very good advise folks ,but i did kind of wonder dose leaving the charge in-the rifle pose any problem with corrosion while its sitting that long ? i did have a knight rifle that at the breach end where the powder sits give the appearance of pitting in the boar,and discolored.

Powder will not rust steel unless wetted or burned. I performed this test several years ago, taping black powder and Pyrodex powders directly to on-oiled plates of steel and setting aside. After many months, there was no rust under the powder. There was light freckles of rust showing around the piles where normal TN humidity was attacking the steel, but nothing else. If you have fired a fouling shot, you will have corrossive fouling in the bore so keep that in mind.

Posted By Kappafutball5 on 06 Dec 2011 01:34 PM
My worry though is that at the moment of truth, I'm going to hear the primer go snap, and no big bang.  Even though it is left outside, it is cased and transported to my hunting spots in my vehicle, which could cause some ups and downs in temperature (even though I try and keep the heat off).  

How long do you guys leave your ML loaded for between hunts?  Any advice on this issue besides tape/bag etc. over the end of the barrel?  What is your routine and/or experience?

Thanks!

I had just the snap and no big bang during Ohio's gun season. Monster buck too! Between car and in the cabin over night and only one cap fired through it, it is was a lesson well learned. I pulled ball and reloaded and fired more than two caps through to make sure no moisture in barrel or residue. I left it loaded for rest of hunt, but once I was done for weekend I fired it at a target. I am not going to risk it any more. It will be fired off between hunts. I use lead balls and loose powder so not too expensive, but I never, ever want to hear the cap go snap and not hear the big BANG! Nope I learned my lesson!

While I know that in your original question you said any other ideas than tape on the end of the muzzle, that is a great idea to help keep out the moisture. I leave mine loaded and out in the truck overnights. I use a piece of tape whether it's raining or not, I hunt in heavy timber and don't want to risk getting a piece of bark or a pine needle down the barrel. At the end of the morning or evening hunt I remove the primer but put an old popped primer in the still fits tight as to keep moisture from getting in from that end. Has worked for all the guys that I have started hunting with. This was my first ML season, but have used the tape on the muzzle for years while rifle hunting.

While I agree that it is probably OK to leave the gun loaded minus the cap or primer, I still discharge mine after every day of hunting and load with a new load the next day. To me the price of the powder, ball and primer is second to making sure that my gun goes off and I don't miss or just injure a deer and not be able to find it!

I leave mine loaded during a hunt, but if its raining I will fire it at the end of the day. I also use tape on muzzle. I have yet to have missfire. I use triple 7 pelits and Power Belt bullets and Remington clean burn primers (209). Also good to fire off to check to see if scope is still on the mark after pulling gun up tree stand and walking through woods. Don't just fire off your muzzleloader to empty it' make sure its still on the mark.

Posted By barryd on 29 Dec 2011 09:18 AM
I leave mine loaded during a hunt, but if its raining I will fire it at the end of the day. I also use tape on muzzle. I have yet to have missfire. I use triple 7 pelits and Power Belt bullets and Remington clean burn primers (209). Also good to fire off to check to see if scope is still on the mark after pulling gun up tree stand and walking through woods. Don't just fire off your muzzleloader to empty it' make sure its still on the mark.

Amen, about three weeks ago, I had a mis-fire and just the cap snapped. I understand it was my fault and a lesson learned but it would have been a buck of a lifetime and one for the wall and camp stories. Now he is history. So you can bet at the end of the day of hunting I will be discharging my gun and reloading. I guess not so bad since I use round balls patched and loose powder. But still, is it worth it if it is a sabot and pellets. I think a verification of the sights is good too. I remember in Germany doing just the such with a regular rifle after a hunt, just a few shots at camp. My scope was off, so consider it practice!

The latest Hunter magazine has some good info abt how to prevent misfires.