Lesson Learned...

[Mike]

...the hard way.
Guys please be careful this weekend. It takes one dumb move to hurt yourself or ruin your muzzleloader. I learned the hard way yesterday. I'm OK, but things could have been much worse..
I was not paying attention and I left my aluminum ram rod down the barrel and then shot my gun. I'm shooting a smokeless Savage ML-II and the recoil was intense. I was wearing eye protection so my face is OK. My gun unfortunately is not. The ram rod made it down range and was bent into a "C" shape. Even though this barrel is designed to accommodate crazy PSI, there is damage inside the barrel. This damage that is visible to the naked eye and felt by running down a patch. Lesson learned.

 

[badger]

Glad to hear that weren't hurt Mike. That's a very easy mistake to make for anybody. Thanks for sharing this heads up.

 

[Hoytmania]

Wow glad to hear you are alright bro. Could have been a lot worse for sure.

 

["J"]

Damn.... Sorry too hear this Mike.... Guns can be replaced my friend you can't..... Glad you're around too relay the message....

 

[cotty16]

Dang! Glad your ok man!!!

 

[CJD3]

Damn. You were lucky Mike. I'm glad to hear you were not injured. It could have been much worse

 

[MK111]

Hate to here that but glad you are OK.

 

[Quantum673]

Glad you are ok.

 

[hickslawns]

Thanks for the warning. Crazy things can happen to any of us. Glad you are okay.

 

[Archertl]

glad your alright mike.

 

[Big_Holla]

Damn glad you are ok!! The older I get the more dumb things I do, thanks for the reminder!!

 

[moundhill]

Glad you're okay bud. That coulda been real bad.

 

[jeremy44230]

Good to hear you were not hurt! Just goes to show how one little slip of mind could cause a major injury or damage.

 

[Lundy]

Mike,

Sorry you messed up your barrel, be glad you didn't do that with a different gun

A lot of guys use only a range rod for shooting practice and put a 4" or bigger flat plate or plastic ball, something, on the ramrod so it is impossible to not see it if you leave it in the barrel

 

[Mike]

Good tip.

 

[bowhunter1023]

Damn Mike, glad you are alright. Had to be a pucker assed moment!!!

 

[Dannmann801]

well that just sucks.
Easy to see how it can happen - that's why it's so important to develop your steps and stick to them and not get distracted.
I have before been distracted at the range and forgot what step I was on and had to backtrack - it's unnerving.

Glad you're ok.

 

[RedCloud]

Sucks the gun is wrecked but glad your ok man.

Just getting into the MZ thing had me on edge and waited for a day somebody with more knowledge then myself could go along just so I didn't do something wrong the first few times to get a routine.

After shooting now I could see how easy this could happen. Again, glad your alright buddy.

 

[DJK Frank 16]

Wow that's crazy Mike, glad you are ok man.

 

[Mike]

I've got a line on a barrel for a steal. Thanks for the concern guys.