As I put my rifle in the safe last night

[Budwell]

Went out for the 1st day of Ohio deer season yesterday, no luck. I'm not going out today but I'll be going out again tomorrow. I uncapped the rifle before leaving the field but didn't clear the charge. As I started to close the safe door I remembered the reason I'd not be going out again today is that we'll be attending a memorial service for a neighbor who had a fatal stroke recently. He was only 47 and was changing his shoes for his daily treadmill workout. Then I thought about all of the times we warn people to check the barrel of a newly acquired muzzleloader because they are often left loaded for years. Realizing I have no guarantee that I'll be the next person to touch this rifle I hung a red tag from the ramrod saying "LOADED". I've never done this before but I think it will be my new habit.

I too went out opening day in Jackson county. No luck. Then the weather was too bad to go back. I’m going down to blow mine out now.

 

[Deavertex]

Still waaaay cheaper than her horse addiction.

But that's different, you know. Very practical. Very wise.

 

[Eterry]

The rule to

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

The OP spoke of a friend who died suddenly, at 47 years old. And that tomorrow isn't promised to anyone. I know my wife would have no idea about checking a muzzleloader for a load.

 

[Eterry]

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….

The old joke is " my biggest fear is my wife will sell my guns for what I Told Her they costs!!!"

 

[gunnyr]

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

And I thought I was the only one who did this. I'm no coward, but I am married

 

[hanshi]

If the rifle hasn't been fired, hasn't gotten wet and if the lubed patch hasn't been lubed with a water based lube I leave it loaded until it IS fired or until the end of the season whichever comes first. If I'm worried about someone else handling the gun I mark in in some way such as a rolled up sheet of paper visible in the muzzle or some other obvious method.

 

[Kansas Jake]

We are never guaranteed tomorrow. What if I left it loaded but not obviously marked as such. Who’s to say who will be dealing with those firearms after I’m gone or disabled. They may not be savvy about muzzleloaders. Mark them in an obvious way. I think that needs to be more than storing them in the location where I store a loaded weapon. Whoever’s dealing with them may not realize a certain location is for loaded weapons. Many people do not treat every firearm as if it is loaded.

 

[Rabidwookie2003]

Went out for the 1st day of Ohio deer season yesterday, no luck. I'm not going out today but I'll be going out again tomorrow. I uncapped the rifle before leaving the field but didn't clear the charge. As I started to close the safe door I remembered the reason I'd not be going out again today is that we'll be attending a memorial service for a neighbor who had a fatal stroke recently. He was only 47 and was changing his shoes for his daily treadmill workout. Then I thought about all of the times we warn people to check the barrel of a newly acquired muzzleloader because they are often left loaded for years. Realizing I have no guarantee that I'll be the next person to touch this rifle I hung a red tag from the ramrod saying "LOADED". I've never done this before but I think it will be my new habit.

That’s a really good idea. I may have to start doing that too.

 

[LME]

You guys must get alot of shots at deer to keep your guns loaded overnight.

I feel the need to shoot and clean my gun every day as I've had too many hangfires otherwise. Maybe it's our humid PA weather, especially in December and January, coupled with the temperature change inside and out of the car?

I am the same way . I alway fire my rifle when the day is over. I should say use to. SIGH!

 

[Spikebuck]

In regards to value, I've told the wife and kids to just get them to ToTW, which is about 130 miles away, and let them value and sell them. Yes, they take a cut, but in my opinion they also ask more than they are worth, so it will work out good enough in the end. No worries about non-payment, proper packaging and shipping, and it opens the sale to non-US markets as well. Of all my muzzleloaders, only one is production, so that seems the best route to me.

 

[Sparkplug]

I often leave my pistols loaded, and my rifles charged during season. The charged rifles are always flagged.

As far as value, my wife either buys them for me as gifts or is with me when I buy them, so she already knows.