New to BP

[ChasMack]

Hi,
I bought my first BP pistol, first BP of anything actually. It's a Pietta Remington 1858 and have yet to shoot it,hopefully this week. If I have loaded the gun ...no caps on it yet....how long can one keep the cylinder loaded with BP? Will it not be corrosive after a while? Was wondering in case I load it at home then go where ever (walk in the woods, etc) how much approximate time can go by before I worry about the cylinder corroding?

Thanks,
Chuck

 

[mykeal]

how long can one keep the cylinder loaded with BP? Will it not be corrosive after a while? Was wondering in case I load it at home then go where ever (walk in the woods, etc) how much approximate time can go by before I worry about the cylinder corroding?

Quite literally, forever.

You have to do your part and keep it dry, however. Black powder is hygroscopic and will attract and hold moisture; that moisture can then cause corrosion. Seal the chambers if you live in a humid area.

 

[BCRider]

It's not so much the powder that is an issue but the nature of the fouling left behind after it's shot.

Example of old civil war BP guns have been shot recently and the powder touched off just fine. I'm not sure if they used a new cap or not but the powder and ball were just waiting for the moment.

There's notes around here somewhere about how to dribble candle or bee's wax over the caps to seal them. That along with a smear of appropriate sealing grease on the front of the ball and the charge would be good indefinetly with no harm to the gun since it would be sealed away from any moisture.

 

[ChasMack]

BP

OK, good! Those answers have helped a lot! Just learning this black powder thing. From what I have seen on youtube, it looks like fun....even the cleaning up

Thanks,
Chuck

 

[Legionnaire]

My limited experience suggests that if you load the chambers (5 of 6), cap them. I loaded my Walker and didn't cap it until I got tot the range 10 days later. The first cylinder fired fine, but it was anemic as measured by my chronograph. I'm guessing humidity got in through the nipples.

 

[arcticap]

The same thing happened with a revolver that I purchased that had been loaded with black powder and sealed with Bore Butter by the original owner at least several years prior. The Bore Butter had turned brown and the loads were anemic.

 

[ChasMack]

bp

Some good info! I was just wondering because it looks like it takes a bit to load a cylinder, so I thought if I could load in some free time before I actually go hunting, range etc, then I'd be a little ahead of the game.

 

[Yarddog]

Accually I just unloaded mine loaded from last season, was'nt worried about the report
just like to clean it & lube before next season ; ) PS No delay in side breach I leave cap on lower hammer with a dry patch under hammer for moister. Good Luck & shoot Safe
Y/D

 

[arcticap]

Storing the gun or the cylinder in a plastic bag before going out with it is probably a good idea.
RMC Sports was selling 6 connected nipple covers in a ring for sealing a revolver cylinder not too long ago to seal the nipples with until they were capped. But they may have been discontinued since I didn't see them the last few times that I looked on their website.

 

[Foto Joe]

My suggestion is that if you're going to load it and leave it sit, don't use ANY lube whatsoever. This includes no redisdual oil in the chambers from cleaning.

I've done this on several occasions and the gun has sat for several months with no ill effects.

There are many stories of civil war era weapons remaining loaded for 100+ years and still firing including cannon balls that may or may not have been stored in the best environment. Black Powder in and of itself is extremely stable.