If it has not been fired I do not worry about it. My Endeavor was loaded in the middle of Oct after it was cleaned when I got a deer. It was just shot last Friday because I decided to have a practice session getting ready for the 3 day Dec. season. It was loaded with Blackhorn. I always clean when I shoot them but don't worry much about it other wise it had a thumb cot over the barrel and had been out in two rains.