Pennsylvania Game News - November 2012 - 63

real hunt saver. On external percussion guns, this is as simple as replacing the nipple. On in-lines, a specifically-sized drill may need to be purchased for reaming smooth the touch hole. Stainless steel breeches are quite tolerant and may give hunters years of service if they don’t see hundreds of shots run through them. Remember the bear incident, though, your rifle must be up to the task of hunting before you take it out of the safe. Flintlocks can have their own heat issues. The touch hole on the side of the rifle takes a beating from both the outside exposure to burning priming powder, and the tremendous pressure exerted on the inside every time the gun is fired. In time, erosion of the touch hole demands attention, either with the replacement of the touch hole line, or the reaming of touch hole. Have you noticed that the accuracy of your muzzleloader has declined with the passage of time? While most experts seem to feel that this won’t happen until the shooter has put through a thousand shots, I know that one of my rifles, “Ol’ Jed Smith,” went from a prize winning

53-caliber percussion to a gun that had a hard time staying on the paper. How can a barrel go south so quickly? This can be a result of field damage, improper cleaning techniques with an abrasive ramrod. The culprit in this case was a damaged muzzle crown. Apparently, a combination of erosion from an abrasive ramrod (always use a bore protector when cleaning with a metal rod) and damage received in the field when the muzzle was bumped, led to the problem. Fortunately, this situation is a low-cost fix for a trained gunsmith. A small amount of barrel is cut from the muzzle and the bore is recrowned. It will not affect your front sight or even be noticeable to the length of the barrel. And yet, you will need to resight the rifle, but the tightness of the groups will be apparent and the old gun will have a renewed life. And lastly, keep the lock, stock and barrel in a secure location. Safes are the best choice. If the gun is a “shooter,” keep it clean and away from possible damage. Longevity in both hunters and their guns is a mere matter of common sense and careful maintenance. 

Trapper’s Tips…

By Dan Lynch

Fur handling from the field to your fur shed:
Lots of articles are written about fur handling to get the most out of your prized animals. Furbearers should be handled properly from the minute they are dispatched until they reach your fur shed or garage. Wet animals such as mink and muskrat should be dried off with an old towel or paper towels, and then wrapped in some newspaper for the ride home. Many times they will be dried off by the time you get ready to handle the fur later in the day. All animals should have any excess fluids, such as blood or mud wiped off of them, and a piece of paper towel laid under their heads during transport in your vehicle. Taking the time to comb out any burrs from their coats immediately lessons the amount of work to be done later on. Fur handling is a fun part of the trapping experience. Knowing some helpful tips can make this experience even better.
NOVEMBER 2012 63

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/document/920435/trapper's_tips_pdf

Pennsylvania Game News - November 2012

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