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How long can you leave ML loaded?
12/5/2010 9:50:04 PM
Last year was my first year ML for deer season and I didn't get to take a shot, so I left it loaded (took the primer out obviously) I know, bad idea. It is a Knight Vision.
Luckily I checked it before I went out and when I took the breech plug out there was no powder left and I managed to pit my breech plug. I got it cleaned up real good and fired off a few primers only so I know the plug was clear.
So after the day hunting (and again not being able to take a shot) I did unload and took the rifle home and cleaned it, running the barrel in the bathtub under hot water and scrubbed the bore really good.
Since the season is a couple weeks for ML in MI, could I leave it loaded for a couple weeks? Then unload it at the end of the season and clean it up and oil before storing it away.
I guess, how long can you leave one loaded before it becomes no good?
Luckily I checked it before I went out and when I took the breech plug out there was no powder left and I managed to pit my breech plug. I got it cleaned up real good and fired off a few primers only so I know the plug was clear.
So after the day hunting (and again not being able to take a shot) I did unload and took the rifle home and cleaned it, running the barrel in the bathtub under hot water and scrubbed the bore really good.
Since the season is a couple weeks for ML in MI, could I leave it loaded for a couple weeks? Then unload it at the end of the season and clean it up and oil before storing it away.
I guess, how long can you leave one loaded before it becomes no good?
12/5/2010 11:36:01 PM
I leave mine loaded for at most two weeks. Black powder and the like (pyrodex, 777) are corrosive which will rust over a short amount of time. Moisture can also get in causing then powder to go bad and ensuring the barrel and breach plug to rust. It is really not worth suffering accuracy because your barrel is pitted over a $1 shot. Just my $.02.
12/6/2010 5:16:01 PM
I unload mine at the end of the day just about every time I go hunting.
Exceptions usually are if I'm only hunting a Friday afternoon, then going back out Saturday morning.
I know there are a lot of folks that leave them loaded for a couple of weeks or more and have no problem.
I just don't think it's that much work to risk missing a deer on a hang fire or misfire.
Exceptions usually are if I'm only hunting a Friday afternoon, then going back out Saturday morning.
I know there are a lot of folks that leave them loaded for a couple of weeks or more and have no problem.
I just don't think it's that much work to risk missing a deer on a hang fire or misfire.
12/6/2010 8:31:17 PM
Have you tried searching the Archives? 
Your last such post
or maybe this one
Not to judge, but I believe the reason you'll not find to many answers to your question is that the practice is not usually done. Due to the corrosive nature of BP, most people tend to keep them unloaded until such time as they intend to use them. Doesn't mean you can't keep it loaded, just that it's generally not a very practical idea for either safety reasons or damage potential to the weapon.
Just sayin...
Your last such post
or maybe this one
Not to judge, but I believe the reason you'll not find to many answers to your question is that the practice is not usually done. Due to the corrosive nature of BP, most people tend to keep them unloaded until such time as they intend to use them. Doesn't mean you can't keep it loaded, just that it's generally not a very practical idea for either safety reasons or damage potential to the weapon.
Just sayin...
12/6/2010 9:57:12 PM
Originally Posted By FlDiveCop71:
Have you tried searching the Archives?
Your last such post
or maybe this one
Not to judge, but I believe the reason you'll not find to many answers to your question is that the practice is not usually done. Due to the corrosive nature of BP, most people tend to keep them unloaded until such time as they intend to use them. Doesn't mean you can't keep it loaded, just that it's generally not a very practical idea for either safety reasons or damage potential to the weapon.
Just sayin...
Have you tried searching the Archives?
Your last such post
or maybe this one
Not to judge, but I believe the reason you'll not find to many answers to your question is that the practice is not usually done. Due to the corrosive nature of BP, most people tend to keep them unloaded until such time as they intend to use them. Doesn't mean you can't keep it loaded, just that it's generally not a very practical idea for either safety reasons or damage potential to the weapon.
Just sayin...
You think I have that good a memory. Besides I figured I would get a quick answer. That was like a year ago. I know what to do now.
12/6/2010 11:44:11 PM
My 1st ML was given to me by a family friend back in the 50`s. When it was taken apart ( breach plug removed) it had a charge in it of BP & shot which was rolled up in news paper. Part of the paper had a date on it, June 23, 1898 & the powder would still ignite when a match was put to it. So that shows you can leave them loaded for a long time & probaly still fire.
12/7/2010 1:18:41 PM
That was no doubt loaded with real black powder. Modern "substitute" powders are not as stable as real black powder. To answer the question, I will leave mine loaded for a day or two, tops. Usually fire it and clean after the hunt is over.
12/10/2010 4:09:58 PM
Originally Posted By THOLL223:
Last year was my first year ML for deer season and I didn't get to take a shot, so I left it loaded (took the primer out obviously) I know, bad idea. It is a Knight Vision.
Luckily I checked it before I went out and when I took the breech plug out there was no powder left and I managed to pit my breech plug. I got it cleaned up real good and fired off a few primers only so I know the plug was clear.
So after the day hunting (and again not being able to take a shot) I did unload and took the rifle home and cleaned it, running the barrel in the bathtub under hot water and scrubbed the bore really good.
Since the season is a couple weeks for ML in MI, could I leave it loaded for a couple weeks? Then unload it at the end of the season and clean it up and oil before storing it away.
I guess, how long can you leave one loaded before it becomes no good?
Last year was my first year ML for deer season and I didn't get to take a shot, so I left it loaded (took the primer out obviously) I know, bad idea. It is a Knight Vision.
Luckily I checked it before I went out and when I took the breech plug out there was no powder left and I managed to pit my breech plug. I got it cleaned up real good and fired off a few primers only so I know the plug was clear.
So after the day hunting (and again not being able to take a shot) I did unload and took the rifle home and cleaned it, running the barrel in the bathtub under hot water and scrubbed the bore really good.
Since the season is a couple weeks for ML in MI, could I leave it loaded for a couple weeks? Then unload it at the end of the season and clean it up and oil before storing it away.
I guess, how long can you leave one loaded before it becomes no good?
Where could the powder have gone? I have never heard of gunpowder just disappearing!
I loaded my 1858 Remington and new 50 caliber Hawkin with Elephant Black powder for the 2002 Muzzleloading season.
Hunted with them that season and put them up capped and loaded of course. (How else would a casual observer know they were loaded?)
Would have shot them out before going hunting the next season but I was away at college.
Finally shot them out in December of 2003 over Christmas break over a year later. Revolver fired like I had loaded it minutes ago. Hawken was almost instantanious but hung for a fraction of a second, but that could have been caused by me not properly tapping the side of the stock during loading like I have since learned to do.
I loaded a friends 1858 Remington he got for christmas one year as he had no Idea how to use it and wanted to take it hunting. I seated the balls evenly over a very carefully measured 40 grains of Goex 4F powder and sealed the chamber mouths with melted candle wax and seated the caps firmly on the nipples. I explained to him that when he shot it he needed to clean it fairly quickly to prevent corrosion.
About 3 or 4 years later he asks me how to clean it! I was like holy shit man! If that thing hasn't been cleaned in 3 or 4 years its going to be ruined!
He said, "I never shot it, I thought you said I only had to clean it if I shot it". I was like oh, well then I guess we need to go shoot it and clean it.
All 6 chambers fired perfectly!
12/18/2010 1:28:23 PM
DON'T leave BP guns loaded, for obvious reasons.
Also, they corrode. Corroded guns do nobody any good. I'm always amazed at people who hunt with conventional rifles and shotguns, and treat them like gold, but treat BP guns like crap, and are amazed when they don't work.
I've had to break out the 4F priming powder at the range for people who left their guns loaded from last year, and now the guns won't work, even with multiple caps struck. And then they discover the barrel's now pitted.
Not good. Unload it at the end of the day.
Also, they corrode. Corroded guns do nobody any good. I'm always amazed at people who hunt with conventional rifles and shotguns, and treat them like gold, but treat BP guns like crap, and are amazed when they don't work.
I've had to break out the 4F priming powder at the range for people who left their guns loaded from last year, and now the guns won't work, even with multiple caps struck. And then they discover the barrel's now pitted.
Not good. Unload it at the end of the day.
12/20/2010 9:01:04 PM
Originally Posted By BigHunt:
Where could the powder have gone? I have never heard of gunpowder just disappearing!
I loaded my 1858 Remington and new 50 caliber Hawkin with Elephant Black powder for the 2002 Muzzleloading season.
Hunted with them that season and put them up capped and loaded of course. (How else would a casual observer know they were loaded?)
Would have shot them out before going hunting the next season but I was away at college.
Finally shot them out in December of 2003 over Christmas break over a year later. Revolver fired like I had loaded it minutes ago. Hawken was almost instantanious but hung for a fraction of a second, but that could have been caused by me not properly tapping the side of the stock during loading like I have since learned to do.
I loaded a friends 1858 Remington he got for christmas one year as he had no Idea how to use it and wanted to take it hunting. I seated the balls evenly over a very carefully measured 40 grains of Goex 4F powder and sealed the chamber mouths with melted candle wax and seated the caps firmly on the nipples. I explained to him that when he shot it he needed to clean it fairly quickly to prevent corrosion.
About 3 or 4 years later he asks me how to clean it! I was like holy shit man! If that thing hasn't been cleaned in 3 or 4 years its going to be ruined!
He said, "I never shot it, I thought you said I only had to clean it if I shot it". I was like oh, well then I guess we need to go shoot it and clean it.
All 6 chambers fired perfectly!
Originally Posted By THOLL223:
Last year was my first year ML for deer season and I didn't get to take a shot, so I left it loaded (took the primer out obviously) I know, bad idea. It is a Knight Vision.
Luckily I checked it before I went out and when I took the breech plug out there was no powder left and I managed to pit my breech plug. I got it cleaned up real good and fired off a few primers only so I know the plug was clear.
So after the day hunting (and again not being able to take a shot) I did unload and took the rifle home and cleaned it, running the barrel in the bathtub under hot water and scrubbed the bore really good.
Since the season is a couple weeks for ML in MI, could I leave it loaded for a couple weeks? Then unload it at the end of the season and clean it up and oil before storing it away.
I guess, how long can you leave one loaded before it becomes no good?
Last year was my first year ML for deer season and I didn't get to take a shot, so I left it loaded (took the primer out obviously) I know, bad idea. It is a Knight Vision.
Luckily I checked it before I went out and when I took the breech plug out there was no powder left and I managed to pit my breech plug. I got it cleaned up real good and fired off a few primers only so I know the plug was clear.
So after the day hunting (and again not being able to take a shot) I did unload and took the rifle home and cleaned it, running the barrel in the bathtub under hot water and scrubbed the bore really good.
Since the season is a couple weeks for ML in MI, could I leave it loaded for a couple weeks? Then unload it at the end of the season and clean it up and oil before storing it away.
I guess, how long can you leave one loaded before it becomes no good?
Where could the powder have gone? I have never heard of gunpowder just disappearing!
I loaded my 1858 Remington and new 50 caliber Hawkin with Elephant Black powder for the 2002 Muzzleloading season.
Hunted with them that season and put them up capped and loaded of course. (How else would a casual observer know they were loaded?)
Would have shot them out before going hunting the next season but I was away at college.
Finally shot them out in December of 2003 over Christmas break over a year later. Revolver fired like I had loaded it minutes ago. Hawken was almost instantanious but hung for a fraction of a second, but that could have been caused by me not properly tapping the side of the stock during loading like I have since learned to do.
I loaded a friends 1858 Remington he got for christmas one year as he had no Idea how to use it and wanted to take it hunting. I seated the balls evenly over a very carefully measured 40 grains of Goex 4F powder and sealed the chamber mouths with melted candle wax and seated the caps firmly on the nipples. I explained to him that when he shot it he needed to clean it fairly quickly to prevent corrosion.
About 3 or 4 years later he asks me how to clean it! I was like holy shit man! If that thing hasn't been cleaned in 3 or 4 years its going to be ruined!
He said, "I never shot it, I thought you said I only had to clean it if I shot it". I was like oh, well then I guess we need to go shoot it and clean it.
All 6 chambers fired perfectly!
FFFF?
12/21/2010 3:28:20 AM
Gotta be a typo. I've never tried 4F for a main charge on anything, but if there's a way to kaboom a black powder revolver without resorting to smokeless or flash powder, 4F is the way to do it.
I don't even use 4F for priming my flinter anymore. I've found that 3F works just as fast for me, and stays fresh in the pan longer for hunting or on humid days at the range.
I don't even use 4F for priming my flinter anymore. I've found that 3F works just as fast for me, and stays fresh in the pan longer for hunting or on humid days at the range.
1/10/2011 12:18:06 PM
Originally Posted By kevthebassman:
Gotta be a typo. I've never tried 4F for a main charge on anything, but if there's a way to kaboom a black powder revolver without resorting to smokeless or flash powder, 4F is the way to do it.
I don't even use 4F for priming my flinter anymore. I've found that 3F works just as fast for me, and stays fresh in the pan longer for hunting or on humid days at the range.
Gotta be a typo. I've never tried 4F for a main charge on anything, but if there's a way to kaboom a black powder revolver without resorting to smokeless or flash powder, 4F is the way to do it.
I don't even use 4F for priming my flinter anymore. I've found that 3F works just as fast for me, and stays fresh in the pan longer for hunting or on humid days at the range.
Nope not a TYPO. I use 40 grains of Goex FFFF (4F) for a maximum hunting load in my .44 caliber revolvers.
Chronographs 987 fps with a 140 grain .454 cast round ball from my 1858 Pietta Remington copy.
1/11/2011 2:59:37 AM
Well, you've got me beat for courage, or something.
1/11/2011 11:56:26 PM
You already had a cap on it - unload by firing.
When I used to do War of 1812 reenactments we'd use 100 or so grains for 4F down the muzzle with the frizzen closed & knock the side of the stock to prime the pan. That was with nothing compressing the powder, though. DAMN!
When I used to do War of 1812 reenactments we'd use 100 or so grains for 4F down the muzzle with the frizzen closed & knock the side of the stock to prime the pan. That was with nothing compressing the powder, though. DAMN!
1/12/2011 12:27:24 PM
Originally Posted By madmanblake:
You already had a cap on it - unload by firing.
When I used to do War of 1812 reenactments we'd use 100 or so grains for 4F down the muzzle with the frizzen closed & knock the side of the stock to prime the pan. That was with nothing compressing the powder, though. DAMN!
You already had a cap on it - unload by firing.
When I used to do War of 1812 reenactments we'd use 100 or so grains for 4F down the muzzle with the frizzen closed & knock the side of the stock to prime the pan. That was with nothing compressing the powder, though. DAMN!
4F? Down the barrel? WTF? What unit were you in? No wonder I stopped doing 1812 reenactment. Bunch of unsafe farbs.
1/12/2011 7:01:33 PM
Originally Posted By 95thFoot:
4F? Down the barrel? WTF? What unit were you in? No wonder I stopped doing 1812 reenactment. Bunch of unsafe farbs.
Originally Posted By madmanblake:
You already had a cap on it - unload by firing.
When I used to do War of 1812 reenactments we'd use 100 or so grains for 4F down the muzzle with the frizzen closed & knock the side of the stock to prime the pan. That was with nothing compressing the powder, though. DAMN!
You already had a cap on it - unload by firing.
When I used to do War of 1812 reenactments we'd use 100 or so grains for 4F down the muzzle with the frizzen closed & knock the side of the stock to prime the pan. That was with nothing compressing the powder, though. DAMN!
4F? Down the barrel? WTF? What unit were you in? No wonder I stopped doing 1812 reenactment. Bunch of unsafe farbs.
Indians
ETA: that was just my first time with a borrowed musket. Some older guys gave me the cartridges - once I got my gun I rolled my own with 2 or 3F & made the extra effort to actually prime the pan. Sometimes those guys did loan me cartridges down the line - they were a surprise after some milder loads.
1/21/2011 1:07:55 AM
I've left my revolvers loaded for long periods, in fact I just took one out the other day had been loaded/capped in the safe for maybe 2 years(?), the caps just fizzled, I think maybe 2 fired, I had to put fresh caps on it, the powder fired fine then. I thought BP was only corrosive AFTER you fired it? If the powder it self is corrosive, how come the tin can doesn't rust out?
How about who carry C&B revolvers for defense? They keep them loaded.
I've thought about keeping BPs for defense, I'd say fire it and clean it every 2 weeks.
How about who carry C&B revolvers for defense? They keep them loaded.
I've thought about keeping BPs for defense, I'd say fire it and clean it every 2 weeks.1/27/2011 9:57:00 AM
it was not unusual to find older muzzleloaders loaded with a charge back when it was common to find originals. most of the time these charges will fire. I wouldn't leave a modern gun loaded- use this as an excuse to take it out confirm zeros and shoot a little and clean after
1/28/2011 11:04:24 AM
I use the Savage 10MLII smokeless and leave it loaded as long as i need and have never had a issue with it not firing and i don't have to worry about the corrosive powder.
