Just a heads up . If you hunt with a Smokepole you might want to reload your black powder rifle once or twice during the BP season. I will tell you what happened to me Yesterday .
I was fighting a cold so i got up later than i normally do 6:30 instead of 5:00. I then went to my stand near my house (i walk).
So i get to my stand get up in it and about 45 minutes later i see a doe walking right towards me, thats when i realize it not a doe but a buck whos dropped his antlers. He's about 40 yds out so i pick up my Thompson Center Omega and pop a shot of at him.
POP is the right term as the primer went pop and the powder went about 5 feet in front of me and kept burning on the ground.
Now the deer is looking right at me as a large cloud of smoke rises from the ground between us.
I reach in my pocket as quietly as i can grab my reloads and proceed to reload my rifle everytime theres a tree between us and he can't see me.
He has now moved 70 yds to my right and is almost to a spot where i wouldn't have a shot , but i get the shot off and take the deer 131lbs dressed.
Best thing i can figure as i never hunter in rain or snow is that condensation from going hot to cold several times got the pyrodex wet . The constant cycle of going from a warm house to really cold weather causes the barrel to sweat . It's the only way it could get wet . I also put tape over the end if the barrel if its raining or wet out .
So reload at least once if you've been through a couple of warm to really cold cycles with your rifle, it almost cost me i deer . Good Luck
I was fighting a cold so i got up later than i normally do 6:30 instead of 5:00. I then went to my stand near my house (i walk).
So i get to my stand get up in it and about 45 minutes later i see a doe walking right towards me, thats when i realize it not a doe but a buck whos dropped his antlers. He's about 40 yds out so i pick up my Thompson Center Omega and pop a shot of at him.
POP is the right term as the primer went pop and the powder went about 5 feet in front of me and kept burning on the ground.
Now the deer is looking right at me as a large cloud of smoke rises from the ground between us.
I reach in my pocket as quietly as i can grab my reloads and proceed to reload my rifle everytime theres a tree between us and he can't see me.
He has now moved 70 yds to my right and is almost to a spot where i wouldn't have a shot , but i get the shot off and take the deer 131lbs dressed.
Best thing i can figure as i never hunter in rain or snow is that condensation from going hot to cold several times got the pyrodex wet . The constant cycle of going from a warm house to really cold weather causes the barrel to sweat . It's the only way it could get wet . I also put tape over the end if the barrel if its raining or wet out .
So reload at least once if you've been through a couple of warm to really cold cycles with your rifle, it almost cost me i deer . Good Luck