To dry to shoot?

[MT_mulies]

Hey guys I have a muzzleloader that I got earlier in the year. I shot it about 15 times before I needed to start archery practice for hunting. Well I drew a muzzleloader tag and now I want to shoot the gun more to get familiar with it. I live in Idaho and the west is on fire right now, and I don't want to contribute. How much spark does a muzzleloader put off from the cap and barrel? I'm shooting a TC hawken .50 cal with number 11 caps.
My hunt isn't till November. Should I just wait for some rain/moisture to come? Or can I go shoot now? There aren't any ranges close by (that I know of) and I don't want to drive a few hours round trip to shoot.
If I were sighting in something other than muzzleloader I think I would be fine in the hills, but I just don't know about muzzleloaders. I haven't been around them long enough to know. Thanks.

 

[cynthialee]

Wait.

3 times I have started a brush fire with a muzzleloader and three times I got lucky and put the fire out in time to prevent a disaster.

These guns belch fire. The land is a tinderbox. Just don't risk it.

I am not shooting for this very reason and the smoke hanging over the region. Smoke should clear this weekend maybe, but even if it does, without some rain it will remain a tinderbox out there.

 

[Dwight Rutherford]

I agree, a couple of years ago I started a fire about 10 feet from the muzzle with a smoldering patch. Also lucky getting it put out.

 

[oldude]

Call the local cop shop they may know of a range or gravel pit you can use.
Where abouts in Idaho are you? Jim

 

[sidelock]

DON'T SHOOT !!!!!!!

 

[coloradoclyde]

Once I fired my muzzleloader in dry weather and set some leaves on fire...no big deal because I saw it and put it out with my foot....
Once I fired my cannon and set a field on fire and it burnt about a 12 foot circle before we got it put out...Almost a big deal.

The lesson here is to be wary of the area you are shooting in and to be prepared....and to not leave the area until all possibility of latent fire has diminished...

In extremely dry weather....I don't risk it....it's just not worth it....A life cannot be replaced..neither can a 100 year old tree.

A good hunter is always a responsible hunter...

 

[wpjson]

I haven't shot in weeks, but tonight a light rain is falling. I hope it puts out some of these fires. Don't take the chance. Those of us in Montana get the smoke from Idaho's fires as well as Montana's

 

[1sthound]

I say dont do it, I have waited sometimes weeks this year due to the fire danger, Been frustrating at times since I just bought 2 flintlocks and have much to learn how to get them more reliable. I lucked out yesterday and found a huge sandy area out on the desert yesterday pretty safe to shoot at but I still had a shovel and fire extinguisher and shovel at the ready. I have started a couple small grass fires in years past and learned my lesson well, That was with a capper not a flintlock so same difference.

 

[hanshi]

I once had a towel in my lap catch fire while shooting at a range. It's a lot like throwing matches; wait.

 

[nhmoose]

I have attended many BP line shoots. Many had fires started but they got stomped out.

Here in New England we do not get the big dry season others do, however when it does get like that the .gov used to shut the woods, not any more it seems as the flatlanders can still drive and throw butts out as usual.

 

[azmntman]

it seems as the flatlanders can still drive and throw butts out as usual.

Up here in N AZ alot of folk will stop their car and pick up yer butt and chase ya down and throw it back in yer car :grin: when the fire danger is extreme. We lost 20% of the San Fran peaks several years ago (in less than an afternoon). We take forest fires seriously! :shocked2:

 

[Louisk]

It can turn into a dry tinderbox here in the summer. I have a gravel pit I shoot at where there's very little risk of setting any vegetation on fire. I still don't shoot there when it's really dry, however, since people within earshot of the shooting tend to get REAL nervous when they hear a "boom!" when the fire danger is high. Nervousness is not totally unjustified considering the number of fires started by fireworks. I don't want the shooting to get reported, causing resources to be diverted away from where they may really be needed.

 

[Heelerau]

Mate, a long story, started with a muzzle loader at the age of 12 on a sheep station in South Australia, we have long hot Summers, ver dry and bushfires. My late father who managed the station would not allow me to hunt with a muzzle loader during the Summer for fear of fires. I think anything with wadding or patches should not be used in the Summer if you are hunting out in the bush (boonies), you might get away with a rifled musket and minnies' but no paper cartridges. Personally I still don't hunt with a muzzle loader in the Summer down under, but use a modern cartridge rifle instead.

 

[azmntman]

Up here in June when fire danger is extreme they ban target shooting of all guns fearing a spark from a round will start a fire. One can hunt legally though so If yer just fer sure wanting to start a major fire you CAN take yer flint lock out after rabbits, which are legal all year. I have yet to get bit by that bug.

 

[jfaldo]

The wife and I flew back home from Alaska today. From Seattle to Billings Montana it was just incredible the amount of fires burning. The smoke was so thick in some places that it looked like cloud cover below the plane. One fire not far from Seattle was so huge it was engulfing an entire mountain. So personally I would error to the side of caution, you would not want to be the one responsible for one of these fires.

 

[AZbpBurner]

it seems as the flatlanders can still drive and throw butts out as usual.

Up here in N AZ alot of folk will stop their car and pick up yer butt and chase ya down and throw it back in yer car :grin: when the fire danger is extreme. We lost 20% of the San Fran peaks several years ago (in less than an afternoon). We take forest fires seriously! :shocked2:

Sounds funny, BUT - I've done just that on a couple of occasions. Bonus points if it's still burning when you pick it up and MORE bonus points if you can flick it lit into their back seat.

 

[azmntman]

Its cheating to relight it :grin: :thumbsup:

 

[mhb]

Its cheating to relight it :grin: :thumbsup:

Nope. Can't agree. It should be returned in the condition it was when ejected: if you saw sparks when it flew, it should be returned the same way.
Admittedly, there is some risk when flinging a lit butt you already retrieved: it might not land where you wanted it to go...
Maybe the best compromise would be to make sure the butt is really out before you do anything else with it, and you can always flick a digit to go along with the returned (unlit) butt - I suspect the message would be received as sent.
JMHO

mhb - MIke