How long?

[P. Beyer]

Suppose a feller' left a charge in the barrel of the ol' smokepole, How long would it be good? (if conditions were dry) or would it just be better to pull the bullet?

[Flintlock54]

If you are using the real stuff, blackpowder, it is possible to leave the gun loaded indefinately and the powder still be good. If you are using the substitute powders it would be best to pull the load. <b>That being said</b> from a safety standpoint it is best to pull the load after each shooting session.

[P. Beyer]

thanx

[Rob]

I know a guy who said he left Pyrodex pellets in his MZ for 3 yrs & they fired just fine. I left Cleanshot pellets in mine last yr & they fired.

Rob

[P. Beyer]

It fired ok.

[Chigger]

I always leave mine loaded from one year to the next!

Yea, I get in a hurry(neglect) put it up in the closet, and think nothing of it until the next year.

With my inline iv had no problems, with the old charles daily, it is a pain in the neck to fire off an old load.

I think it would depend on storage and the gun!

[trader rob]

i don't mean to ruffle feathers but static electricity can ignite black powder so i always wondered about having a can or horn full in the closet next to the same clothes that cling from static, and same for rifle. small chance but a chance nonetheless.

[Slickhunter2.0]

it should stay as good as new unless you got a cheap muzzleloader(plastic:mad: )

[Multidigits]

The powder charge may be good for long period, if it doesn't get damp. But, unless you loaded on a clean bore, the rifle is put up dirty. Residue is corrosive and it will rust and cause pits. You never know after that what you have. A small pit or stress crack can cause the rifle to fail.

[Charney]

Muzzleloaders are a breed apart from your modern cartridge rifles. With a modern cartridge rifle you know right off the bat if its loaded or not. Just open the chamber at take a look. With a muzzleloader thats only used once or twice a year (from what I'm hearing) it would be easy to forget how far the ram rod should poke out if its loaded. I'd hate to be around when you pull the trigger on a double load! After the battle of Gettysburg, rifles were found with 20+ bullets in them.

Another thing to watch out for is damp powder from sitting in a humid area. Inlines don't have to worry as much because of the ignition system they use. Flintlocks and sidelocks could have problems igniting that year old load. Pulling a ball and removing the powder charge isn't the funnest thing to do. I've only done it once when I didn't get all of the oil out of the breech before I loaded the rifle. All I could think about was the powder igniting and my ram rod taking off with my hand.

At the end of the last hunting/shooting day I just simply fire the load and clean my muzzleloader while thinking of the days events.

[HunterEd]

If you are using the real stuff, blackpowder, it is possible to leave the gun loaded indefinately and the powder still be good. If you are using the substitute powders it would be best to pull the load. <b>That being said</b> from a safety standpoint it is best to pull the load after each shooting session.


I would generally agree with what most have said, however just wanted to point out that the "real stuff" gets MORE POWERFUL with age!! NOW, just how quickly & how MUCH stronger is open for debate...HOWEVER, if you already had it loaded at a "maximum" load you potentially have a BOMB in your hands if the increase is appreciable. :eek:

IMHO, the "real stuff" OR modern propellents ALWAYS pull the load or just shoot it out...better safe than sorry!