Loaded bp pistol

DUNITALL · April 14, 2017, 09:02 AM

How long can you keep a b p pistol loaded before firing

Centurion · April 14, 2017, 09:14 AM

As long as you want...just need to find a method to keep moisture out of your cylinder.

I didn't keep a loaded one for more than 3 years but it worked after that time with no significant power lost.

Fingers McGee · April 14, 2017, 11:37 AM

As long as the powder is dry - Indefinitely.

There have been BP firearms and cannons unearthed in excess of 150 years old that were still viable weapons

Beagle333 · April 14, 2017, 11:50 AM

I will often load mine and keep it in a large flat Tupperware container with a bag of desiccant. (I think the container was designed for a pan of brownies or perhaps a sheetcake.) It's ready when I want it, and I can even take it out and shoot a possum or coon off the trash can and then put it back in there without cleaning it or having to unload it until I need the other shots. That's the main reason I store it in there..... so I don't have to immediately unload and clean it, but it would probably stay nice and dry and at full potency for a very long time.

**4V50 Gary** · April 14, 2017, 07:59 PM

What Fingers McGee said. It depends on your humidity, storage (damp basement, dry attic, warm kitchen, trunk of vehicle in sub-freezing condition, what-not).

Gaucho Gringo · April 17, 2017, 02:02 AM

Not to mention black powder ordinance which has killed a few people over 100-125 years after it was manufactured. Black powder can have a very long lifespan.

Hawg · April 17, 2017, 08:34 AM

Even if it gets wet it's still potent when it dries out. Back in the 70's there was a man around Meridian MS that found a 61 Springfield barrel in one of his fields and thought it would be the perfect thing to fix a broken gate hinge. He took it home and stuck the breech in his forge and the .58 minie hit him right between the eyes and blew out the back of his skull.

sixgunnin · April 17, 2017, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Back in the 70's there was a man around Meridian MS that found a 61 Springfield barrel in one of his fields and thought it would be the perfect thing to fix a broken gate hinge. He took it home and stuck the breech in his forge and the .58 minie hit him right between the eyes and blew out the back of his skull.

That's just bad luck! I hope he is ok

Were did you happen to come across this story? Sounds interesting.

Hawg · April 17, 2017, 11:33 AM

It was in the newspaper at the time and no he died instantly.

noelf2 · April 17, 2017, 06:03 PM

Hawg I'm thinking sixgunnin was using a bit of humor. Or, are you as well? Nevermind.

Hawg · April 17, 2017, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Hawg I'm thinking sixgunnin was using a bit of humor. Or, are you as well? Nevermind.

Humor on his part and a lil sarcasm on mine.

BlackLabsMatter · April 19, 2017, 09:24 PM

Just like with preventing chainfires, it's all in how well you seal the cylinders with the right sized ball/bullet and the right cap.

I've left blackpowder guns loaded for months in relatively humid conditions. They never failed to fire.

Bill Akins · April 19, 2017, 09:27 PM

The Confederate general Robert E. Lee carried an 1851 Colt Navy and the gun almost immediately made the “commentaries” (i.e. print news) after the war as an object of public fascination. According to Flayderman’s Guide To Antique American Firearms, when the gun was shot in 1870 after the General’s death, every chamber fired as was, last loaded during the middle of the War seven years prior.

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April 14, 2017, 09:02 AM	#1
DUNITALL Member Join Date: April 15, 2010 Posts: 46	Loaded bp pistol How long can you keep a b p pistol loaded before firing

April 14, 2017, 11:37 AM	#3
Fingers McGee Senior Member Join Date: March 19, 2008 Location: High & Dry in Missouri Ozarks Posts: 2,113	As long as the powder is dry - Indefinitely. There have been BP firearms and cannons unearthed in excess of 150 years old that were still viable weapons __________________ Fingers (Show Me MO smoke) McGee - AKA Man of Many Colts - Alter ego of Diabolical Ken; SASS Regulator 28564-L-TG; Rangemaster and stage writer extraordinaire; Frontiersman, Pistoleer, NRA Endowment Life, NMLRA, SAF, CCRKBA, STORM 327, SV115; Charter member, Central Ozarks Western Shooters Cynic: A blackguard whose faulty vision see things as they are, not as they should be. Ambrose Bierce

April 14, 2017, 11:50 AM	#4
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	I will often load mine and keep it in a large flat Tupperware container with a bag of desiccant. (I think the container was designed for a pan of brownies or perhaps a sheetcake.) It's ready when I want it, and I can even take it out and shoot a possum or coon off the trash can and then put it back in there without cleaning it or having to unload it until I need the other shots. That's the main reason I store it in there..... so I don't have to immediately unload and clean it, but it would probably stay nice and dry and at full potency for a very long time. __________________ . . . Have a Colt and a smile.

April 14, 2017, 07:59 PM	#5
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,832	What Fingers McGee said. It depends on your humidity, storage (damp basement, dry attic, warm kitchen, trunk of vehicle in sub-freezing condition, what-not). __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

April 17, 2017, 02:02 AM	#6
Gaucho Gringo Senior Member Join Date: May 17, 2007 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 366	Not to mention black powder ordinance which has killed a few people over 100-125 years after it was manufactured. Black powder can have a very long lifespan. __________________ 357 Taurus Gaucho, 22 Heritage RR, 2-Pietta 1858 44 NMA Remingtons, Pietta, Euroarms & ASM 36 1851 Navies, 31 Uberti 1849, 12 ga H&R Topper, 16 Ga Western Field, 43 Spanish Remington Rolling Block, 44 ASM Colt Walker, High Point C9 9mm, Winchester 1906 22, Rossi 62 22 rifle, Uberti 1860, H&A & IJ 32 S&W BreakTop, 36 Euroarms 1858, 32 H&R 04, 22mag NAA SS BP revolver, .44 Rodgers & Spencer, IJ 38 S&W BreakTop, IJ 22 Sealed 8

April 14, 2017, 09:14 AM	#2
Centurion Senior Member Join Date: May 9, 2016 Posts: 270	As long as you want...just need to find a method to keep moisture out of your cylinder. I didn't keep a loaded one for more than 3 years but it worked after that time with no significant power lost.

April 17, 2017, 08:34 AM	#7
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	Even if it gets wet it's still potent when it dries out. Back in the 70's there was a man around Meridian MS that found a 61 Springfield barrel in one of his fields and thought it would be the perfect thing to fix a broken gate hinge. He took it home and stuck the breech in his forge and the .58 minie hit him right between the eyes and blew out the back of his skull.

April 17, 2017, 11:33 AM	#9
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	It was in the newspaper at the time and no he died instantly.

April 17, 2017, 06:03 PM	#10
noelf2 Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2008 Location: Stuart, VA Posts: 2,473	Hawg I'm thinking sixgunnin was using a bit of humor. Or, are you as well? Nevermind. __________________ Liberty and freedom often offends those who understand neither.

April 19, 2017, 09:24 PM	#12
BlackLabsMatter Member Join Date: December 14, 2016 Posts: 32	Just like with preventing chainfires, it's all in how well you seal the cylinders with the right sized ball/bullet and the right cap. I've left blackpowder guns loaded for months in relatively humid conditions. They never failed to fire.

April 19, 2017, 09:27 PM	#13
Bill Akins Senior Member Join Date: August 28, 2007 Location: Hudson, Florida Posts: 1,135	The Confederate general Robert E. Lee carried an 1851 Colt Navy and the gun almost immediately made the “commentaries” (i.e. print news) after the war as an object of public fascination. According to Flayderman’s Guide To Antique American Firearms, when the gun was shot in 1870 after the General’s death, every chamber fired as was, last loaded during the middle of the War seven years prior. . __________________ "This is my Remy and this is my Colt. Remy loads easy and topstrap strong, Colt balances better and never feels wrong. A repro black powder revolver gun, they smoke and shoot lead and give me much fun. I can't figure out which one I like better, they're both fine revolvers that fit in my leather". "To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target".