How long can you leave a muzzle loader loaded?

[Ted Summey]

10 years is a long time to leave it loaded and expect it to be safe.

 

[HCJtractor]

10 years is a long time to leave it loaded and expect it to be safe.

Why would it be unsafe? It will either fire or not. It's certainly not going to increase in power with age. If it won't fire I would wait to be sure there's no "hang fire" then start extracting or go in from the breach if possible. And always keep the muzzle pointed safely.

The only safety concern would be if he had reloaded it and double charged it, or if someone else handled if carelessly. In my opinion, a gun is never unsafe if handled properly and the muzzle is always pointed in a safe direction. The only exception would be a barrel obstruction, over pressure charge, or of course a defective barrel

So just prime it and shoot it. I'll bet it goes bang.

 

[k0ua]

I do too. In fact I bet a dollar it will go bang the very first time with a proper cap.

 

[Ted Summey]

I don't have confidence that a gun in storage 10 years was put away in pristine perfectly clean condition or that it has remained so.

Personally I would go to the trouble to unload inspect and proceed if it is safe to do so.

Too many muzzleloading rifles have detonated for various reasons for ME to trust one that was loaded 10 years ago in who knows what kind of condition. We don't even know what kind/brand of firearm he's talking about. Too many variables for me.

It isn't difficult to remove the ball/bullet (I have done so myself) so why take the chance especially if putting the firearm in the hands of a loved one (his DIL)?

Your mileage may vary.

 

[nybirdman]

I don't have confidence that a gun in storage 10 years was put away in pristine perfectly clean condition or that it has remained so.

Personally I would go to the trouble to unload inspect and proceed if it is safe to do so.

Too many muzzleloading rifles have detonated for various reasons for ME to trust one that was loaded 10 years ago in who knows what kind of condition. We don't even know what kind/brand of firearm he's talking about. Too many variables for me.
My sentiments exactly;what are you saving a 10 year old bullet and powder charge?I would not attempt to shoot it.

It isn't difficult to remove the ball/bullet (I have done so myself) so why take the chance especially if putting the firearm in the hands of a loved one (his DIL)?

Your mileage may vary.

My sentiments exactly,what are you saving a 10 year old bullet and powder?

 

[sixdogs]

Black powder also degrades over time. I know it degrades but not sure on the time line. Maybe 10 ? years and get rid of it because it can become unstable. Maybe someone else knows more on this.

 

[Ed of all trades]

I know that my family had a gun that was brought home from the war between the states and was unloaded in the mid 60's. No visible damage was to be seen. It have not been fired because of stock damage but I would not be afraid of the barrel in any way. And that is 10x10 years.

 

[sixdogs]

Just as an offshoot of this, I remember reading that some of the Civil War--War Between the States--battlefield guns were x rayed when that technology became available. Apparently they knew there were obstructions or more than one load in the barrel and wanted to find out for sure what was in there. I don't remember exactly but many of the finds had a number of unfired loads in them. More than 10 comes to mind.

Apparently in the heat of battle the soldiers weren't even aware their rifle was not firing. Maybe they forgot to cap it or whatever but can you imagine the panic situation and horror such a battle must have been?

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Just as an offshoot of this, I remember reading that some of the Civil War--War Between the States--battlefield guns were x rayed when that technology became available. Apparently they knew there were obstructions or more than one load in the barrel and wanted to find out for sure what was in there. I don't remember exactly but many of the finds had a number of unfired loads in them. More than 10 comes to mind.

Apparently in the heat of battle the soldiers weren't even aware their rifle was not firing. Maybe they forgot to cap it or whatever but can you imagine the panic situation and horror such a battle must have been?

Can you imagine what damage a 400 grain, 60 cal. bullet would do at 100 yards?

 

[GolfAddict]

I don't have confidence that a gun in storage 10 years was put away in pristine perfectly clean condition or that it has remained so.

Personally I would go to the trouble to unload inspect and proceed if it is safe to do so.

Too many muzzleloading rifles have detonated for various reasons for ME to trust one that was loaded 10 years ago in who knows what kind of condition. We don't even know what kind/brand of firearm he's talking about. Too many variables for me.

It isn't difficult to remove the ball/bullet (I have done so myself) so why take the chance especially if putting the firearm in the hands of a loved one (his DIL)?

Your mileage may vary.

Now you're making me nervous! More info:

It's a Traditions, "Hawkins Woodsman", 54 cal. It's in excellent condition, and I'm sure that I've fired less than 25 or 30 balls from it. It was cleaned well after each use, it's just that after the last loading I never fired it.

If it's true that the un-fired powder won't corrode the barrel, then it seems it may be safe to try. If the powder has gone bad, it just won't fire...

 

[GolfAddict]

My sentiments exactly,what are you saving a 10 year old bullet and powder?

:laughing: No, I'm not concerned about wasting a load. I hadn't heard about the alternative methods of unloading mentioned in the thread.

 

[Shift4200]

Now you're making me nervous! More info:

It's a Traditions, "Hawkins Woodsman", 54 cal. It's in excellent condition, and I'm sure that I've fired less than 25 or 30 balls from it. It was cleaned well after each use, it's just that after the last loading I never fired it.

If it's true that the un-fired powder won't corrode the barrel, then it seems it may be safe to try. If the powder has gone bad, it just won't fire...

Black powder has no defined shelf life that I can find. Some say the newer 777 style stuff will deteriorate over time.

As others have said, as long as the powder has stayed dry, you should be fine. Was chatting with a friend of mine about this last night.... he told a story of a maxi-ball he loaded back when we were 15... never shot it that season and it went forgotten. Pulled it out 20y later and it fired on the first cap.... 2in from the bull! (that part sounded like embellishment to me, but whatever)

That rifle was an old Knight Side hammer.... Octagon barrel in 50cal.

I'm still on the "go for it" bandwagon, but would understand if OP felt otherwise.

-J

 

[GolfAddict]

Well, after a bunch more searching, I found my little pouch that I carried. For some reason I'll never remember, it wasn't in my nice dry gun safe or nice dry ammo safe. It was among some hunting cloths in my nice and humid basement.

Here is the stuff, and as you can see it was subject to humidity - that's corrosion on the brass, and the tin of caps is rusting.



Worked the lid off the tin of caps, and there is rust inside as well.


The caps don't look so good.


So, I likely have to make the 50 mile round trip to get new caps if I'm going to try this. I don't expect these caps are worth anything anymore.

I still haven't found the powder. It was in a rectangular tin, cannot remember what brand or anything, just that it was bright yellow. I do think (but can't remember for sure) that it was just plain old black powder. It likely isn't any good any longer anyway, but the charge in the barrel should have stayed dry.

 

[Shift4200]

Well, after a bunch more searching, I found my little pouch that I carried. For some reason I'll never remember, it wasn't in my nice dry gun safe or nice dry ammo safe. It was among some hunting cloths in my nice and humid basement.

Here is the stuff, and as you can see it was subject to humidity - that's corrosion on the brass, and the tin of caps is rusting.
View attachment 399505
View attachment 399506


Worked the lid off the tin of caps, and there is rust inside as well.
View attachment 399507

The caps don't look so good.
View attachment 399508

So, I likely have to make the 50 mile round trip to get new caps if I'm going to try this. I don't expect these caps are worth anything anymore.

I still haven't found the powder. It was in a rectangular tin, cannot remember what brand or anything, just that it was bright yellow. I do think (but can't remember for sure) that it was just plain old black powder. It likely isn't any good any longer anyway, but the charge in the barrel should have stayed dry.

No harm in trying those caps out... I've actually used some that looked much worse in the field before. Caps are one of those things... either they work, or they don't. I say it's worth a try, especially if the closest replacements are 50mi/rd trip.

my .02$

-J

 

[JRobyn]

IIRC "Elephant" brand blackpowder came in a yellow tin.

I am in the "fire it" camp. Those caps look just fine to me. I have two Traditions rifles and would not hesitate at all to fire them after a very long layup.

- Jay

 

[sixdogs]

How about throw a cap on it, step outside and pull the trigger? Keep trying caps if they don't work and watch where you point it in case of hang fire or delayed action? Wear safety glasses. I bet it will fire.

 

[HCJtractor]

Quit keeping us in suspense. Put on the old cap and pull the trigger. What's the harm in trying?

 

[clemsonfor]

I left mine loaded for 3-4 seasons i think. Never hunted in the rain and gun stored in the house in a safe when not used. I installed a scope and went to sight it in. I knew it was loaded. This is a 209 inline and was loaded with two 50gain pyrodex 777 pellets and a powerbelt bullet. Anyway i pulled the trigger and it was kind of a delayed ignition and weak slow recoil and an unburned pellet was projected out of the barell about 30 yards leaving a trail of smoke as it went like tossing a lit cigerette but heaviear smoke trail!!! Dont think i would of hit anything let alone killed it if i had shot at a deer.

Anyway i loaded it and shot it like normal the rest of the sight in period.

Its unloaded now but i have not hunted with it the last 2 seasons.

And in case you wonder 777 will corrode some. buddy did not clean it even though i told him too after he borrowed it and it sat for like 1-2 months and it corroded.

 

[GolfAddict]

Well, I tried it. Picked a cap, put it on, walked outside, cocked, pulled trigger.... snap! Cap went off no problem, but no boom.

Brought it in, pulled off the nipple and it looked fine. I took the side screw out and looked in, which didn't tell me much of anything, but I stuck a paper clip in there like was suggested earlier. Wiggled it around a little bit and put it back together. Stuck on another cap, went back out, cocked, pulled, and snap-boom!!

Thanks everyone!

 

[murphy1244]

Well, I tried it. Picked a cap, put it on, walked outside, cocked, pulled trigger.... snap! Cap went off no problem, but no boom.

Brought it in, pulled off the nipple and it looked fine. I took the side screw out and looked in, which didn't tell me much of anything, but I stuck a paper clip in there like was suggested earlier. Wiggled it around a little bit and put it back together. Stuck on another cap, went back out, cocked, pulled, and snap-boom!!

Thanks everyone!

And the crowd went Crazy!:cool2::dance1::drink: