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Speed loaders, plastic speed loaders. I have to spit on the ground every time I say that along with that disgusting term, in-line.

There, I said it again, excuse me while I go outside and spit on the ground!!!

As Stan says speed and simplicity is the key. It�s very easy in the field to become distracted and misload your gun, especially with a SXS. Once I accidentally loaded both loads of powder in one barrel and the shot in the other. Fortunately, I tried to shoot the shot loaded barrel first. Now I inscribe a black ring near the butt end of my ram rod at the level it should be at when the barrel is properly loaded. KISS is the key!

Here is a photo of some extra tools I carry in my possibles bag.


The top is sample vials I use to hold powder and shot. You can�t see it well in the photos but the vials are marked with shot size and gun they�re prepared for (I used to have both a 10 gauge and 36 gauge ML too). The screw cap for the powder vial is marked with black marker on the end.

The middle tool is a wad starter. One of my muzzle loaders is a 12 gauge Pedersoli that is choked IM and IC. The wad starter really helps get the wads past the choke. It�s also useful if you have overly tight wads.

The bottom tool is for mounting percussion caps. It�s a life saver on a cold day with numb fingers.

Like Stan does in the dove fields, for volume shooting I use a hardwood dowel as a ram rod. It works well and you don�t even have to think about breaking it.

FWIW Treblig1958 that shot/powder dipper is really nice and I may just purchase one to help with preloads. It�s easy to mark the preload so that you can quickly make a field choice.

Steve

Field carry presents a lot of challenges and nothing is more challenging then a muzzleloading double barrel shotgun.

I agree with Stan. I have several of those "Original" adjustable shot & powder dippers, but never carried them afield. I did use them to preload my little individual containers so I still considered them "Authentic". My dad was a Beagle man & when he was still living & able I went rabbit hunting with ham a lot & often carried my old original I Hollis ML shotgun. For that where fast reloads was not normally essential I usually carried an adjustable powder flask for the powder loads & just the shot premeasured. I was warned to "NEVER" load the powder directly from the flask so attached a little closed end tube which would hold more than enough & dropped the charge in it from the flask & then dumped down the barrel.
For dove shooting or any other where you will be firing a number of shots from the same position Stan's method is the way to go.
The little dippers are best used where they can be used as their name implies, Dipped, not poured into from the container. Not easy to get them full without spillage, best to dip & level off. This is not handy in the field.

As long as we�re on the subject, here�s a picture of some more of the gear that lives in my possibles bag.


The top tool is a percussion nipple wrench with a nipple pick that screws into the wrench for storage.

The middle tool is a worm (corkscrew) that screws into the butt end of the ram rod. The worm is used to unload the gun. Note the black mark ringing the ram rod. With the ram rod sitting on top of the finished load the black ring is even with the barrel muzzle.

I also carry a wire brush for occasionally cleaning carbon buildup in the barrel. As can be seen that the brush is fitted with an adapter so that I can use it with my ram rod.

I carry other equipment in my possibles bag but these tools I consider essential for adequate field preparation.

Steve

I hear and feel for you Treblig1958. The only problem I have with in-line muzzle loaders is that they�re used to circumvent the intent of the original muzzle loading season. Originally, having a muzzle loading season was a way of keeping the old ways of hunting alive using vintage or replica vintage equipment. Then people began developing modern equipment that met the legal standards as muzzle loaders simply to extend their hunting season, defeating the original intent of the law. It�s too bad that people are really good at F-ing things up to get what they want.

Steve

I agree Steve. What I hate most is that the in-lines have taken over everything. The big box stores have nothing but stuff for in-lines that's it. And there are very few stores in this area any more that are dedicated black powder shops. There use to be a bunch back in the 60's and 70's, they're all gone now.

Ahhhh, I said in-line again, excuse me while I go outside and spit on the ground.

Steve, I have hunted with Muzzleloading shotguns for years and they are fun and a BLAST. I took My 11 ga Wm Moore out last year Dove hunting and the folks were amazed at all the loading noise and smoke
I even Quail hunted behind dogs with MY English Lewis and Tombes 12 ga. a couple of times.
Where are you now?

Hi Leighton, I�m currently in Capitan NM for the remainder of the month. I�m planning on taking my home-on-wheels up to Illinois to visit with friends scattered though the state and hopefully do some pen-raised pheasant hunting at a state run put & take area west of Chicago. I no longer have a dog so that makes hunting pen-raised birds at least a bit more sporting. Come mid-November and I�ll be hightailing it back down to Sierra Vista, AZ for the winter.

How�re you doing? Do you still have that British SXS I alerted you to that was on sale at Cabela�s a few years ago.

Steve

Yes, I bought it . Wonderful gun, but a friend of mine wanted it and sold it to him. Going to Cabelas in the morning to Scout out the library