I unloaded my rifle tonight.

[pacanis]

I loaded it up the beginning of late season flintlock and after two weeks just unloaded it.

The thing I was most concerned with was the charge in the pan. I have a specific way I charge the pan when target shooting, but of course hunting the rifle was muzzle up, muzzle down, muzzle all around. The instant ignition told me that charging the pan and having the powder oriented *just so* really isn't all that important. Not for this gun anyway.

And I hit about 2-1/2" below where I was aiming, but I was standing leaning against something and not shooting off the bags, where I am sighted in to hit an inch or so high at 50yds. I also shot as if I was shooting at a deer and the front sight wasn't perfectly settled... It could have been me, could have been a deterioration of powder by the mink oil lubed patch. I've read comments both ways on if a lubed patch with mink oil will affect powder and I went with it won't. I think it was me though. It went off even quicker than I was expecting. I was wearing gloves.

Anyway, my first muzzleloading season in a long long time and I answered myself a couple questions at the end of it.
Better luck next year.

I was aiming at that crack where the 4x4 was sitting on the skid.

 

[Dale Allen Raby]

Nice looking rifle... and that is often how the season ends. If deer hunting were easy, we wouldn't have many deer to hunt. I haven't been out in some years now, but reading all these posts about people who DO, makes me want to figure something out next year. If only....

 

[TDM]

It would have been a kill shot either way. Your rifle looks great!

 

[pacanis]

Thanks guys. It's my TVM built by Matt... Avance? Something like that. I know I've looked at that signature a hundred times
I'm pretty happy with it.

Next year.

 

[Brokennock]

The thing I was most concerned with was the charge in the pan. I have a specific way I charge the pan when target shooting, but of course hunting the rifle was muzzle up, muzzle down, muzzle all around.

Did you leave the pan charged all season?

 

[Archer 756]

Why was pan kept charged.

 

[pacanis]

Did you leave the pan charged all season?

No

 

[Brokennock]

No

Ah, okay,,, the way it was worded made me think it might have been.

My experience has been much the same. Have left the gun loaded for over a month, even went out in some wet weather. I keep the vent plugged and a greased, tight fitting wad of rag stuffed in the muzzle, between outings. The only time I've had a failure to fire is when the vent plug broke off in the vent hole.
I know some say it is sacrilege and certain to cause failure and one's children to have webbed feet, but I even have brought the gun inside after being out in cold weather with no issues.

Next year I hope you unload it on a deer.

 

[hanshi]

When I use to hunt I always left the rifle loaded (sans prime) until season's
over or it is fired at game. But if I go out and rain, mist, etc gets on the rifle I fire it and clean it when I get home.

 

[pacanis]

Next year I hope you unload it on a deer.

Me too!