As I put my rifle in the safe last night

[LME]

I loaded my flintlock on the opening day of M/L season which was Nov 18th, A few weeks ago I realized that the toothpick in the touch hole had fallen out somehow. I leave my flintlock out the garage so the barrel doesn't get warm and cold and possibly sweat. With the possibility of the powder absorbing moisture, I blew the load out with my air compressor, swabbed the barrel, reloaded the rifle and put a tight-fitting piece bamboo skewer in the touch hole. Sealing the charge on both ends is very important for extended time load dependability.

I took off the frizzen stall so the touch hole plug would be visible. Bamboo skewers won't break off in the hole like a toothpick can, I color them with a red sharpie to signify that the gun is loaded.

View attachment 373793

If you shoot real B/P you can leave your rifle loaded forever and it should go off easily. It is not unusual for me to have a bad year and never fire my flintlock all season. I have a white lightning touch hole liner in all of my flintlocks. When I shoot them out after they have been loaded for months, they go off like they were just loaded, no hang fires.

Back in the early 70s, when TCs had just come out, we all bought one to hunt the newly established M/L seasons on the management areas. It was common practice to fire your rifle at the end of the day, clean it and reload it at the start of the next hunting day.

I am pretty sure I followed this regimen up until I changed from percussion to flint about 20 years ago.

Another thing, I am a fair-weather hunter, my flintlocks seldom see a drop of rain. If I am caught out in a storm I empty my flintlock, clean it and reload for the next hunt.

Smart idea!

 

[Frontstuffer070]

This thread is an eye opener. Made me think a great deal. I'm only 47 and I leave my front stuffer "charged" during the season. But I don't Mark it with nothing other than a note to self in between my ears. But you guys are totally right, there is no guarantee I will be the first to handle it again. That and I can't tell you how many times I've handled or bought muzzle loaders that have had a charge in them. I'll start using flags to mark them. Thanks to you all for the advice!

Something else to think about is this. I have a tag on each gun with its used value, I just kind of estimate and look at gun auction sites to see what they are selling for. That way your spouse or kids will know what to ask for them in case something bad happens to you and you are gone. I’ve seen way too many examples of a widow selling a $2000 shotgun for $200 because she doesn’t know guns and their value….

But, but, but, this would directly contradict what I TOLD her I paid for them. Seriously, this is a great idea. I have them all cataloged with details, but you're right a value updated as often as I can until I can't is needed.

 

[Sam squanch]

There are a LOT of VULTURES out there hoping to snag a nice expensive gun for little money and taking advantage of a widow’s grief and need of money is low. I’ve seen this at VISITATIONS!!!!! “ did Mr X have any guns? If you need to sell them, call me, I’ll buy them to help you out…..” disgusting.

 

[Dale Lilly]

Something else to think about is this. I have a tag on each gun with its used value, I just kind of estimate and look at gun auction sites to see what they are selling for. That way your spouse or kids will know what to ask for them in case something bad happens to you and you are gone. I’ve seen way too many examples of a widow selling a $2000 shotgun for $200 because she doesn’t know guns and their value….

A lady advertised a revolver, worth around $350- for$125. I called her to let her know. She as a bit testy and said 'want it or not. I said, "sure but I want to give you $250. She said send me $125 and hung up. I still have the gun; Beautiful and never fired.

 

[Kansas Jake]

Frontstuffer070, just tell her to be happy with what inflation has done to those cheap guns you bought.

 

[TFoley]

We have used these on shooting ranges for decades.

https://www.amazon.com/FSDC-940URCF-Universal-Chamber-Safety-6-Pack/dp/B07WLMN32T/ref=sr_1_7?crid=16ALHDDJ9F9P9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.nHFOOowlqoQxvwBHoBi0s6bAWCcWIvXtLYDmGQqIkw8kyHUbnF8QSrO6Bxmx_bb1AYHCeni9p_O6bkVpH3HbwvtXVW5h3QtUJAe4UrtHh1t-lkmygdqPLSm-Adbk7J3DieoIGBtZIGTZ3VsqCBPo5tBs-19P20rdSUYMuvhGnMgOxR_eGz2OhUVG6qGwgnnYjCG8QmqBJxuz6dOiemLRC2axHlIaidMK2jRuelp_cdzaXRGclOcnmm6H-iLX9ejn6tpDyYfY4w3dHZVG-JIkUOJnWSMEz_VdKde6XHIMrxMN7eMiriD7rcGiVxeE2_owYjlgOLL2nx_6uZ6rKkO6cZ717ZmSpl_ZSd925r4G5kEMGfR9FTDCO6gD8K5Dl52IabonLnJ6Q2DUNfqa4Gzey6dzHvGHBYBda5821JIFECD6Kg6vuThq47LxwRxS4jGd.dYKpLYdjl_QpDq1BtLfkOCP4GW_5AL-nxj3QE15qd7Y&dib_tag=se&keywords=empty+chamber+indicators&qid=1736172674&sprefix=empty+chamber+tag,aps,774&sr=8-7

View attachment 373788

As do those of us who don't live in the USA. Mine read TCGC - Tri-county gun club, my 'alma mater' gun club in Tualatin OR.

 

[Frontstuffer070]

Frontstuffer070, just tell her to be happy with what inflation has done to those cheap guns you bought.

That's GENIUS!! Spoken like a man who KNOWS how this game is played.

 

[nhmoose]

Yes I know that and you know that but many do not. This is the point of the OP

Most need a HUNTER SAFTEY course badly and are too stupid to seek one out.

 

[Horizontal Hunter]

True, I only shoot on a range, but my gun has to be shown clear and unloaded before I can remove it from the range - it has to be inspected by the RCO, declared clear and bagged on the firing point.

That’s really sad.

My modern front stuffer has been standing in a corner charged, not loaded, since the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Proper terminology matters. A ML isn’t considered loaded here until it has been capped or primed.

As far as using a “signal” the barrel is taped when charged, Untaped and stored when empty.

Bob

 

[BillRob]

I loaded my kibler for a deer hunt early during muzzleloader season, then didn’t use it again until shooting at targets from the porch for a practice session prior to a club shoot. First target had two holes after the first shot.

It took me a minute to figure out why.

One of the first things I was taught to do was to check the length of the ramrod sticking out of the gun when loaded - to make sure the ball was seated. Unfortunately, it didn't keep me from double-loading a gun, but the one time (so far) that I did i it and realized that I had two charges in the gun, I pulled the patched RB rather than shooting with two charges. Would I have been okay to just shoot them both out? (Powder, patched RB on top of powder, patched RB) Thnx!

 

[Deavertex]

This thread is an eye opener. Made me think a great deal. I'm only 47 and I leave my front stuffer "charged" during the season. But I don't Mark it with nothing other than a note to self in between my ears. But you guys are totally right, there is no guarantee I will be the first to handle it again. That and I can't tell you how many times I've handled or bought muzzle loaders that have had a charge in them. I'll start using flags to mark them. Thanks to you all for the advice!

But, but, but, this would directly contradict what I TOLD her I paid for them. Seriously, this is a great idea. I have them all cataloged with details, but you're right a value updated as often as I can until I can't is needed.

I could never pull that on my wife. She handles the checkbook and credit card bills. It would be better just to take the guff right up front, than for the truth to show up later and get my butt roasted. Besides, there's no place to sleep on our patio.

 

[JimFlint]

Just hope my wife doesn't sell my guns for what I told her I paid for them!

 

[Terrier]

One of the first things I was taught to do was to check the length of the ramrod sticking out of the gun when loaded - to make sure the ball was seated. Unfortunately, it didn't keep me from double-loading a gun, but the one time (so far) that I did i it and realized that I had two charges in the gun, I pulled the patched RB rather than shooting with two charges. Would I have been okay to just shoot them both out? (Powder, patched RB on top of powder, patched RB) Thnx!

If both charges are tight together, it’s not really a problem (or obstruction). Just a waste of a load.

I think I’m going to make a couple of those gizmos (I think it has a name) that looks a lot like a short starter but with a longer rod and the antler or wood head is inscribed with “LOADED”.

When the gun has that in the barrel, I’ll know at a glance.

 

[Frontstuffer070]

I could never pull that on my wife. She handles the checkbook and credit card bills. It would be better just to take the guff right up front, than for the truth to show up later and get my butt roasted. Besides, there's no place to sleep on our patio.

Better to seek Forgiveness than it ever is Permission! J/K, she knows it's an expensive addiction.

 

[RedPoin]

TFoley, here in Ohio a muzzle loader is considered legally unloaded if it's not primed. I would almost be willing to bet that even $1000 that 90% of the people in the county that I live in who own firearms have at least one loaded non muzzle loading firearm in their house or even vehicle.

any gun unloaded is just a pretty piece of furniture

 

[N.Y. Yankee]

I like the flagging tape idea. Easiest simplest way to flag a loaded gun. Just write LOADED on the tape and tie it on.

 

[Topsail]

Better to seek Forgiveness than it ever is Permission! J/K, she knows it's an expensive addiction.

Still waaaay cheaper than her horse addiction.

 

[hwb13]

When I load for hunting season. I put double layer of blue painters tape, cut round. Over the barrel. It not only tells me it loaded but keeps junk out as I am hunting.

 

[stephenprops1]

The rule to

The rule to follow is consider all guns loaded. You get used to it and it becomes natural!

That was the rule my dad taught me when I was a boy. His rule really sunk in deeply one time when I was cleaning a 22 LR pump rifle for a family member. I verified that the gun was unloaded before cleaning it. While cleaning it I cycled the action several times. After I cleaned it and oiled it, I ran it thru a final function check. I was stunned when a live round popped out. It must have been stuck in the tube-fed magazine and finally worked its way loose. That taught me that even if I would bet my life that a gun is not loaded to always treat it as if it is loaded.

 

[LME]

That was the rule my dad taught me when I was a boy. His rule really sunk in deeply one time when I was cleaning a 22 LR pump rifle for a family member. I verified that the gun was unloaded before cleaning it. While cleaning it I cycled the action several times. After I cleaned it and oiled it, I ran it thru a final function check. I was stunned when a live round popped out. It must have been stuck in the tube-fed magazine and finally worked its way loose. That taught me that even if I would bet my life that a gun is not loaded to always treat it as if it is loaded.

Your father loved you and wanted you to not get hurt or hurt some one else!