Loading technique for hunting

[awreis]

So this will be my first year deer hunting with my flintlock. It has a chambered breech so for reliability, I always plug the touch hole and pour a little alcohol down the barrel to flush any oil out. My plan was, load the powder, use a dry patch over the powder to avoid the lubed patch (TOW mink oil) from fowling the powder then, load patched round ball.

1- Should I be worried about possible rust in the barrel after cleaning with alcohol or would the lubed patch be enough to avoid this?

2- if I need to worry , could I use a slightly oiled patch a swab the barrel after loading for temporary rust prevention?

3- Am I over thinking all of this?

The rifle could be loaded for upto a week before being fired.

 

[2 shots]

#3

 

[Newly O’Brian]

Congratulations on making the commitment to hunt w a mzldr!

First, just relax and enjoy the hunt.

Swab your bore w one dry patch, no need for alcohol.

DON'T change your pet load, there's not enough lube on a patch to contaminate your powder charge.

Leave your mzldr outside/cold for the hunting season to prevent condensation.

 

[Buff1958]

forget the oil…….

clean your rifle and run a patch with bear grease . When you get ready to hunt run another bear grease patch and load. The bear grease will not eat your powder or rust your barrel.

 

[RobertIN]

I use @Frontier's bear paws lube on my hunting patches.