I started muzzle loader hunting. Can you leave the bullet and powder/pellets in the rifle overnight if you take out the primer. or do you have too shoot it/or push the bullet and pellets out.
I've left them in a few days. Just take out the primer so you're safe.
I've had a traditions muzzle loader for a few years now, i use the pyrodex black powder pellets and the longest i left them in there with the bullet was a week (stored in a dry place). A day or two i have never had any problems from, but i left it in there a full week and took it hunting and shot at a large doe and all that went off was the primer, i took out my breech plug that night and the powder had corroded and clogged my nipple. Mine is a bolt action and it only takes a few minutes to take it apart and push the pellets and bullet out of it, hopefully you get something out of this.
If you have been out hunting in the cold, I would empty the gun. Once you bring the gun in, it will sweat and the condensation can get into the powder and deaden the shot or just sit there and rust from being previously fired. I use an air blaster and empty it when I get back to the cabin from hunting. Yes, you lose a cap, bullet and powder and it does cost a bit but we have a rule about loaded guns in camp and I just don't want to deal with rust or a dead round when I really want that big buck. If there hasn't been a big temperature difference, you can get by with it and some antiques have been found loaded after 200 years and the powder still ignited. However, if it is more than a day or so, I'd empty it since I would likely forget until next season if I didn't.
I leave the charge and bullet in until I shoot in the woods or the end of hunting season, I do not store it loaded during the off season. I leave the gun in my truck or the garage when I am not hunting, this prevents any chance of barrel condensation by taking it in a warm house, then again I have friends that take theirs in and have never had a problem. Its just goes back to personal preferance.
Leave it loaded. One word of advice, if you store your gun inside, put it muzzle-down. If there is any moisture in the barrel, it will not foul your powder. I only shoot my mzzle loader while hunting or at the end of the season to clear the bore and have never had a problem.
