How long to leave your gun loaded?

[tbye3300]

Just wondering how long you guys leave your gun loaded when hunting? I usually shoot mine off each time I hunt. Just curious how long you think is safe to leave your smokeless gun loaded before firing?

[timbertom]

I leave mine loaded for most part,50 cal savage 4759 and 300 sst. here in sask. Canada temps in muzzleloader season from mid sept to late Nov. can vary so I make sure to slowly bring gun to room temp before in gun safe. I also put something over barrel as seems most mornings dew and damp... worked for me.

[hightechredneck]

All 3 of my smokeless ML's have been loaded since last years ML season. Looks like tomorrow might be my last chance to hunt, because the river will hit flood stage sometime tomorrow flooding me out of my primary hunting grounds until it drops back down. ML season is only in till next Sun, so I know that there is NO way I'll be hunting there again after tomorrow. Only chance of hunting will be at my family farm an hr drive away. Maybe I'll fire all 3 of the ML's off, or maybe they will go back into the safe.

[Dave W]

If I hunt in rain it gets shot out. Have left them loaded maybe a couple months at most.

[jeromey]

X2 for another Saskatchewan guy. It's loaded all season.

Dec 16, 2018 21:15:53 GMT -5 timbertom said:

I leave mine loaded for most part,50 cal savage 4759 and 300 sst. here in sask. Canada temps in muzzleloader season from mid sept to late Nov. can vary so I make sure to slowly bring gun to room temp before in gun safe. I also put something over barrel as seems most mornings dew and damp... worked for me.

[Deleted]

I keep mine loaded all mzl season,but I keep a rubber balloon over the barrel in snow or rain.But after each hunt I will leave it in the truck over night.Then at the end of the season I will fire it off.

[dperry]

I killed a doe Saturday with a gun that was loaded 10/2017.

[sw]

I’ve intentionally left mine loaded for a year, then went out and shot them at 200 yards. Never, have and of my 40,45 or 50 been off.

[jims]

Not as long as sw but for quite awhile and never had an issue.

[mimath314]

Loaded the smokeless pole on Nov 2nd and shot it Nov 14th - dead deer @170. I put a glove finger over the muzzle for most of the time because of rain. Loaded again on Nov 16th and still waiting to discharge.

I still use the Savage plug and 209 primers. I will often change primers after a rainy day afield.

[epanzella]

I reload my McSavage every cupla weeks or day in the rain, whatever comes first. I headspaced my gun with a hard bushing that crushes the 209 about .001 for a dead nutz seal so I toss the primer every time I deprime the gun.

[petev]

My answer is about the same as these above. I was wondering if anyone sees a hazard in putting a piece of electrical tape over the end of the barrel during bad weather? I think this question is related to the original post, hopefully.

[mimath314]

Dec 17, 2018 19:35:45 GMT -5 petev said:

My answer is about the same as these above. I was wondering if anyone sees a hazard in putting a piece of electrical tape over the end of the barrel during bad weather? I think this question is related to the original post, hopefully.

I cut a finger off a pair of black mechanic type latex gloves. It was actually on the rifle when I shot the deer at 170 yds. No evidence of any issues as there was a hole through the end and the “finger” stayed on the muzzle.

[edge]

I shoot out at end of hunting for the day, unless it is humid, then at end of each session!

Suburban area, cars, gunshots, etc. No deer will be scared away from the parking lot where no one hunts anyway.

edge.

PS I have had hang and no fire situations in the past...if I wait all year for my chance, I am not going to let bad luck decide if I make the shot!

[jims]

petev: I often use electrical tape over the muzzle. Never hurt the accuracy at all and the barrel certainly can stay drier.

[oked]

i always put electrical tape on mine. it serves 2 purposes ,keeps moisture out and lets u know its loaded to prevent a double load. i still use a witness mark. we can never be to careful.

[Rifleman]

Dec 17, 2018 23:42:24 GMT -5 oked said:

i always put electrical tape on mine. it serves 2 purposes ,keeps moisture out and lets u know its loaded to prevent a double load. i still use a witness mark. we can never be to careful.

I shoot mine out every 2 days regardless. I had a misfire once on a nice buck and even though I thought I had done every thing right, somehow my N120 got damp. If its rainy, I shoot it out that day. I will say this though. Recently a customer traded in a Browning 50 cal mountain rifle in pristine condition. Swore to me the gun was not loaded. Dropped the ramrod in and it told a much different story. So I proceeded like it was loaded. I went outside and attempted to reseat it, then capped it with a #11 and pulled the trigger. Boom! No hangfire or squib either, this was a full power shot. My customer was very surprised. He told me Dwight, I have not fired that gun in 20 years! So according to him that gun had been loaded with Goex and a roundball sitting in his gun cabinet in the dining room for the last 20 years.

oked is spot on, we can never be too careful!

[ported45]

Until it is shot.

That was first morning of the opening of muzzy season. It was then reloaded and will be that way until the next shot opportunity at a deer or end of season.

[smokepolehall]

I reloaded mine after killing a deer Nov. 2017, i did not get to use it this past season. So after 17 1/2 months i went out to practice n shot it. Same 209 n it fired on the drop of the hammer!