Leaving muzzel loader loaded ?

Its just easyer to pull off the nipple and pour in a pinch of powder and shoot it.
Click to expand...
Yep. Especially if the guy who owned it before loaded it with smokeless powder. Really, please don't do that unless you KNOW beyond any doubt what's in there.
 
As an experiment a few years ago, I left a fully capped C&B revolver loaded with real black powder for a bit over four years. The Crisco over the balls had dried up and shrunk, so I smeared new grease over the chamber mouths, stepped outside, and touched it off. No ignition problems and no corrosion.
 
keeping it loaded without a cap should be pretty safe, but did you ever see a picture of what the pellets will look like if they get wet?
I hope your friend is keeping it in a nice dry place.
 
Fired or unfired.

If it hasn't been fired, then the powder will sit there nicely for years or even decades.

If it has been fired, especially Pyrodex, it will absorb moisture out of the air and you'll get corrosion within days.

Steve
 
This 1849 Colt has been loaded for a LONG time - my grandfather plowed it up in a field here around 1941, and it still has five of its six chambers loaded with one completely intact cap on one nipple, and remains on a couple others.

RelicColt.jpg


There's a scratched inscription on the butt that reads: C Smith April 29 1861

RelicColtName.jpg


I've actually found some letters from a C Smith in museum archives and the signature is a spot on match to the scribing on the gun butt. There is almost -0- doubt that they are the same C Smith. It appears he was some sort of stage station agent in present day southwest Montana in the 1860's, as the letters are written from, or refer to, three station locations in that area in 1865. The hammer, trigger, and ram are still free, but the cylinder is rusted solid on the base pin, and springs have rusted away, except for the latch spring for the ram, which still functions, go figure.
 
This 1849 Colt has been loaded for a LONG time - my grandfather plowed it up in a field here around 1941, and it still has five of its six chambers loaded with one completely intact cap on one nipple, and remains on a couple others.
Click to expand...

Why couldn't I plow up something neat like that? All I ever get is boxes of arrowheads, spear points, and broken pottery.
 
That Revolver looks amaizing for being burried and plowed up so long ago.
thats a cool find. I guess the Wood Grips rotted off, but the metal looks good.
Im getting My Muzzle Loader back today, my friend shot it yesterday, and called me and asked me how to clean it. He said he wants to clean it and bring it back to me this weekend. Im going to put a Leupold Grand Slam Scope on it, and a nice sling. I really like this Muzzle Loader, its comfortable to carry, ballanced well, and shoots very nicely. When I put my Scope, and Sling on it it will be awesome. The only thing I dont like is that the Ram Rod, is a little short, It has an attachment that you can screw on the ram rod to make it more comfortable to load, but I would like some kind of pivoting device on the end that you could use as a handle. Thanks for all the advice guys, I found a good deal on a Muzzle Loader near me, and let him know about it, Next season, I am planning to hunt with this one, even during the regular rifle season.:D
 
They work well !!!

Cabelas has this folding T-handle
Click to expand...
I have one of these on my in-line hunter and it comes in handy, for loading as well as cleaning and resolving problems. I have a separate T-Handle for my SideLock Hunters. ..... ;)

Be Safe !!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top