How not to unload your muzzleloader . . .

Prof Young · December 16, 2019, 10:22 AM

I hunted with new Buckstalker last Friday. No deer showed up. Didn't know if I would hunt again so left gun loaded sans the primer. Didn't hunt Sat or Sun. Sunday evening figured I unload the gun by taking out the breech plug, pouring out the powder and pushing the sabot out with the ram rod. Got the powder out okay but the sabot was very hard to push out, VERY HARD. Should have taken it over to range and just shot it out. Ah well, live and learn.

Life is good.
Prof Young

tangolima · December 16, 2019, 10:36 AM

No real experience with muzzle loaders. But I have seen people bringing their loaded guns to range to fire only once to unload. It is an outdoor range by the way.

-TL

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Doyle · December 16, 2019, 10:36 AM

But, if you'd done that you'd have to spend half an hour cleaning it. When I shot ML rifles, I learned to love the Hornady low-drag sabots. Easy to push in and out.

Hawg · December 16, 2019, 10:40 AM

Quote:

But, if you'd done that you'd have to spend half an hour cleaning it

Talk about overzealous cleaning.

Or does it really take that long with an inline?

Doyle · December 16, 2019, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Or does it really take that long with an inline?

Maybe a little of an exaggeration but probably not much. Need hot soapy water, then hot clean water, then you have to dry it out. By the time you're ready to put it away, you'll have close to half an hour into it.

FrankenMauser · December 16, 2019, 10:58 AM

Been there myself with patched round balls, when something happened that prevented me from firing the ML to unload it.

Two years ago, when I tried pulling the ball and dumping the powder, my range rod tip ("ferrule"?) pulled off the rod.
Getting that back out was a pain but doable. The ball and puller, however, were still stuck.
Eventually, the nipple was capped, and the trigger pulled.

Pahoo · December 16, 2019, 11:49 AM

Pulling PRB:
In the process of breaking in new M/L instructors, they express a "slight" fear of experiencing a Dry-Ball. We purposely create this point of "Murphy's Law and Dry-Ball a round. Thank God for pure lead as it's very forgiving and the ball is extracted with slight effort, using a screw-jag. ... ..

SABOTS;
I have to admit that I have never tried "pushing" a Sabot but have extracted a number f them, using the same screw-jag and they actually pull easier than PRB.

Possible problem:
By pushing a Sabot, it's possible that the petals/skirts are working against you. When I pull a Sabot, I'm pulling on the projectile and dragging the Sabot. Kind of like pushing a rope....

Be Safe !!!

woodnbow · December 16, 2019, 12:19 PM

Use a dedicated bp cleaning solvent if it’s taking 1/2 hr. to clean. Swab two or three wet patches, brush a few strokes followed by a wet patch and then dry patches until they come back clean and dry. One more patch wet with Eezox, wipe off the exterior with bp solvent, dry and one pass with Eezox and you’re done. Takes about the same time as cleaning most any other firearm.

Catman42 · December 17, 2019, 10:32 AM

doyle your using the wrong powder if your having to clean a gun the way you discribe. thats way way over cleaning.

Doyle · December 17, 2019, 10:36 AM

Quote:

doyle your using the wrong powder if your having to clean a gun the way you discribe. thats way way over cleaning.

Was using 777. At that time Blackhorn wasn't widely available. Since then, I've moved to a state that allows me other options so I just hold on to my 209x50 Encore barrel for when I move away.

December 16, 2019, 10:22 AM	#1
Prof Young Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2007 Location: Illinois - down state Posts: 2,403	How not to unload your muzzleloader . . . I hunted with new Buckstalker last Friday. No deer showed up. Didn't know if I would hunt again so left gun loaded sans the primer. Didn't hunt Sat or Sun. Sunday evening figured I unload the gun by taking out the breech plug, pouring out the powder and pushing the sabot out with the ram rod. Got the powder out okay but the sabot was very hard to push out, VERY HARD. Should have taken it over to range and just shot it out. Ah well, live and learn. Life is good. Prof Young

December 16, 2019, 10:58 AM	#6
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	Been there myself with patched round balls, when something happened that prevented me from firing the ML to unload it. Two years ago, when I tried pulling the ball and dumping the powder, my range rod tip ("ferrule"?) pulled off the rod. Getting that back out was a pain but doable. The ball and puller, however, were still stuck. Eventually, the nipple was capped, and the trigger pulled. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

December 16, 2019, 11:49 AM	#7
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	My SWAG Pulling PRB: In the process of breaking in new M/L instructors, they express a "slight" fear of experiencing a Dry-Ball. We purposely create this point of "Murphy's Law and Dry-Ball a round. Thank God for pure lead as it's very forgiving and the ball is extracted with slight effort, using a screw-jag. ... .. SABOTS; I have to admit that I have never tried "pushing" a Sabot but have extracted a number f them, using the same screw-jag and they actually pull easier than PRB. Possible problem: By pushing a Sabot, it's possible that the petals/skirts are working against you. When I pull a Sabot, I'm pulling on the projectile and dragging the Sabot. Kind of like pushing a rope.... Be Safe !!! __________________ 'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing.

December 16, 2019, 10:36 AM	#2
tangolima Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2013 Posts: 3,815	No real experience with muzzle loaders. But I have seen people bringing their loaded guns to range to fire only once to unload. It is an outdoor range by the way. -TL Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

December 16, 2019, 10:36 AM	#3
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	But, if you'd done that you'd have to spend half an hour cleaning it. When I shot ML rifles, I learned to love the Hornady low-drag sabots. Easy to push in and out.

December 16, 2019, 12:19 PM	#8
woodnbow Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2012 Posts: 190	Use a dedicated bp cleaning solvent if it’s taking 1/2 hr. to clean. Swab two or three wet patches, brush a few strokes followed by a wet patch and then dry patches until they come back clean and dry. One more patch wet with Eezox, wipe off the exterior with bp solvent, dry and one pass with Eezox and you’re done. Takes about the same time as cleaning most any other firearm.

December 17, 2019, 10:32 AM	#9
Catman42 Member Join Date: September 15, 2019 Posts: 78	doyle your using the wrong powder if your having to clean a gun the way you discribe. thats way way over cleaning.