Keeping a loaded gun - back in the day

[Daryl]

Dave - that brings back another memory = when hunting in minus 20 to minus 50 degrees F on the Primitive Weapons moose hunt, if the rifle had not been discharged, it was left leaning against a tree outside the tent/dwelling - sometimes with a tarp over it to prevent an even frosting by morning. That way no moisture due to condensation was introduced into the bore or ignition channel that can easily cause a misfire or hangfire when the time came to kill a moose.
If the gun had been fired, it was brought inside, barrel removed and cleaned in a container of water.

[Mike C]

Don't forget the corrosive nature of percussion priming in the old days. Fulminate of mercury will corrode a bore over night.
Mike C

[Daryl]

Worse, was the cholorate percussion caps of the mid 1800's and same in rifle and shotgun primers of later years.

[stone knife]

I would guess back in the day most muzzleloaders were left loaded, I would bet everyone, (most people) would be around a gun daily, it was a tool, and everyone knew it would be loaded. Not to change the subject, but, at our last shoot a guy went to pop a cap on his gun, BOOM, forgot it was loaded. chuck

I always drop my ramrod down the barrel first thing, not to do this is careless.

[Daryl]

We yak so much on the line, as to forget if I loaded the rifle or not, so I find myself checking mine often, with the rod- as does everyone else we shoot with. Ask LB how you load 3 time without firing?  hahahahahahaha

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

We only pulled two balls and charges on Sunday, in LB's defense.  And we've all done that.

[Daryl]

memory is the second thing to go

[catman]

Remember, the Hawkin brothers had a plan they would start with a 50 cal 1" accross the flats and as the trappers came back to St. Louis to trade their pelts they would have it rebord to a 54 then to a 58 if needed. Make since to me...