Smokeless Muzzleloader in the Rain???

[Kimber.204]

Well last week was PA's muzzleloader bear season. And, the one day I had that I could ditch work it was raining off and on all day...so I worked because I wasn't sure how my Hank's smokeless muzzleloader would do in the rain

I used to only hunt with a muzzleloader during PA's late flintlock season after Christmas, but now that I live near Pittsburgh in the special regs area I use the muzzleloaders a lot more often - and earlier in different weather.

Does anyone have experience with the Hanks/Arrowhead type smokeless muzzleloaders in the rain? How have they faired?
Did you ever get a charge wet or stick a bullet?

Thanks,
R

 

[03mossy]

Couple pieces of electrical tape over the barrel and your good to go.

 

[BuckDoeHunter]

Hankins has a video of a muzzleloader he sprayed with a garden hose and I believe it was loaded, it fired just fine IIRC. I looked for the video but can't find it.

 

[rporter]

test primers your self by dropping them in a cup of water [or coffee].

then shoot them.

 

[smokepolehall]

I have Hank's DI in my NEF handi-rifle break action. I just keep the muzzle pointed down if i get caught in rain or snow. It goes off n i have never had any water bother in the BP area.

 

[mwwoodman]

I use electrical tape over the muzzle. Shoot thru it and re tape. For primers, Cheddite 209's have a seal coating. If you are using modules with, say LR primers, they are really open to the elements.

 

[BuffaloSoldier]

We used to put a plastic cap over the muzzle of our service rifles, it would fly off when you pulled the trigger.

 

[BillyTheKid44]

I cut off the finger of a rubber glove and stick it over end of barrel.

 

[Boonechaser]

I bought some thumb size finger cots to roll over the end of the barrel. Has never affected point of impact.

 

[Tannhauser]

Electric tape or a latex finger cot over the muzzle and you should be hood to go.

I cant imagine rain allowing enough water into the breech to render a 209 primer useless.

I’ve hunted with 209 ML rifles and BH209 in the rain and they’ve always gone bang with expected performance and accuracy.

You could also use a full rifle cover to keep it shielded from direct rain.

 

[Pattray]

I cut off the finger of a rubber glove and stick it over end of barrel.

I do this

 

[The long rider]

The electrical tape is the method I have been using for over twenty years and it doesn't affect the flight of the bullet at all. A finger cut from a latex glove works just as well and will be long gone before the bullet leaves the muzzle. I you are shooting sabots you will have a much better seal against a drop of rain reaching the powder even without the tape or latex glove, but a sabotless or land rider bullet doesn't seal the bore until it is fired and a couple drops of rain will go right past the bullet and turn your powder to mud. I use red electrical tape because for me it signals the gun is loaded

 

[RSR]

I use finger cots but just purchased a caldwell fast gun cover to try.

 

[chwebmaker]

I use blue masking tape on the muzzle. No issues over the last 35 years doing it this way.

 

[Hatchet Jack]

I use duct tape over my muzzle to prevent rain or moisture from getting down my barrel. I shoot right thru it. Never hinders accuracy.

 

[Harley469]

I cut off the finger of a rubber glove and stick it over end of barrel.

Done this many times

 

[Harley469]

You will have no issues in the rain- just cover the muzzle

 

[Blackrock]

I cut off the finger of a rubber glove and stick it over end of barrel.

Finger cots
$6/200 - Latex
$14/140 nitrile