The first page is Sad.

[grouse]

Though i don't post much on the smokeless section i browse threw often. I noticed right away three or four different threads on the first page is about bulged barrels.

I know a lot of people here think they no everything about muzzleloading and really don't have a clue. I hope and pray most people are learning from these things and using common sense when loading and using whatever type ML they are using and the loads.

One very important step is a witness mark on your ram-rod or range rod. It really takes away any guessing at all. And it's a perfect way to find a mistake because none of us are perfect.

[Deleted]

thats what Ive been preaching to my friend Jack, I think he will listen now.

[chuck41]

One of the guys at my camp came in yesterday morning with a big gash on his forehead and his face covered with blood. His BP muzzleloader had been in storage since he last had it at camp two years ago. He went out thinking he had left it loaded and tried to shoot at a doe. He said the cap just went "Pfffffftttt" so he figured perhaps it wasn't loaded it so he put 80 grains of Pyrodex and a bullet in it.

The doe was still around so he tried again. This time it gave a huge boom, expelled much more flame than usual and the scope came back and nearly cold cocked him. He's going to have a nice "C" shaped scar right over his eye for the foreseeable future. I am amazed that the load in that gun stayed there for two years and still ignited. I am even more amazed that the uncleaned gun was still operable after sitting for two years. Apparently he never shot it two years ago or it would have been corroded into an unfireable condition. We thought we were going to have to take him to get it sewn up, but the skin was not opening up regardless of the huge amount of bleeding. He retired to his camper where he had some "liquid anesthetic" for his huge headache. I hope he is a smarter man for the experience and will pay more attention to his marks on his ramrod.

By the way, both bullets missed the doe.

[tdillinger]

I must admit it is turn off to see Bulged Barrel over and over. However, i like to look at the reasons, the facts if known. Everytime is operator error. Precautions and rules must be created by ones self and as a standard. I like the rule of using the ramrod to ensure the barrel is empty. at the range I do it every round fired just to make a routine. I double check all wieghed loads. And I have caught myself with double loads< looking back at the time I was talking to passer buys wondering what i was shooting. So when I felt something may have been missed. I start over. Safety is the responsability to all of us, if I feel a concern to a stranger near me at the range i will politely introduce it and discuss.

[rjhans53]

chuck, just curious what happened with the doe, years ago I double loaded a LK 93, both bullets hit in a 4" circle @ 50. But yes I don't care what you shoot you need to establish a routine that leaves no room for error.

[Harley]

I keep saying it - the simplest way to ensure that no loading mistakes ever occur on the range is to employ a loading block.

Just take a short length of 2x4 and drill holes for single or duplex vials of powder, wad and bullet (plus primer if you want it). Fill the block, then let your mind wander; you can't omit a component and you can't double load.

Harley

[wilmsmeyer]

I don't want to call anyone stupid or come across as offensive to those who have double loaded: But.....there is just no excuse for a double load.

I know it's not a matter of smarts or lack of: People of all levels of experience have done it, and apparently continue to do it. It's pure carelessness.

Someone on this board once said, there are 2 types of people, one who has double loaded their gun and people who will double their gun.

I can say that if you use your witness mark before putting your primer on...EVERYTIME...you will never double load....or shoot through an obstruction....

It's that simple....I don't want to hear about any more double loaded guns.

[splinter]

Great Info, As I know how easy it is to be distraced at the range, And I put a Witness mark on my ramrod.

[bigmoose]

My system is a kin to Harley's,

I place on the bench 6 bullets, 6 powder vails, 6 wonder wad, plus I have a witness mark, cut into my ram rod, I don't know how you could not tell when your rofle is double loader, but it does happen.
I cut my ram rod so it would be obvious that some thing is wrong

[pposey]

For me it was being in a hurry,,,using a different ram rod than normal,,, and forgetting I had a hunting load already placed,,,,,

[smokepole50]

When you think about all the money we spend working up muzzle loaders, rifles and the such plus all we pay for our hunting clothes and gas to get there, why do we not just unload/shoot our rifles every evening before we go back to camp or get in the truck to go home??? It is not that much money in the ground so to speak and I am sure it would eleminate some of these double loading situations. I used to always shoot my BP rifle's before I went home just to have a fresh load in the next morning. With Smokeless powder this might also be a good practice.

Another thought is get youself one of the orange plastic (chamber clear) rifle range indicators and stick it in your rifle's muzzle to indicate it is loaded so when you get up the next morning from a hard days hunt all blurry eyed you will quickly remember you rifle is still loaded.

Smokepole

[bigmoose]

smokepole,

That is exactly what I do, an empty rifle is a safe one. and I acn always find a reason for busting a cap [round] off

[mike.dawson]

Here is what i do at the range, my range rod has a witness mark on it. I only get one powder vial, one sabot, one bullet one primer out of the gun box at a time, and when they call a line halt at the range i stick the range rod in the barrel and never leave it on the line loaded, they always give a 2 min heads up to halt.

My powder vials are color coded with the colored caps, there is a matching color on the range rod to match the powder/bullet combo.

When hunting at the end of the day I discharge the Savage at a tree behind the hunting camp or let one of my hunting buds shoot it. Really a great show at dusk/dark to see the flame coming out the barrel, it always spends the night empty for a fresh load in the morning. I have sold three savages 10ml that way to guys who got rid of the CVA.

Mike

[edge]

You should know where the breechplug ends in the barrel.
Knowing that it is easy to verify if it is loaded or not even if you use a ramrod without a witness mark!

edge.

PS you should verify it on your own rifle but it should extend a bit past the barrel nut.

This is a ML-1, but the ML-II is very similar:

[grouse]

Oct 20, 2010 7:10:10 GMT -5 edge said:

You should know where the breechplug ends in the barrel.
Knowing that it is easy to verify if it is loaded or not even if you use a ramrod without a witness mark!

edge.

PS you should verify it on your own rifle but it should extend a bit past the barrel nut.

This is a ML-1, but the ML-II is very similar:

Is that picture that bad, or is it my computer? All heck, it could be me. ;D

[Rifleman]

Well there is one good aspect to a bulged barrel, it tends to deflate egos, and we could all use a dose of humble pie now and then. Since I am known to be a subject matter expert on pie, it should go without saying, that that is a piece of pie that does me good from time to time as well.