How Corrosive Is Black Powder?

[Carbon 6]

Last Wednesday, I shot with someone who told me his caplock rifle had been loaded with black powder for over two years. I watched him fire the rifle without any problems. He told me he used Bore Butter for patch lube.

Today, the same person told me he cleaned the rifle after he got home and the bore was shiny. He did not see any corrosion anywhere inside the barrel.

The rifle had been kept in his workshop where the humidity ranges from 35% during the winter to 80% during the summer.

It's corrosive after you pull the trigger, not before.
Shoot a gun and let it sit for a year and you'll be buying a new gun or barrel.

 

[HiDesertHunter]

Not the best pic but here is the muzzle and a bit of the bore of the Renegade I restored that had not been cleaned for over 20 years.

I got lucky with it - part of it being in a low humidity environment.

It still has a bit of pitting midway in the barrel but it's not to bad and it shoots excellently.

 

[Bent Sight]

It's corrosive after you pull the trigger, not before.
Shoot a gun and let it sit for a year and you'll be buying a new gun or barrel.

I agree.

I found it interesting that the rifle was loaded with black powder for two years with no ill effect.

 

[HiDesertHunter]

I found it interesting that the rifle was loaded with black powder for two years with no ill effect.

The charge is pretty well insulated with little to no air or moisture getting to it.

I have read of guns being found with 100 + year charges in them being pulled and the powder appeared to be fine.

 

[FishDFly]

Last Wednesday, I shot with someone who told me his caplock rifle had been loaded with black powder for over two years. I watched him fire the rifle without any problems. He told me he used Bore Butter for patch lube.

Today, the same person told me he cleaned the rifle after he got home and the bore was shiny. He did not see any corrosion anywhere inside the barrel.

The rifle had been kept in his workshop where the humidity ranges from 35% during the winter to 80% during the summer.

"IF" you read here long enough, you can find a post or person whom will justify what you want to hear or believe no matter what.

Then it is fact.

 

[HiDesertHunter]

Personally I would NEVER leave a BP gun loaded for two years, or even two weeks.....

 

[Bent Sight]

Personally I would NEVER leave a BP gun loaded for two years, or even two weeks.....

I agree. If I were hunting, I would discharge the rifle before leaving the woods. I also would not go two years without inspecting the rifle, pushing patches through the barrel, etc.

 

[Griz44Mag]

I agree. If I were hunting, I would discharge the rifle before leaving the woods. I also would not go two years without inspecting the rifle, pushing patches through the barrel, etc.

I will leave one loaded overnight when on a hunting outing.
It won't-can't stay loaded on the way home.
Every gun in my collection - black or gray or air - gets a wipe down and bore oiling on a 3 month maximum time schedule.
I keep a log on a spreadsheet of when each gun has been serviced - meaning at minimum inspected and wiped inside and out.
Rust is not your friend unless it's being used for metal preservation (blue or brown)