firing a cap prior to hunting

[Slake]

I use a torch tip cleaner from a welding supply house and I make very sure my nipple is very clean then I cap it and go into the woods and shoot my deer. I don't want to be boastful but I have yet to misfire {knocking on wood}. Those torch tip cleaners work great for me

 

[gunman1876]

I had the bore butter problem this last weekend. I fired off a couple of caps then loaded her up and she didn't go off. Ended up taking the nipple off put a little powder in and but nipple back on capped her and she fired right off. Fired all day with no problems

 

[musketman]

What about puttin a few grains of powder under the nipple and NOT snapping a cap before loading.
I've never had a slow fire doing it that way.

If by "under the nipple" do you mean unscrewing the nipple and putting powder in the cavity and then replacing the nipple?

I would be leery of doing this because the powder (no matter how carefully placed in) can easly get down into the threads and when you replace the nipple you are forcing the nipple's thread in the same area the powder is now occupying.

Now I'm not saying it could spark but you would be compressing and grinding any remanding powder caught in the threads.

When the gun is fired this way would it stand a greater chance of ingiting any powder caught between the nipple threads thus weakening the connection over time? I don't know but I whould hate to be the one to find out.

 

[PGTMG]

I clean my barrel with a Balistol mix after shooting, then run a couple a dry patches. This leaves a very light oil coat in the bore. Prior to shooting at the range, I shoot a couple caps and then run a dry patch down the barrel and I ready to shoot. If I do the same thing prior to hunting, will the cap residue left in the firing channel, powder chamber and barrel cause corrosion if I end up leaving the gun loaded for several weeks during hunting season?

No, the caps are not an issue. But, IMHO leaving the load in for weeks is inviting hang fire, misfire and the ownership of “The big one that got away story".

How much damage to your gun will a load left in it for weeks cause, I could only guess. But it will not improve your gun.

Ultimately it is you gun but I would not recommend it :v .

 

[Rafsob]

From time to time this subject of leaving a BP gun loaded for any amount of time. In the old days guns were loaded and placed at the ready and stayed that way for weeks, if not longer.

My season lasts for two weeks here in Virginia. I have been known to leave my gun loaded for at least a week or two. I have yet to experience any prolbems! What you do is up to you, but you should know all the stories and options available to you. Please resarch your subject and then you make your own informed decision.

Good hunting! :thumbsup:

 

[Dave K]

Rafsob, is right. I have never had a metal can of powder show any signs of rust. Do I recommend it? Not really, but then again, during the hunting seasons when I am hunting nearly everyday, I clean as often as Daniel Boone or Davy Crockett did. I have NEVER seen any damage done from it at all. I am not talking about wet guns, poor weather conditions, etc. They get properly wiped down and maybe a swab of lube down the bore. All my guns are welcome to your inspection anytime. :grin:

 

[Tom Compton]

IMO, most failure to fire or hang fires after a gun has been in storage is caused by too much oil or whatever in the barrel and then standing the gun on the butt. No where for oil to go but down.

Recommend storing muzzle down w/ a rag to protect both the muzzle and the floor or whatever the gun is stored on. Of course, storing horizontally w/ nipple up eliminates problem, also.

TC