i'm just a rookie at this cap and ball stuff guys... i've been leaving a load in my rifle and keeping it close to hand around the place here...my question is this...

am i doing my rifle any damage leaving a load in it for long periods of time indoors? i had a stretch there where it sat for 4-5 weeks with a load tamped down and ready to go...i forgot about it being loaded after elk season.... i got all excited about heading out on vacation and just hung it over my desk where it usually sets....when i realized what i'd done after getting home, i went out and touched her off.... it seemed like it was a pretty dead load.... might have soaked up a bit of moisture you think ????

anyway.... how long can i keep a load in this thing without doing damage to the rifle? Kirk

I haveno problem leaving a load in the bore for monthsso long as it's in a squeaky clean barrel,and have never had a load degrade in the barrel when I do that. I do not leave a load in a fouled bore for any more than two days.

Depends on what powder and the way its loaded. Any of the APP powders will gather a lot of moisture, so will some of the other subs.
Blackhorn is none hydroscopic [wont absob moisture from the air] if you load seals up decent I leave it in for a few days. I have also dont it with Pyrodex, I would not trust any of the others. Lee

I know there are people that leave their rifles loaded for long times. I personally am not one of them. I have done the leave them loaded routine and normally it only lead to trouble.

First off, was the gun fired and then reloaded? If it was then you can not leave the rifle loaded. It must be cleaned before stored for extended periods of time.

If the rifle was loaded on a clean bore, normally the charge will not harm the rifle no matter how long it sits in the bore, but that can depend on the powder and how clean the rifle actually was. If the rifle was clean, the load can sit there a long time with no damage, but the load may contaminate itself and not fire off.

Personally I do not leave them loaded. This is a personal choice of mine. I'd rather clean the rifle every night and start on a clean bore then take any chances...

Thanks guys...i had pyrodex P in that load that sat for 4-5 weeks and i swear it sounded like a half load when i touched it off.... the conical went way low too...it was a clean bore load though....

will these things absorb moisture through the nipple?

Many of the powders are very water hungry.Some of the worse powders are the American Pioneer Products they claim. Although I have never left an APP load in so I will not claim it as gospel. I personally think all powders will absorb moisture from the air if they are given the opportunity. How much and what will happen is the question.

I hunted with Pyrodex RS one year and left the rifle loaded that night, but stored in a garage (so the temperatures would remain the same). The next day I had a shot at a nice little buck. When all that fired was the cap, I could have cried as it was the only horn I had seen in 12 days of hunting. That is when I decided no more leaving them loaded over night.

There are some people that have real good luck leaving them loaded. I am not one of them. But you can decide what you want to do. I shoot them off at the end of the day, or pull the charge, and basically clean the rifle and start new the next day. Others put the rifles in the garage, car, shed, even in the house, and never have a problem. Lucky is not my name.