How long can a load be in a gun?
 

How long can a load be in a gun?
I've been asked this question and have wondered myself. I have alwaya gone with 1 day and then clean the gun. Also, is there a difference between Stainless and blued for this time period?
Thanks,
Chris

RE: How long can a load be in a gun?
 

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Sometimes only the morning hunt! It all depends on air moisture where you're hunting. Pay attention to the humidity reports in your local area & obviously any type of rain. I now shoot my load every night regardless. If the air is full of dew/fog/rain, I'll shoot it twice a day. Animals like deer generally are not disturbed by a single shot in the distance. They are more apt to run a mile after seeing/smelling you. Also... MLs in general shoot more accurately on a fouled bore than a clean one. A light swab with soluble gun oil like Ballistol or Birchwood-Casey Sheath between shots - then both sides of a dry patch in an already-fouled bore every night is all you need to remain accurate & keep the bore moisture-resistant -- plus have more fun actually shooting the rifle while out hunting for the week.

In most cases involving ML hunters, these frontstuffers are more fun & create additional conversations at the kitchen table when you shoot them everyday...lol

RE: How long can a load be in a gun?
 

A guy I used to hunt with always said he'd leave his loaded all year long!

I don't know if he was telling the truth or not.

RE: How long can a load be in a gun?
 

ccicora

The real question is "how long can you keep it dry?" If you can keep it dry it will be there for you. I went four weeks, hunting on the weekends, during Elk season with the same load in the barrel and I went through some pretty nasty Idaho mountain weather. Last weekend was the last one so that evenening I sighted a nice chunk of basalt at about 75yds and touched it off if it had been a bull elk it would have been blown to pieces.

Another, thought an old guy up here that hunts with a sidehammer never pulls his load, he has left loads in at the end of one hunting season and shot that load the next. He considers himself a throwback to the old days - waste-not want not. He also is not near as particular about his barrel as I am - says it's not necessary in fact his sidehammer was his dads and it is older than the hills and if you look down the barrel you would agree. It is in tough shape - but man does it shoot well he can hit anything he wants to.

In reality here is what I do, I am shooting Remington SS barrels and a A&H Nickel barrel on the inlines and regular blued barrels on the sidelocks - I treat them no differently. Once the season gets here I will shoot a few rounds in whichever gun I am using to check either the scope or the sights. I will then clean the barrel with damp patches run a real light coat of a good gun oil down the barrel patch that several times to move it around and get the excess out. And it is ready for the season. Anytime during the season that I shoot it I repeat the process, but I never really strip it and regiment clean it until after the season. Loads may stay in all season, I hope not - I hope i get use them... but if I keep the powder dry I don't worry about it, whether it is damp, wet, or snowy out. If there is any question dump the load.

All this said this advice is with T7 in mind - if you are using real BP - that might be a different problem.

Good luck in what ever method you use....

RE: How long can a load be in a gun?
 

The major question is .... was the gun fired. If the gun was fired then it has to be cleaned. This includes a fowling shot for some, and even blowing through a couple caps or primers, although the primers do not seem as corosive as the black powder itself. For the protection of your rifle, if you have shot the rifle during the day then clean it that night.

If this is in reference to how long will the load in the rifle still be good... That is again influenced by the way the rifle was handled, weather proofed, and what it went through during the day. Then take into consideration what temperatures it has encountered during the day, and how it was or will be stored as to whether or not it will go off. This year I left a Black Diamond XR loaded for three days and it fired off fine... I normally shoot mine off at the end of the day, clean them, and then start with a fresh load in the morning. This year I was hunting further from home and walking out in the dark so I did not fire the rifle off......

Taking into consideration what weather conditions will do to not only a black powder rifle, but a modern rifle. How many times after hunting all day in a fog, mist, rain, whatever... you come in set the rifle up over the night and see some light surface rust trying to form. So again, if the gun was subjected to bad weather conditions, if you don't clean it, at least wipe it off and oil it.

As for how long can you leave a gun loaded... There are cases where a black powder rifle which was not fowled, was loaded and left loaded for years. When the rifle was finally checked they really found little or no damage from the rifle being loaded. The problem comes in when the burned powder has a chance to react with moisture and metal. It creates an acid of sorts that starts to eat away at the metal it has come in contact with.

Loaded rifles sitting on a mantal have been discovered to be not only loaded but very able to still fire after years of resting there. That is why black powder rifles especially the older ones we come across at gun shows and pawn shops and people's homes, where ever, should be handled with even more then normal care. It is too easy to take for granted they are empty only to learn they are charged. There have been cases where someone capped Grandpa's old musket only to discover that Grandpa left it loaded the hard way. I think we can all remember an incident last year where a person with an old black powder rifle was actingn stupid, capped it thinking it was empty, pointed it at I believe it was his granddaughter, and then shot her when he pulled the trigger and it discharged.....

RE: How long can a load be in a gun?
 

End of last winter I left mine loaded for about 3 months before I got out to do any shooting with it. Went off like it was supposed to. My cap-n-ball revolver stays loaded all summer and fall, never a problem.

RE: How long can a load be in a gun?
 

I loaded mine friday morning, and just got back from shooting it off. I'll leave it in there until I get back from hunting. Then I'll fire it, clean it, and reload before my next trip. If you can keep from going in and out of the cold, so condinsation doesn't affect the powder, it is no different from having a loaded barrel, or a 30-06 cartridge sitting side by side. Good luck hunting this fall.

RE: How long can a load be in a gun?
 

at one time , I did all the stuff you all have mentioned.I have hunted all day fired and cleaned.hunt and fire the next morning , load and hunt and clean that night.it always shot and at the end of the season there was no damage to barrel.
Then one year I left it loaded for 4 mo. due to medical problems.it shot like new.My pistol was left till the next year.it shoot OK also.
This was guns that was loaded and not shoot(if you shoot that gun It Has to be cleaned;no mistake.don't clean and you got a messed up gun)!!![:o]

that being said,if it was shootin and not causing a problem ; Why was I doing all this cleaning??after that If I didn't shoot it I would leave it till the next year and shoot it befor the season and clean and load.(Never no problem) this was for 25 years or so.
For the last 15 or so years I have not had that problem.I have taken 2 or 3 bucks a year,so I have to clean and load again.

JMHO; if it has not been fired,it has been load properly,the powder should be just like in the can.it should not cause a problem.at least that has been my experence.I don't shoot my gun unless it is at a buck.or the next year,which ever come first.[8D]:D

RE: How long can a load be in a gun?
 

Thanks for the replies,
I have been cleaning out the load fired or not every 24 hrs at most. It would be nice to load friday night and shoot it out Sunday night after the hunt. Provoding I didn't shoot a deer or three....
Thanks,
Chris

RE: How long can a load be in a gun?
 

Because of being dedicated to keeping my rifles showroom ready, and because of horrible tragedies like the granddaughter incident above, I do not believe in leaving loaded guns laying around so I always unload daily.

But it's not necessary to go through all the trouble of shooting and cleaning the rifle.
At the end of the day, I either "pull" my load or "blow" them out with compressed air depending on where I am.

Then I just wipe the bore and vent liner, take the rifle inside the house to get it warm and dry...load fresh the next morning and go again.

And...never have to worry about that rifle again...if I wake up and it's raining, or an emergency comes up and I can't go, or I get busy with work, or get invited on a duck hunt, or decide to hunt a different caliber, etc, etc, etc...before you know it, weeks / months can go by as a result of a strange set of circumstances...but my peace of mind is that it won't matter to me because that rifle will be clean, lubed, and empty unless I'm actually hunting with it.

RE: How long can a load be in a gun?
 

lazyness does not a target shooter make...

The folks "cleanin em once a year whether they need it or not" are only fooling themselves and ruining any chance of their guns staying extremely accurate for decades. Blackpowder and ALL of her substitutes (save for smokeless) are acidic and also attract/draw moisture (whats the word for that... hygroscopic or sumpin like dat?). Your typical 30/06 case laying around is worry free because of several factors but the biggest is that the mixture is weatherproof. The same CANNOT be said for a loaded muzzleloader.

The only way you could be completely "moistureless" would be to load the gun in an extremely dry location. Then immediately place a waterproof plug over the muzzle and nipple areas. But why do even that? How much is the compenents of a load vs the damage using your gun as a big speed loader? Just unload it/ shoot it, reclean it and the load it up prior too her next use.

As was said, are we talking about keeping an already fired gun loaded or a clean one? The benefits of an inline is the removal of the breechplug and being able to unload the gun without firing and cleaning. THAT is the simpleist solution. But its not simple if you are shooting loose powder and cant remove the breechplug with the gun pointed muzzle down. That loose powder is a MESS to clean from the breechplug area because of all the lube in that area. If its already dirty then why worry about saving a load? You will more than likely just end up with a destroyed barrel and a frozen breechplug if you take the lazy road.

And for those REALLY opposed to cleanin em (twould be me in this group), theres the SAVAGE smokeless hehehe! Lastnight after hunting I fired the gun into the ground, threw her into the backseat and went home. Shes only had 10 shots fired through her. It still got 90 more before the breechplug needs to be removed and relubed!!!
RA

RE: How long can a load be in a gun?
 

If we're talking already fired...mine gets cleaned right off. I shoot Swiss and Goex, wouldn't dream of leaving them that long with a fouled barrel or cylinders. When mine have set loaded, they were clean before hand.

RE: How long can a load be in a gun?
 

Call me stupid but yesterday I shot my 50 cal CVA Apollo which has been loaded with 90 grains of pyrodex and a patch and ball for a little less than 2 years. I loaded it in 2002 to go hunting one day. Did not shoot it and did not get to hunt last year. My son and I were shooting his new gun yesterday so I took my CVA laid it on the bench wrapped it with carpet and shot it. It shot great just like it does every load. No rust or damage apparent. Loaded and shot it five more times then cleaned it real well. Ready to hunt again. I will not leave it loaded again though. Seems to be pushing my luck!

RE: How long can a load be in a gun?
 

If shot, moisture hunts or won't be using it in the near future it is cleaned. If unshot, dry and will be using it the next day I keep it loaded. If ever unsure I error on the side of caution and clean it, this way their is no doubt it will be ok.

There really is no reason to keep your ML loaded during the off season, minimally you should do a tear down clean once a year to ensure rust or pitting does not form in area's you can't clean or protect with casual cleaning procedure's.

RE: How long can a load be in a gun?
 

I usually keep a load in for about a week, but again depends on moisture. Also I change it every week because that bullet wasnt very lucky if it was in there that long;)

RE: How long can a load be in a gun?
 

I left mine in a whole year once, never did get around to unloading and cleaning it, and it went off like a charm when i shot it.

RE: How long can a load be in a gun?
 

Last year was my first year hunting with the ML. I have a Knight Wolverine and used it for 5 days hunting over our ML season last December that last for 9 or 10 days. I left the load in and just took the disc/primer out and had no problems when I took the rifle to the range another week later to fire off some rounds. That's the longest I ever left it loaded. The days I did hunt were quite cold and snowy. I left the gun in the garage so it didn't get fully heated in the house.

I'll be hunting for 4 or 5 days this coming week and will leave the load in til I hopefully get a shot and see how these ML's do on whitetails. Can't wait.

RE: How long can a load be in a gun?
 

I load mine on the day before gun season (today:D) and leave it loaded until I shoot something, or until the season is over. Like said above, if I shoot something it gets cleaned. I normally only take one deer a year during gun season, so I'm pretty much done after I shoot it any way. I may load it again for a follow up shot after shooting at something, but not always.

My muzzle loader never comes inside again either until it gets shot and I have to clean it. I just take the cap out and leave it in my locked blind or keep it in my trunk. In MI it is not considered loaded unless it has a cap in it. Powder and a bullet or ok, as long as there is no primer it's legally safe. I don't however leave any of my guns loaded while they are in the house muzzle loader or not.

One year I did accidently leave mine loaded for about six month though, things got hectic and I just forgot about it. I know it's not a good excuse, but it happened. When I did get around to firing it and cleaning it it functioned perfect and nothing was wrong with the barrel that I can tell.

I have also not had time to clean my rifle right after shooting it and forgot about it for a month or so. With 777 or clean shot there doesn't seem to be a problem. It didn't seem to effect my rifle at all. Everything broke down just fine and cleaned right up easy as pie with no damage to the barrel that I can see with my eye. And it still shoots just as well as it always has. Not that I advise doing however.

I would check your local laws before transporting one with a charge in it though. Not all states may be like MI, it might be considered a loaded fire arm in another state.

Paul

RE: How long can a load be in a gun?
 

At the risk of sounding to preachy. I would be careful when shooting a muzzle loader that has been loaded for a while. I hunt late muzzle loader season in Iowa, the weather is terrible, I consider 20 degree days a heat wave. A few years ago I didn't unload my Knight muzzle loader like I normally would. I just put in my closet, intending to unload it the next day. I forgot about it for asix months, untill one night I hit me like a bolt out of the blue, I forgot to unload my muzzle loader. The next morning I totaly dissasembled the gun, remove the breach plug and tried to push the bullet out with my ram rod. It wouldn't badge. I squirted ungodly amounts of PB blaster penertrating oil down the barrel and let is sit muzzle up over night. The next day it still wouln't budge. After trying everything that I could possible think of I wraped a towel around my barrel and put it in a vice. I then beat the bullet out with a 3/8" steel rod and a ballpen hammer. Even with a hammer it was a struggle. I thank god that I did not follow my first instinct and try to shoot the bullet out. A muzzle loader can be left loaded for long periods of time and be fired without a problem but belive me I wont be pulling the trigger or even standing next to the person that is. Saveing yourself a few minutes or a little powder is not worth the risk of haveing a gun explode in your face.

RE: How long can a load be in a gun?
 

I should have mentioned I use sabots. I can think of no logical reason why one would get stuck in a barrel unless there was some sort of blockage in front of it. Teflon or plastic doesn't bond to metal. I don't know if lead does or not, it could I guess.

Paul

RE: How long can a load be in a gun?
 

mine is still loaded from last year....i dont try to make a habbit of it but some years i leave it loaded. i gotta go shoot it off this weekend to see if its still sighted in. I keep it in my house in the gun cabinet between seasons (and put a sticker on it loaded so i dont forget and doulbe load it). I never had a problem with it not going off when i shot it before season.

RE: How long can a load be in a gun?
 

This is my first year with a muzzleloader, and after getting my gun sighted in @ 100 yards, this issue has been top of mind. I've pretty much heard all the possible solutions here (I think) and it seems that the best thing to do is just fire it off, clean it and start with a fresh load for the next hunt. I'm only going to be hunting w/ my muzzleloader this coming up weekend and the following weekend, so I won't be wasting a lot of powder, etc. I usually hunt from a treestand...if I do any hunting on the ground, I might just pull the primer out in between hunts on the same day, but otherwise, I'll be firing it off.

RE: How long can a load be in a gun?
 

It's never a "waste" anytime you get to pull the trigger on a blackpowder rifle. :D