Why do some people leave a ML loaded?

[longfowler]

I find it impratical to load and unload a m/l each and every time I use it. at the range, off season, practice, no problem. shoot it, go home, clean it. m/l's are not usualy kept loaded at home - that's what my colt 45 is for. but during the season , most of my hunting is done an hour or so on the way to work, and if I'm lucky I get out early I put in an hour afterwards. to load, shoot and clean twice a day for 2 weeks? are you crazy? leave it in the truck, locked up and out of sight. grab it and go.it's good till the end of the season, and it's no more dangerous than the pistol on my belt or nightstand!

 

[tg]

I often do when hunting simply because it is another way to capture the way it was done in the past, I suspect the guns were left loaded if the charges were considered good.I use precautions to prevent it from being a safety issue.

 

[Roy]

because I'm lazy and cheap :grin: :v

 

[sidelock]

Is unloading every night PC? Did L&C and their chorp unload at the end of each day? I think not.And I don't either. Never had a problem even after months. But no body touches my guns except me. (might be differnt otherwise) :v

 

[roundball]

"...How cheap are you?..."
"...If your life or my life is not worth 50 cents to you, then I don't want you anywhere near me, especially if you are holding a firearm of any description..."

"...are you crazy?..."

Well, it didn't take long for the name calling to start...c'mon guys

 

[rebel727]

Maybe they don't know of the ill affects that can come from leaving it loaded like corrosion.
I don't think there is a solid answer to your question.

HD

I owned an 1861 Remington that was found in an old barn. All six chambers were loaded when it was found. The outside of the gun was pitted some but the chambers were pristine. No pits, no rust, smoother than a baby's butt.

 

[Dave K]

When I am into squirrel hunting, my gun may be loaded for the whole season. I may hunt one evening and be out first thing the next morning. If it is a cap gun it is of course uncapped. If it is a flint gun, there is a tooth pick in the vent. No kids in the house and I am the only one here who handles guns.

 

[Hoyt]

I leave mine loaded during hunting season till I get a shot, just want to shoot it for some other reason or I feel I need a fresh load. This past gobbler season about a wk or two was max. In other words I leave mine loaded to hunt with and don't see any purpose in loading and unloading for nothing. Probably more dangerous foolin with loadin and unloadin than leavin it alone loaded till time to hunt.
I have some guns I leave loaded all the time and some I don't.

 

[twotoescharlie]

:hmm: cain't never tell when them redskins" might come a callin'

TTC

 

Yeah! Can't tell when those white skins might come around looking for trouble either!

 

[Halftail]

Halftail...
What did he end up with for a new moniker????
you have to tell us the rest of the story!

Brett

The rest of the story isn't much...His last name was Clark so the rest of us started calling him "Crater Clark" for the nice hole he Blew into the ground.
THat's alot better than the name I wanted to call him...... :hmm:

 

[Zonie]

Keeping their muzzleloader loaded at all times helps "barrel blowers" kick the habit! :grin: :rotf: :rotf:

Just funnin wit' ye.
Zonie

 

[wszumera]

For two weeks before deer season, I shoot my rifle once a day standing on my back deck at a 9" paper plate nailed up 50 yards away.

I am interested in my first shot grouping only for hunting.

I follow it up by cleaning it.

Then during deer season, I load the rifle and only cap and uncap it since in Michigan an uncapped rifle is considered unloaded.

No kids, gun stored in garage to keep it cold to minimize condensation.

After the season, bang, clean, put rifle in safe.

Clutch

 

[sidelock]

Wonder how many REAL safety rules he violated with this antic? I try to stay clear of people that ACCIDENT prone. :nono:

 

[sidelock]

Best cure I know of Zonie. :thumbsup:

 

[CrackStock]

RB,

Why leave it loaded?

I was involved with a hunting club years ago and these guys did not want to fire the guns so near the hunting ground and did not want to reload at o'dark thirty in the morning. The idea was to load carefully and then manage the load for the week of ML hunting for deer. There were no kids or non-gun people allowed on the grounds. (Aside from my son, who was young, but an excellant gun handler.) There was a designated safe and secure location for the racking of our guns.

Most of these people had concealed weapons permits and viewed this as another version of the loaded guns that they manage every day anyway. There were just different steps to consider in doing so.

In the end, the reason is in the mind of the user.

CS

 

[musketman]

:hmm: cain't never tell when them redskins" might come a callin'

TTC

Perhaps you may be right, them redskins can be one tough bunch of peanuts... :haha:

 

[roundball]

RB,
In the end, the reason is in the mind of the user.

Couldn't agree more...my standard outlook is:

"...it's no business of mine to take issue with what anybody decides to do in the world of muzzleloading...."

My question simply asked 'why' some people do it...interestingly, a lot of folks answered with 'what' they do, but only a few actually answered 'why' they do it.

 

[tg]

"My question simply asked 'why' some people do it...interestingly, a lot of folks answered with 'what' they do, but only a few actually answered 'why' they do it"

S.O.P. in the world of the Forum eh?, "it is far far better to argue and cast stones than to answer the question asked" ....William Shakespear?

 

[CoyoteJoe]

I take pains to see that the bore and flash channel are totally free of oil before loading for a hunt. Once loaded it stays loaded until fired. With a flintlock I dump the prime and plug the vent with a pick. I pull the cap off a percussion and lower the hammer on a bit of leather. In that condition I don't see how my gun setting in the truck at night could be more dangerous than in my hands by day.
I have never had a misfire or hangfire with that practice but have seen many by folks who insist on firing it off at night and reloading in the morning. In a hunting camp it is very hard to properly clean and thoroughly dry out the bore and especially the flash channel of a patten breech percussion gun. Even more so when you're so tired you just want to stuff down some grub and get to bed. Leaving it loaded will cause no problems, less than perfect cleaning surely will. :grin: