Butt on Toe or Ground?

[Smokey Plainsman]

Guys when loading your muzzle-loading rifle in the woods or fields, such as during woods walk events, hunting, etc, do you rest the butt of the gun on the ground or on your foot during loading?

Seems as if resting the butt on the ground could damage the finish. Should it be rested on the shoe while loading or cleaning?

Thoughts?

 

[MC One Shot]

Guys when loading your muzzle-loading rifle in the woods or fields, such as during woods walk events, hunting, etc, do you rest the butt of the gun on the ground or on your foot during loading?

Seems as if resting the butt on the ground could damage the finish. Should it be rested on the shoe while loading or cleaning?

Thoughts?

On the top of my foot or footwear....

 

[Bearkiller]

I've always placed the butt on the ground so do my shooting buddies and almost every shooter I've ever seen. Unless you're standing on gravel there shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Ames]

On top of my boot.
I load over grass and soil. Don't like to clean it out of the butt plate and wood joint or screw head when I'm finished.

 

[Baxter]

On my foot, for the reasons Ames gave.

 

[dave951]

On the ground unless it's gravel. A bit of honest patina doesn't worry me one bit.

 

[Griz44Mag]

Guys when loading your muzzle-loading rifle in the woods or fields, such as during woods walk events, hunting, etc, do you rest the butt of the gun on the ground or on your foot during loading?

Seems as if resting the butt on the ground could damage the finish. Should it be rested on the shoe while loading or cleaning?

Thoughts?

I cut a chunk of moosehide and did a butt cover for my hunting guns to use in the bush.
Took all of 15-20 minutes and a few feet of deer hide lace.
So now that's not an issue.

 

[flinter1977]

I always use my boot . for all the above mentioned reasons.

 

[Mike.54]

Top of my boot. Often the ground around my parts is wet or muddy. If I had an old beater I might thunk it down but I like to keep my favorites looking good.

 

[FishDFly]

Most knowledgeable shooters will place the toe on the ground and have the stock firmly placed between their knees. By placing the stock between their knees allows the shooter to have both hands free to charge the rifle, start the ball and use both hands to grab the ramrod and seat the ball using short strokes.

 

[EC121]

While hunting I wouldn't hesitate to put my buttplate on the ground, but on the range I use a piece of carpet.

 

[azmntman]

Foot every time (this also "may" assist in consistent seating pressure as you can "feel" how hard yer pushing down on the rr on yer foot as well as on the hands)

 

[Pukka Bundook]

I use either, it all depends on barrel length!
I too have some engraved buttplates, but as all old originals got a bit scuffed up, it never worries me to put them on the ground.
A real long barrel is hard to load when on the toe of the boot, and is easiest when the butt is on the ground a bit to the rear.
By Long barrels I mean up around 48 to 55 inches.

All best,
Richard.

 

[Juice Jaws]

On the top of my footwear

 

[Griz44Mag]

While hunting I wouldn't hesitate to put my buttplate on the ground, but on the range I use a piece of carpet.
View attachment 19646

NICE!!!
I wish I could afford such pretty toys....

 

[Carbon 6]

Guys when loading your muzzle-loading rifle in the woods or fields, such as during woods walk events, hunting, etc, do you rest the butt of the gun on the ground or on your foot during loading?

Seems as if resting the butt on the ground could damage the finish. Should it be rested on the shoe while loading or cleaning?

Thoughts?

I always place the gun on my foot, but even then damage can occur. I have a shotgun with finish damage on the butt from snow, even though the gun is placed on my foot. The damage would be much worse though if I let the gun just sit in the snow.

At a loading bench I use a piece of carpet or a floor mat from my vehicle. I don't let mu gun stand on gravel.

 

[Carbon 6]

Most knowledgeable shooters will place the toe on the ground and have the stock firmly placed between their knees. By placing the stock between their knees allows the shooter to have both hands free to charge the rifle, start the ball and use both hands to grab the ramrod and seat the ball using short strokes.

That's how newbies do it around here, seasoned shooters place the butt on the foot, the muzzle with one hand and load with the other.

Next time you see someone crouched over their gun with it between their knees and both hands on the ramrod looking like a dog in heat, sneak up behind them and goose them.
Or at least snap a picture.

 

[bang]

Short barrel, on right foot rested on left knee.
Long barrel, on right foot rested in left elbow crook.

 

[EC121]

I always place the gun on my foot, but even then damage can occur. I have a shotgun with finish damage on the butt from snow, even though the gun is placed on my foot. The damage would be much worse though if I let the gun just sit in the snow.

No danger of snow damage. If it snows in Alabama, I don't hunt. Heck I try not to hunt if it is below 40. We have 2 1/2mos. of 3 bucks and a doe-a-day any-gun season.

 

[Yewbender]

Since i’m 5’-5” tall and my barrels are 42”i set’em on the ground.