How long can you leave a muzzle loader loaded?

[murphy1244]

I used that for cleaning condensate drains. for air conditioning.

 

[sixdogs]

You can remove the nipple and blow compressed air in and it should dislodge the ball. I'd call that plan "B" and opt to shoot it first.

 

[Jw5875]

Remove the nipple, take a paper clip and poke it down into the breech to disturb the powder. Put some powder in the nipple hole (work some in with the paper clip) install the nipple and shoot it. It may take a few tries.
If that fails, lube the bore with a heavy oil patch and pull the ball.
JW 5875


Home - Civil War Heritage Preservation - The North-South Skirmish Association, Inc.

 

[nybirdman]

Depends on the type of gun and the powder.Black powder;you have a real problem.I would try the co 2 method first a ball puller second.That's what is nice about the new in-line's ,you can just pull the breech plug.
I load mine for our early ML season and if not fired for the late ML season.............6weeks with triple 7 powder.My son has gone 6 months and his fired with no problem with Triple 7.

 

[Ted Summey]

You don't say if it is a modern muzzleloader. If it is a modern muzzleloader, take the breech plug out and push the bullet out along with the old powder through the breech. Clean it, inspect and determine if it is safe to fire.

If it is a primitive muzzleloader without a removable breech plug, a bullet extractor attached to the rod will be what you need to remove the bullet. Clean, inspect and determine if it is safe to fire.

Personally, I wouldn't fire it. You may be okay but the potential for corrosion over 10 years of sitting loaded would make me cautious.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I admittedly have no experience with muzzle loaders, but I used to work with a guy who was into the Mountain Man thing. Although I have no details, I do know that he had a muzzle loader discharge when he was trying to unload it. He got a face full of black powder that left him with permanent black powder tattoos.

 

[HCJtractor]

I leave mine loaded often. For as long as a year. It still fires just fine. Certainly it's better to unload it but it just can't harm you to put a cap in and fire it. how could that be dangerous? Worst case scenario is it doesn't discharge. Then I would fire a few more caps. Mine is an inline so I can also remove the breach plug to unload it. That's simple and cleaner. My rifle is in my safe now loaded. Just have not gotten around to unloading it since the season closed. No big deal.

The danger of this is what had you not noticed it was loaded and placed another charge and projectile on top? I can see how that could be like a barrel obstruction and dangerous.

 

[GolfAddict]

I didn't realize that the powder isn't corrosive until fired, so maybe it's just a matter of IF it will fire depending on the condition the powder is in.

Unloading it with compressed air through the nipple is clever, never would have thought of that. If it won't fire that sounds like an easier option than the extractor. I think I'll just go ahead and try to shoot it, but haven't found my caps yet. Might have to make a run into town for some.

 

[bcp]

If you can replace the nipple with a grease fitting of the same thread, you can apply lots more pressure than an air hose.

Bruce

 

[Dr_Zinj]

You might need to pop a couple of caps before it fires if the powder has too much moisture in it.

I have a flintlock I use that I load the night before opening day and leave loaded until the end of muzzleloader season (assuming I don't see a deer I can shoot.) Just empty the pan and ease the hammer down each night works for me.