just place the rifle in it's case and leave it in my truck so there is no drastic temperature change. I found this to be fine for a couple of days, wouldn't go a week though.

 

[750k2]

I also always shoot mine out - pick a target and take an offhand snap. Just makes me feel good. Cleaning ain't that bad.
:thumbsup:

 

[Bob J]

Not to be persnickitty, but I have to ask why would you pull a load like that? Would it not be easier and more fun just to take a shot at some inert object, since you are going to ruin the ball and powder anyway?

More fun to shoot? Absolutely :thumbsup: However, my camp is within a short walking distance to our stands, and I like to keep things low key. Heck, if the deer hear me shoot, they might figure out its huntin' season :haha:

 

[LRB]

I'm with MikeC. I never pull a load on a hunting trip, unless I have been under wet, or damp conditions. And I leave my rifle cased in my vehicle also.