weatherproofing for wet-weather hunting?

[liam_g]

Hey, folks,

Wondering if anyone has tips for weatherproofing muzzleloaders for wet-weather hunting. Here's what I'm doing so far. Any additions or corrections are *extremely* welcome!!!

1) Got a Kap Kover on the way, along with an extra brass cover, extra nipple, and extra o-rings in case I lose something
2) Will tape the muzzle with electrician's tape and / or a balloon
3) Bought some "Danish" penetrating & sealing oil, and am going to apply it all over the stock. Especially the parts of the barrel channel don't even have stain on them right now ... I just *know* that stock would swell up and torque the barrel every which way out in the WA rain forest. Hopefully the oil seal will help out with that.
4) I saw on another forum that John Barsness (gunwriter) puts electrician's tape along the barrel where it joins the wood to help keep water out ... might try that???

Any and all tips appreciated!

Regards,
Liam

 

[Mad Professor]

Hey, folks,

Wondering if anyone has tips for weatherproofing muzzleloaders for wet-weather hunting. Here's what I'm doing so far. Any additions or corrections are *extremely* welcome!!!

1) Got a Kap Kover on the way, along with an extra brass cover, extra nipple, and extra o-rings in case I lose something
2) Will tape the muzzle with electrician's tape and / or a balloon
3) Bought some "Danish" penetrating & sealing oil, and am going to apply it all over the stock. Especially the parts of the barrel channel don't even have stain on them right now ... I just *know* that stock would swell up and torque the barrel every which way out in the WA rain forest. Hopefully the oil seal will help out with that.
4) I saw on another forum that John Barsness (gunwriter) puts electrician's tape along the barrel where it joins the wood to help keep water out ... might try that???

Any and all tips appreciated!

Regards,
Liam

Hi Liam,

There are many here that know more than me and may have better advice:

1) Flint or cap? Flinters use a cover to protect the lock area.

2) Percussion is well protected with some melted wax about the the cap/nipple.

3) "Something" to cover the barrel end ( tape, balloon. condom...) I'm really not sure what the old timers did, but they must have did something? Chime in here please members, PC solution!!! (e.g. How did you keep a fresh load "hot" when you "need it" ....back then....)

Thanks in advance...... Mad Professor

 

[paulvallandigham]

Since you are hunting in a location where temperatures are likely to stay under 70 degrees F, you can load the barrel channel of your stock with a good quality grease, like a water pump grease, or even crisco, if that is all you have, to keep water out. You will need to protect the lock area from being filled with the grease, but just put a liberal amount in the channel and seat the barrel. I do recommend putting a finishing oil on the inside of the barrel channel, and the lock mortise, if it was not done by the builder. Go sparingly with this, as you don't want to interfere with the movement of lock parts. The really hard place to treat is the ramrod hole. If you are lucky, you can reach it through the bottom of the barrel channel.If not you probably will have to pour thinned shellac or tung oil, or something comparable into the channel for the ramrod, turn the stock up and down and around so you coat the entire inside of the channel, and then pour out the excess, and let the stock stand somewhere, muzzle down, to let more of the finish drain out of the channel. Hopefully it will dry and not clog up the hole so as to prevent the rod from going into the channel. Make sure to put some finish, and a coat of wax on your wooden ramrods, too. Remove the buttplate, and finish the end grain of the stock with a shellac, or oil. That is actually the most likely area where moisture will enter the stock, so do a good job of sealing it, before putting the plate back on. You can always use a putty knife to stuff more grease along the barrel/stock junctures, and that will insure that no water can get under the barrel, and into the stock wood. That keeps the barrel from rusting, and keeps the stock from swelling, and moving your barrel. If you are really worried about stock movement, you should really consider buying a beding kit from Brownells, and glass bedding the barrel. This will definitely seal the wood under the barrel, and will also lock the wood, and give it even more strength that it now has.

I have a 100 year old Swedish Mauser I bought several years ago for a rediculous price, that has a barrel seated in waterpump grease, both under the barrel, and on top, under the handguard. The exposed portions of the barrel are well worn, and almost without evidence of finish or bluing. Under that handguard, you can still see a rich blue finish. I left the barrel and stock the way I found them. I can't get the main stock bolt loose, and if that walnut stock is still moving around after 100 year, I guess I will just have to live with it. I am not worried about that gun being out in bad weather, however.

 

[Halftail]

Wow,
Some good tips here.
I must look pretty stunned when I load up one of my caplocks place a cap on the nipple and then hunt all day in the pouring rain.After the hunt(end of the day) I always "shoot -off" and then clean new for the next morning.Never had a problem yet and I Nevermiss a hunting chance regardless of weather.The only problem I have encountered while hunting in the rain and humidity id a wooden ramrod swells to the point it's hopeless to even think about using it.I replace them with syntetic ramrods for hunting.I haven't attempted flintlocks in the rain yet but planning on it this year.
Warning....This is just my opinion. :v

 

[RC]

Liam, I can give you this learned advice..after your flinter does not go off,sparked a little(?)...twice ,while aiming at a spike horn broadside at 30 yds,DO NOT try to make it better by wiping off the flint with your wet glove! jes sorta kills the spark! and ALWAYS when your going hunting and THINK you need a new flint...put one in! on the bright side, if you want an expierence you'll NEVER forget,do not change the flint and wipe it off the third try with your wet glove,,I know the spike really enjoyed the show! and I put grease around pan to keep primer dry..of course this has no bearing and/or effect if yer flint ain't no good or yer gloves is wet! still can't believe he stood there 3 times! :cursing: RC oh yeah...lesson learned! dang slow learners!!!!.. :winking:

 

[outdoorman]

Whenever I am hunting in wet weather (snow, rain, mist) I use paraffin wax along the barrel/stock and around the lock. I snatched a block from my wife's canning supplies. So far, I have had good luck with it. I rub it around anyplace that might have an entrance to the wood.

I don't know how it would hold up if the sun came out and it got hot, but then, I really wouldn't need it anymore, would I?

 

[renovato]

RC, did you ever get him? Or did he wander off to tell stories of the funny sparking creature to his brethren?

 

[RC]

RC, did you ever get him? Or did he wander off to tell stories of the funny sparking creature to his brethren?

well I'll tell ya.. after I put a NEW flint in,I circled around where he took off to,I must add he was in hot pursuit of a lovely young doe, walked bout 1/2 mile,stopped at the crossing,2 minutes later here came a doe..full bore,,,went 30 yds.from me and off in the pines,looked back where she came from,here he came,same spike horn...now I don't know exactly what the whitetails top speed is..but he was goin jes a tad faster..and I knew I just ain't that good with a prb and flintlock, so no shots fired (okay,okay,no shots fired OR attempted!)..so to make it short (oops too late!) he is probably tellin his brethen a story that starts out, :shocked2: "this ain't no s*#@^! " but that's okay, :thumbsup: ,I know right where he was...... :rotf: RC :redface: