HOW LONG TO KEEP POWDER IN YOUR GUN

[efremtags]

Just wondering what you guys are doing on a multi-day hunt with your powder. I dumped mine every 2-days do to xtreme temps from day to night (50 degree swing).  I was afraid of condensation with the powder. I am using BH209.

hunted hard 1 day of rain. I taped the muzzle and kept the breach under my coat as much as possible. The gun went bang the next day, so it must have worked.

[quickdtoo]

I've carried a charge of Goex in a flintlock for a week of dry weather, warm days, cold nights with no problems, but I never bring a muzzleloader or scoped rifle into a warm area(tent, home, whatever) so there's a rapid temp change, always leave it outside, but if it's raining when I hunt, I dump it every night, clean and reload for the next day.

Tim

[BIG Dog454]

I've left my ML charged, (no primer) from one season till the next, and when I went out to shoot it, it shot fine and accurate.  have also left it charged from early season to later season (about a month), still killed deer fine.

[SHOOTALL]

I've left my ML charged, (no primer) from one season till the next, and when I went out to shoot it, it shot fine and accurate.  have also left it charged from early season to later season (about a month), still killed deer fine.

son did this twice. second time it was the second shot bbl never recovered .

[chefjeff]

 About 15 years ago I killed deer, two years in a row, with last years loads still in the barrel.Renegade .50. Just last week I loaned my bud my spare savageML.He killed a fine buck with last years load. I always tape my barrel ends or put a "rubber" on them. I would submit that the conditions your gun is stored in, in the off season, would have an impact.We used to be careful not to radically change the guns temp. so as to reduce condensing effect. Also the weather you are hunting in would be a factor. Modern muzzle loaders have come a long way, much more weatherproof.

[TonyS]

Last year I had a misfire after leaving my gun, charged with BH209, out in freezing conditions.  I know they claim that its okay to shoot it after cold temps but I don't do it anymore.  The frustration of a doe at 60 yds and all I can offer is a poof of primer was enough for me.

[Landngroove]

During muzzleloading deer season I will leave a charge in for two days, then I will go with a fresh load. (Good idea to tag muzzle if loaded) If it is raining, I will either shoot off the load, or dump it, and start with a fresh load. I never leave a load in my ML from one year to the next. Not only is this dangerous to others who may pick up the ML, it is not good for the bore, as most powders suck up moisture, and can cause corrosion. I am not so lazy, and a cheapskate, that I can't  unload my ML at the end of the season. 

[possume]

from when i load mine at the first of season it stays loaded until i shoot a deer if shot i clean reload and it stays loaded until next shot and sometimes its the next year never a missfire or bad impact from being loaded so long

[swampgeek]

Just going to throw a few thoughts out here.

Read http://www.southernmuzzleloading.com/2011/01/why-you-really-should-unload.html

 First and foremost it is a loaded firearm, you may forget to remove the primer, you or someone else you love could get hurt. The little money saved in powder and projectile and the time taken to clean your firearm is not worth your or someone else's life.

Not even taking into account the damage that will happen, its not if but what type of damage you will incur. Damage may not even be readily visible without a bore scope. As I said in the above article, even if you are using BH209 then refer to the previous point.

I understand the OP is talking about multi-day hunts here and that many people "have done it before and nothing bad happened" but that exact attitude is what causes accidents. I was a firefighter for over 6 years and now work in the oilfield industry, both of the professions have had issues in the past with "doing it the way we always have" until it gets someone hurt or killed. I clear at the end of every day and at least swab if not give it a full cleaning. And I am sure if you start queuing up the people that have "expert" behind their names you will hear the same thing.

I will now get off my soapbox, I hate to be "that" guy but I dont want to see people getting hurt unnecessarily while trying to enjoy BP sports - modern or traditional.

[DANNY-L]

A friend of mine loaded his ML at the beginning of the year (2yrs ago) the following year prior to deer season he fired it at 50 yrds w/scope and we never found where it hit,moved up to 25yds and he had about a 10"group after swabbing the barrel. We broke his ML down and found that the stored pyrodex had eaten about a third of the rifling and severly pitted the rest. This is with a cva and has always been a excellent shooter until the residue ate it. Lesson learned.

[300winman]

Just going to throw a few thoughts out here.

Read http://www.southernmuzzleloading.com/2011/01/why-you-really-should-unload.html

 First and foremost it is a loaded firearm, you may forget to remove the primer, you or someone else you love could get hurt. The little money saved in powder and projectile and the time taken to clean your firearm is not worth your or someone else's life.

Not even taking into account the damage that will happen, its not if but what type of damage you will incur. Damage may not even be readily visible without a bore scope. As I said in the above article, even if you are using BH209 then refer to the previous point.

I understand the OP is talking about multi-day hunts here and that many people "have done it before and nothing bad happened" but that exact attitude is what causes accidents. I was a firefighter for over 6 years and now work in the oilfield industry, both of the professions have had issues in the past with "doing it the way we always have" until it gets someone hurt or killed. I clear at the end of every day and at least swab if not give it a full cleaning. And I am sure if you start queuing up the people that have "expert" behind their names you will hear the same thing.

I will now get off my soapbox, I hate to be "that" guy but I dont want to see people getting hurt unnecessarily while trying to enjoy BP sports - modern or traditional.

x2

Well said!

[bigbird09]

I would usually load mine up first day of season, and leave it loaded til last day of second season, right around 3 weeks.  Loaded with pyrodex  in whatever the weather was outside,  left in the truck during season, then brought into the house during the off week,  discard the load at the end of second season and still goes boom.

[montveil]

I see two issues:
1. will the load be OK or firearm be damaged
2. Is it a safe practice to leave the ML loaded, even with out the primer.

This past Fall a un-trained-informed college student bought a used ML from someone and presumed it was unloaded. He "test" fired it several times and nothing happened so it was presumed it was unloaded.
One day a friend came to visit and the ML was aimed at the guests head in an effort to scare him, college kid stuff, the trigger was pulled and the gun went off. No further explanation needed.
Leaving any firearm loaded or semi loaded ie: without the primer, is a  situation which MUST be carefully monitored and safeguarded from un-knowing, un-responsible, or untrained people.
The above example was a classic case of breaking all the gun safety rules
As much as I hate any type of gun controls, I sometimes think any firearm purchase should require at least a hunter safety or safe firearm handling certificate of some sort. Note, I do not think one should have to register their firearms in any way.  I view it as we do a driving license -- a certification that one knows how to use a long gun or pistol.
I'm sure this view will stir up some differences of opinions AND I DO NOT WANT A FLAME WAR.
Just my opinion

[300winman]

I see two issues:
1. will the load be OK or firearm be damaged
2. Is it a safe practice to leave the ML loaded, even with out the primer.

This past Fall a un-trained-informed college student bought a used ML from someone and presumed it was unloaded. He "test" fired it several times and nothing happened so it was presumed it was unloaded.
One day a friend came to visit and the ML was aimed at the guests head in an effort to scare him, college kid stuff, the trigger was pulled and the gun went off. No further explanation needed.
Leaving any firearm loaded or semi loaded ie: without the primer, is a  situation which MUST be carefully monitored and safeguarded from un-knowing, un-responsible, or untrained people.
The above example was a classic case of breaking all the gun safety rules
As much as I hate any type of gun controls, I sometimes think any firearm purchase should require at least a hunter safety or safe firearm handling certificate of some sort. Note, I do not think one should have to register their firearms in any way.  I view it as we do a driving license -- a certification that one knows how to use a long gun or pistol.
I'm sure this view will stir up some differences of opinions AND I DO NOT WANT A FLAME WAR.
Just my opinion

Problem is there are too many licensed drivers that don't know how to drive.....LOL  Sorry montveil, had to throw that in, but my point being, a license don't make a person more aware or safer, only says they are legal.  I just think we need to preach safe habits, and save the few we can.  Like unloading or firing a shot at the end of the day.  It's just good practice.  There are 2 culprits in this story, Lets not forget the person that sold a loaded gun to another person......

[montveil]

Agreed
At least a TRAINED driver should know the driving basics.. Notice I DID NOT say a licensed driver.. And the person who sold the ML should also be held responsible IMO.

[Pat/Rick]

Start every hunting day with a fresh load.

[kctibs]

If hunting in dry conditions I will keep the same load for the week long season. If I suspect weather or other conditions could have affected the load I will change it. It seems that I have had a lot less misfires since going to an inline. As far as leaving a load in from one season to the next I would never and why would a person want to.

[montveil]

I would like to unload every day BUT
Shoot it out= thorough cleaning plus >$2
Removing breech plug and dumping pellets and using rod to push out bullet
Removing breech plug and dumping powder and pushing bullet out bore
I personally leave it loaded, unprimed with a finger cot over the muzzle and slightly oiled cleaning patch between the hammer and breech.
the cot and patch are placed in place before I bring the ML inside to keep condensation out of the barrel