NEXT: What are the "Reasons" some leave Muzzleloaders loaded?

[nchawkeye]

I doubt the NRA was referring to flintlocks..... :thumbsup:

 

[Mad Professor]

If I did not get a deer/bear it stays loaded until I do shoot.

It is squeaky clean when loaded and gets a bit of tape over the muzzle and wax on the cap. I do not bring it inside to collect moisture but do wipe down the outside after a hunt.

Lent one caplock loaded to a friend who did not get a deer. Touched it off 3 years later and hit the bull at 50 yds.

FFg and CCI #11

 

[Mad Professor]

Truly not trying to stir the pot, I just have to wonder how many people who critically preach against blowing down the barrel of an UNLOADED firearm but are willing to break one of the gun safety rules of ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use. (See NRA Gun Safty Rules)

I will admit that I do have firearms ready for defense, so maybe I'm hypocritcal, but at least I'm willing to admit it. And oh by the way, they are not muzzleloaders.

I do unload my muzzleloaders at the end of the day/hunt. I've been to rendezvous and it was not acceptable to bring a loaded gun into camp from the range. That was a long time ago, I don't know if things have changed in that arena.

Just my :2

I have muzzleloader ready and loaded for self defense.

P.S. Unloaded is unprimed/capped.

 

[Captjoel]

RB, I actually have nothing at all against your question or your survey. It is the multiple choices that you chose that quite frankly, undermine my intelligence. If you were to change the first six choices to more thoughtful idea's, leaving open the choice of "other" for the (maybe) one percent of hunters and shooters that would perhaps actually use one of your first six examples. I would even take your survey. Just my opinion here. Take it for what it is worth.....Joel

 

[nkbj]

In some places a loaded long arm is just a normal accoutrement for living in the boonies. When my 7/8" octagonal to tapered round .50 flinter smoothie barrel arrives it will be for the new house gun, based upon the previously proven always-goes-bang reliability of the Traditions Deerhunter. It'll stay loaded, just as soon as the stock and all are reworked and it takes its place as Critter Getter.

 

[oldwoodswalker]

if i didnt have a shot hunting and im going out again soon i leave it loaded if it was dampor raining that day i shoot it and clean it when i get home just because i dont want to take a chance of misfiring. just my opinon

 

[Billnpatti]

I would suggest that following this poll, you ought to post one asking why one chooses not to leave their gun loaded. I am pretty sure that there are a number of folks, like me, who remove the ball and powder from their gun at the end of each day of hunting and reload in the morning for the next day's hunt. Why? I may be OCD but I do it that way. So may others. A poll that asks why might be interesting.

 

[ChrisLJ]

"Well stated...so the real question is why don't we unload ( pull bullet or shot from casing and dump powder out and also remove primer ) when using a modern firearm.... this in essence is what we are being asked to do...right! Silly to do this and just as silly to be asked to unload the charge from my muzzleloader!"

A modern cartridge consisting of case, primer, powder and bullet isn't really that dangerous if it's not chambered, in which case the pressure accelerates the projectile to high speeds.

The charge in a muzzle loader if ignited by any means is going to be propelled at a lethal level, and can blow your head clean off. Silly is, as silly does.

 

[AZbpBurner]

All my horns and flasks remain filled between outings. Should I be emptying them, also?

 

[S.Kenton]

All my horns and flasks remain filled between outings. Should I be emptying them, also?

I do hope your kidding? :haha:

 

[Carl Fowler III]

Good point....full powder horns can be as dangerous as loaded modern ammo....which was my point previously stated that it's silly to unload modern ammo, powder horns, or uncapped and empty pan flintlocks....the state of PA states a flintlock is unloaded when priming pan is empty and thus can be transported safely in a vehicle....lets not give our officials any ideas here that we may regret down the line! If you want to unload your muzzleloader at the end of the day, thats acceptable and fine by me...just don't try and make me do the same! :v

 

[illuveatar]

Other. I don't feel it is a necessary practice for me. :idunno:

 

[roundball]

".....a statistical look at the reasons many leave them loaded, when most of those same individuals follow the common practice of not leaving a centerfire rifle/shotgun loaded....."

As is often the case, there seems to be some "thread drift" from the simple poll question above, LOL

 

[necchi]

There's no thread drift.
People are pointing out that they leave them loaded.
(except as most states require,, unprimed/uncapped)
More people have participated in this "poll" than the other because the core reasons weren't listed for proper "statistics" to be gathered.

It's a slanted poll, the pollster left out data pertinent to the resolution of the stats so only one conclusion could be made.

We have seen these polls before.
Any data collected from a slanted poll is only used to confirm an already determined goal by the pollster.

But this poll already weighs heavily towards the reason people don't un-load is "other".
And that other reason as many have stated is because they choose to leave them loaded.

 

[James Stella]

This also depends on your definition of “Loaded”. California law defines a muzzleloader as “un-loaded” when the ignition source is removed. Having the cap, primer, or pan powder removed. So while my rifle is only fully loaded (powder charge, ball and cap) while actually hunting, it is partially loaded ( primer removed) while in camp. I see this as being the same as un-loading a cartridge rifle. The gun is not going to go off. At the end of the hunt I completely unload it. Mostly I unload it then so I can completely clean it, because it has been in the weather for a while, not because I feel it is unsafe. I have a cap and ball revolver I have left “loaded” (charge but no caps) for a long time because I carry it for personal protection at times. When I go to carry it I cap it.

 

[cynthialee]

Uncapping a percussion gun is a 'safe' way to 'unload' in most situations.
BUT!!!...
What if some of the stuff that goes pop that is in the cap gets left on your nipple?
Can't happen? Happened to me a few times. Luckily for me I was trained to look for this when uncapping. Not all caps are made the same. Sometimes the priming compound can come out of the cap and stay in/on the nipple. Pretty sure you do not need a cap for the hammer to ignite that stuff...

And as for dumping your load from the pan on flinters....load your flinter without a prime and fire it 10 times. Betcha it goes off at least once if you have a good lock that makes great sparks....

 

[necchi]

Yeah, your right.
But it's legal transport and for those that plan extended days in the field or hunt it is an option many use.
If folks want to unload after every day of a hunt that's entirely up to them.
If folks want to leave them loaded, that's up to them too.

Bill has had this unload every day agenda for everybody for years now, and keeps on pushin it.
He used to use compress air, I don't know why he switched to a puller.
I say it's a free world, and folks can do what they want with a poll or without a poll trying to prove a majority.

It's almost like little kids;
"That's two against one, we win!!"
:idunno:
Or worse, an Electoral poll :barf:

 

[Rat Trapper]

In the old days, do you think the rifle standing in the corner was unloaded?? If it was, then the indian with a hawk in hand got a fresh scalp!

 

[Carl Fowler III]

CL, when I dump the powder from my pan I also do one of 2 things to protect it's integrity. 1) place a piece of dense foam in the pan to cover the touch hole and lower the flint onto it to protect the flint from damage. 2) place a wooden toothpick in the hole and place a frizzen cover on the frizzen. In no way will either of these options allow the gun to accidentally ignite the main powder charge!

As for the percussion caps leaving residue on the nipple...the devil is in the details! Another reason for switching to flintlocks then, safer and more reliability! :wink:

 

[bezoar]

legally speaking, the state of michigan considers a muzzleloader to be unloaded once the percussion cap is removed, or the frizzen is lifted up and the priming powder knocked out.

Its not always necessary to unload.