Learned a lesson

[Weatherby]

I bought a new Encore 50 X 209 at the gunshow saturday with the forearm and fiber optic sights for $210. I thought I was doing pretty good. Last night I had decided to try it out.
Now, I am in the habit of firing my BP every time I leave the woods, so I failed to check this barrel to see if it was loaded, after all, I bought it at the gunshow, so it wouldn't be loaded, right?
I was trying to beat the sun setting, so I loaded 100 grains and a Hornady SST and I didn't pay attention to how far the ramrod plunged into the barrel.
I got set up on target, placed my 209, pulled the trigger, and something different happened. First, It felt like I had shot a 416 rigby. 2 flaming balls of crap came out at mach 5.
Another lesson learned.

Sorry for the paragraph, I figured someone could use a good laugh. I know my buddies sure did.

My question is: Do you leave your smokepole loaded all season, or do you unload it every evening like me?

 

[MrShooter]

Wow. That really sucks. Is the bore wasted? Does it hold a consistent group now? I wish you had that on film.

 

[RidgeHunter]

I leave it loaded. I fail to see any reason to fire/unload it unless you just absolutely drenched it.

My dad has left his TC caplock loaded for an entire year before, and it still fired.

 

[Weatherby]

I cleaned the hell out of it last night and it looks ok, but I have not fired it again. I'll just have to use my Kodiak until I have time to shoot the Encore barrel again. I am happy it didn't blow up. That might've ruined my day.

 

[imhntn]

If it is wet, I unload and reload every day but if dry, about every 3 days. I usually just remove the breach plug and push the old load out so I will not have to clean it again.

 

[Weatherby]

I leave it loaded. I fail to see any reason to fire/unload it unless you just absolutely drenched it.

My dad has left his TC caplock loaded for an entire year before, and it still fired.

I don't shoot it as a saftey concern or because I'm worried about misfires. I just like to shoot and I do it whenever the opportunity arises. My smokepoles don't get much trigger time and it always makes me smile to see that plume of smoke.

 

[MrShooter]

Wow. That really sucks. Is the bore wasted? Does it hold a consistent group now? I wish you had that on film.

 

[DanB]

I like that nice metal on metal clink when you drop the rod down the empty barrel. little re assurance nothing is down there.

 

[dennishoddy]

Your lucky. Your day could have really gone south.
To answer your question, I leave the last load in mine at the end of season.

A co-worker forgot to take out his ramrod last year. The recoil was so bad that it burst some small blood vessels in his eye.

 

[Weatherby]

No doubt I'm lucky and I will never have that happen again. I have learned my lesson.

We figured that if 150 grains was a magnum load, I must have shot and ultra mag or a nitro load. Lucky I didn't have another load in my britches.