How Long Can I Leave it Charged

[Splitear]

I loaded my caplock last Saturday morning and haven’t had the opportunity to fire it. Should I discharge and reload soon? I doubt I’ll be able to get back out until next week sometime. 

[ATbuckhunter]

You're using blackhorn 209 right?

[Nomad]

Not much of a ML guy, I’ve owned one Knight MK85, used loose powder . I learned to push it out every night ,and reloaded next morning . Sometimes if I came home at night and was going in the morning I’d hang it in the garage, to avoid the temperature change of inside .

The temperature changes ( house, car , outside ,car , house , outside ... ) can cause the powder to absorb moisture.

I found this out first hand when my powder was a solid black wet mass ,once when I unloaded .

[Splitear]

15 minutes ago, ATbuckhunter said:

You're using blackhorn 209 right?

Pyrodex RS. Sorry, I should have mentioned that. 

[left field]

My understanding is that most guys leave them charged. I've been going out every day and storing my ML in a cold porch and pulling the primer every night. BH 209. 

 

 

[mowin]

I've had mine loaded for the entire late season and a week or so after before I got a chance to shoot. As long as the powder stays dry, you should be good.  Tape over the muzzle and I leave it in the truck. Bringing it into the house causes condensation.

[ATbuckhunter]

You should be fine as long as you don't keep going in and out of your house with it. Pyrodex is corrosive, but you should be ok

[Splitear]

I went ahead and blew it out last night when I got home and cleaned it. I’d rather know that I have a fresh charge in there if I get a shot. Thanks for the advice!

[Will_C]

I leave mine during late MZ season-for me it's Saturday and Sunday only, and I'll leave the rifle in an unheated pole barn overnight. When I hunt PA early season, I hunt one Saturday and then the next Saturday-I'll push the charge out.

[Grouse]

I shoot my T/C Hawken into the ground or an old stump at the end of each hunt to empty it.  I do not trust leaving it loaded as I have had many hang fires and misfires when I have done so.

[G-Man]

Only a day or so if stored outside in dry place. Powder inherently draws moisture ,  you dont want to miss an opportunity with a hang fire or no fire...

[left field]

On 12/1/2020 at 6:00 AM, Grouse said:

I shoot my T/C Hawken into the ground or an old stump at the end of each hunt to empty it.  I do not trust leaving it loaded as I have had many hang fires and misfires when I have done so.

I fired my CVA yesterday to unload it and there was a hang fire. 

I did fire it about 10 days ago a few times to recheck sight, but since then it's been sitting in a cold porch at the end of every hunt. First time that's happened. 

[The_Real_TCIII]

When I killed that deer Sunday my ML had been loaded for at least a week. Kept in the garage

Pyrodex

 

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[fasteddie]

I loaded my NEF Huntsman at the beginning of season last year . Never got a shot . I fired it this past Tuesday to check it out . Right on . No problem .