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Leaving Powder in horns

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Do you leave powder in your horns for extended periods of time? I have multiple horns and have been emptying after every shoot. Would like to just keep them loaded. Experiences? Pro's and Con's?
 
There is no reason to empty. My horn gets refilled as needed. I make my horns so they are moisture/air-tight.
 
I have an old horn that belonged to one of my ancestors. I got it when I was a kid from my grandpa. It had been stuck on a shelf in his barn for who knows how long. The powder in it still flowed although at the time I didn't know what it was. I still have the horn and use it. I never empty it. I had one horn that I probably didn't use for 10-15 years and the powder was still good and ran free.
 
Once I put it in there, it doesn't come out except to drop down the bore. I have powder in some of my horns that is at least 12 years old.
 
Actually I shoot about a pound a month but normally from a bench and use a brass flask. Have four other horn / bag combo's set for different calibers and only use for woods walks. These might be used once per year each.
 
Dry Ball said:
Do you leave powder in your horns for extended periods of time? I have multiple horns and have been emptying after every shoot. Would like to just keep them loaded. Experiences? Pro's and Con's?


You should empty and refresh your horns once every three centuries. Other than that, don't fret it. :wink:
 
The old phrase "keep yur powder dry" applies to the powder horn as well.
Fill the horn, keep it dry, and use it whenever you need it, tomorrow or years from now.
 
Don't count on replica black powder lasting very long. In my experience it tends to cake up between seasons. Only real black powder seems to last forever in a horn. Graybeard
 
stubshaft said:
OR have too many guns! :surrender:
:shocked2: BLASPHEMY!! :shocked2:

There ain't such a thang as too many guns!!
:hatsoff:

But... Ifn' ya thinks you do PM me Ill give ye me address and you can send me the extras. I wont even charge ya fer the favor! :rotf:
 
i've left real BP in horns for many years w/no ill effects.
wax sealing a horn is just added insurance against hygroscopic draw......but I do it to any new horn I get
 
juice jaws said:
Dry Ball said:
Do you leave powder in your horns for extended periods of time? I have multiple horns and have been emptying after every shoot. Would like to just keep them loaded. Experiences? Pro's and Con's?
Never empty them.
Hmmmm.....I always empty mine. Probably because I shot it all up. :haha: Doesn't stay empty for long, though. :grin:
 
Back in the late 60's, an old gent with an heirloom collection of original rifles taught me how to shoot flintlocks. Many of the old rifles came with their own horns; some with the original owner's name inscribed & some with powder measures of various types.

Some of his horns had powder leftover from the original owner some 100-150 years ago. When he actually did refill any of them, it was from a wooden cask labeled 'gunpowder'. From what he knew, the casks in the family basement predated the civil war.

With proper storage, black powder appears to last nearly forever.
 
The only issue I ever recall hearing of was written about in Muzzleloader magazine years ago. Its been some time since I read the article so I could have it completely wrong. IIRC Mike Nesbitt had a gun damaged when fine granulations of powder built up in the bottom of his horn over time. Again, IIRC it was caused by powder granules grinding against each other as the horn was jostled around over the years.

I think he said the powder that built up over time was close to 4F. He didn't notice it when he loaded the gun with the last of the powder in his horn since it had only held the granulation of powder he always filled it with. Like I said I'm going off memory and might not recall it correctly. Definitely an unusual event and not something I would be too worried about.
 
pab1 said:
The only issue I ever recall hearing of was written about in Muzzleloader magazine years ago. Its been some time since I read the article so I could have it completely wrong. IIRC Mike Nesbitt had a gun damaged when fine granulations of powder built up in the bottom of his horn over time. Again, IIRC it was caused by powder granules grinding against each other as the horn was jostled around over the years.

I think he said the powder that built up over time was close to 4F. He didn't notice it when he loaded the gun with the last of the powder in his horn since it had only held the granulation of powder he always filled it with. Like I said I'm going off memory and might not recall it correctly. Definitely an unusual event and not something I would be too worried about.


Seems strange, and, in my mind, questionable. A powder horn gets turned and moved in every which direction with use. Fine granulations might be present but with the tipping, turning, etc. they would be distributed throughout the horn. And, if a few fines did get into a charge it is very unlikely there would be enough excess pressure to cause damage in a rifle. I'm skeeptikal that happened as described. :hmm: BTW, FWIW, my practice is to turn my cans of powder in several directions before use. That is more to give me consistent results than avoid my gun going 'boom'. Keep in mind, Nesbitt is a slick magazine writer. Enuf said.
 
Rifleman1776 said:
Seems strange, and, in my mind, questionable. A powder horn gets turned and moved in every which direction with use. Fine granulations might be present but with the tipping, turning, etc. they would be distributed throughout the horn. And, if a few fines did get into a charge it is very unlikely there would be enough excess pressure to cause damage in a rifle. I'm skeeptikal that happened as described. :hmm: BTW, FWIW, my practice is to turn my cans of powder in several directions before use. That is more to give me consistent results than avoid my gun going 'boom'. Keep in mind, Nesbitt is a slick magazine writer. Enuf said.

Like I said I'm going off memory and might have the facts wrong. I don't think its unlikely that fine granulations could build up over time if the horn is always topped off without being completely emptied. You acknowledge that yourself since you turn your cans of powder. I've never met the man but I get the feeling that Mr. Nesbitt is a straight shooter. I think a "slick magazine writer" would be less likely to share any mistakes they've made in order to appear to be slick and an expert beyond reproach.
 
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