Hunting with a percussion rifle

[hanshi]

I generally carry with the hammer at half cock. But I hunted solo.

 

[RIDE-RED350R]

Half cock here.

 

[Wolf777]

Thank you for all the replies. As always there’s some amount of personal preference. My caps sit tight and I’ve tested the unloaded/uncapped gun at half cock and will probably hunt that way. I appreciate the alternatives that others use.

 

[user 48679]

I have some of the muzzle guards, is accuracy effected when shot off ? I have always pulled mine off when I see a deer approach.

No change in accuracy, because when the gun is fired, the boolit pushes the air ahead of the boolit inside the bore to pop the balloon before the boolit reaches the muzzle.

 

[Stever]

I've used a fired 22LR, short, empty brass, for years. Has worked well for me with no problems and comes off real easy.

 

[sheriff john]

Modern guns, generally use the half-cock. On a couple of my originals, I don't trust the half-cock (shotguns). One original half-stock, the set trigger's strong enough to fire the rifle from half-cock if for some reason the trigger'd be set. Best be careful all the time & mindful - which is hard for me when a covey flushes, a squirrel's running from one limb to another, or leaves rustle behind me.

 

[longcruise]

I use a tire valve stem cap over my capped nipple with the hammer down. Protects from rain, cap loss and accidental discharge. the cap removes easily at half cock.

I like that idea and plan to try it.

I've always carried 1/2 cock and capped to hunt. Never had a problem with AD or cap loss. If caps are falling off give them a little squeeze out of round and they will stay on.

This past season I started the practice of a piece of thick leather on the cap and the hammer down. It's a just in case thing for me. Half cock can't be absolutely trusted, IMO. It doesn’t hinder the shot at all.

 

[jmull4609]

On a properly set up caplock the hammer should be so far over the cap when on half cock so it cant come off . Lowering the hammer onto the cap can push priming compound into the nipple , which can stay there and go off if some time later the hammer is dropped on the now capless nipple , it has happened .

Really? Anecdotal or proof it happened? Never heard of such a thing

 

[FishDFly]

October Country makes a nice cover to cover the cap while in the rifle, water proof also.

 

[Bullit]

Cap on, hammer down.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Capped and half-cock here as well. Sometimes with a waxed cow's knee over the lock if rainy or snowy.

 

[Mule333]

Small dab of clear fingernail polish at the cap, problem solved.

Hunted back in the 90’s with a Lyman Great Plains Rifle. Never had a problem. Try it.

 

[morehops52]

I have hunted with hammer on half cock for 40 years. I always pinch the cap slightly before putting it on the nipple. No lost caps and no AD. I don't hunt in pouring rain anymore but if i was gonna I would spread a thin coat of Vaseline or silicone on the nipple.

 

[KDJ B10]

Have gone several seasons without losing a cap on half cock. My caps fit snug on the nipple and it is sometimes a little difficult to get them off when getting back to camp or into a vehicle.

 

[Bullit]

I have used clear plastic tubing over the cap, half way down the side of the cap and onto the nipple, but generally only do this when it's bad weather. Hammer down on top of that.

 

[Rudyard]

I've carried percussion guns at rest on the cap all my shooting life . I used to put a cap in the nipple then let the hammer have a run at the cap up to the half bent it never fired the caps I reckoned that sufficient test . With pin fires it's possible to drive a pin though the cap without igniteing . It takes a good blow I've caried one old double shotgun 18 days through some awfully rough bush no bother .But if really wet it's as well to trap a bit of rubber on the uncapped nipple lest damp get into the breach .And a quill to seal a flint guns vent .
Rudyard

 

[towgunner11h]

Half cock. Don't know why everybody has cap trouble. Never had one come off or get loose.

 

[Steve Wagner]

I use a tire valve stem cap over my capped nipple with the hammer down. Protects from rain, cap loss and accidental discharge. the cap removes easily at half cock.

Hey there Billy, as a dogmatic, traditionalist purist I find myself extremely distressed by this advice. Jim Bridger had no access to valve stem caps ! [I don't care if he was a flinter, so don't bother.] After driving my truck to my hunting spot and putting on my gortex lined boots, I would never dream of defiling my percussion rifle w such a modern device. After all, my leather glove finger is a way more authentic method of keeping my Triple 7 dry. Now where did I put those factory lubed patches....? I am also very disappointed that no one else has jumped in to help me berate this heretic. What is this sport coming to ??? SW

 

[Christophero]

Really? Anecdotal or proof it happened? Never heard of such a thing

I read an article years ago of muzzleloader mishaps. One told of this very occurrence that ended in a terrible fatality. Our modern caps may not lend themselves to leaving ignitable residue, but since learning of this I don't want to take that chance.

 

[Stub]

Lately, I carry with the gun a half cock. Years ago with a gun I have since sold, I used an empty 32 auto casing over the nipple while sitting. The case was a perfect fit and served as a safety and rain protection. I wrapped a small wire just below the rim and tied a shoe string from the wire to the trigger guard. While sitting, the gun was at full cock and the nipple and cap covered by the casing. When a deer was seen the case was pulled off and dropped to hang on the string. This is about as silent and rain proof as I could come up with. I would never use this system while walking!