How Corrosive Is Black Powder?

[Britsmoothy]

I gotta wonder about storing anything above a fireplace; The extreme heat rising up would damage almost anything hanging there. I've always thought that the traditional illustrations of a rifle hanging above the hearth was an invention of the modern illustrators. (Christmas cards, Norman Rockwell, etc.)Also, the movie industry's set decorators.

Quite possible.
Mine go next to the hearth for the same reason. Hollywood or otherwise.

 

[Okie Hog]

The agent that makes the residues of black powder and Pyrodex so corrosive is sulfur. Triple Seven and the APP manufactured powders also contain potassium nitrate; their residues are not seriously corrosive.

 

[Bob McBride]

I'm a 'Black Powder residue is super corrosive' guy but I will throw this small anecdote out there. I bought at auction, last year, a set of Colt 'C' Navy's that had been loaded with full charges since something like the '80's when the gent who owned them died. His wife remembered that he kept them loaded throughout the house. It took a drill (and leather bib and welder's shield) to get the hardened powder out but once out, outside of stripping the bluing out of the cylinders, there wasn't a lick of pitting or other signs of corrosion.

 

[Brian Gibbs]

Yep. Corrosive. It’s salt. Just clean your guns

 

[Rudall]

Mine go next to the hearth for the same reason.

Don’t you have to keep them in a safe?

 

[Britsmoothy]

Don’t you have to keep them in a safe?

Yep, when not in use. I might be using it again soon or I might be waiting to clean it before it is put away. It's still in use. Never seen "not in use" defined yet!
The law requires its secure from unauthorised use measures be in place. They are.

 

[Carbon 6]

Yep, when not in use. I might be using it again soon or I might be waiting to clean it before it is put away. It's still in use. Never seen "not in use" defined yet!
The law requires its secure from unauthorised use measures be in place. They are.

Obviously it's drying so it can be put away

 

[springfield art]

Steel in any humid environment will absolutely rust with or without black powder. It pretty much has to be particularly humid for unburned black powder to absorb any significant amount of moisture. And guns should never be stored in humid locations without frequent care. Fouling will suck moisture out of the air like a sponge unless you live in an arid climate. In arid conditions you can get away with being lazy about cleaning your pets but don't push your luck otherwise.

I'll just leave the "science" stuff to the tech guys, and clean my guns after use!

 

[nhmoose]

Clean the gun and forget about it. I shoot mine I clean them. easy-peasy

 

[beyu]

I gotta wonder about storing anything above a fireplace; The extreme heat rising up would damage almost anything hanging there. I've always thought that the traditional illustrations of a rifle hanging above the hearth was an invention of the modern illustrators. (Christmas cards, Norman Rockwell, etc.)Also, the movie industry's set decorators.

My Charleville has been hanging over my mantle and wood stove insert for more than forty years — no damage whatever.

The wood mantle below the musket and above the wood stove would have dried out and cracked long before the musket would.

I usually have a kettle of water boiling on the top of the stove to add moisture to the air. I don't doubt that helps.

 

[springfield art]

My Charleville has been hanging over my mantle and wood stove insert for more than forty years — no damage whatever.

The wood mantle below the musket and above the wood stove would have dried out and cracked long before the musket would.

I usually have a kettle of water boiling on the top of the stove to add moisture to the air. I don't doubt that helps.

OK. You're an actual real world experience!

 

[springfield art]

Don’t you have to keep them in a safe?

What is this "safe", of which you speak?

 

[Mulebrain]

This shotgun was still loaded when I bought it at an antique show. It was loaded for over 100 years and wadded with this old newspaper.

The powder was still dry and loose

 

[renegadehunter]

I also have an over the mantle rifle, or one in my current possession owned by someone else anyway. It is an old CVA Mountain Rifle that has hung on a mantle since the 70's.
I'd say the stock to metal fit isn't the greatest, and perhaps the wood has shrank some, but it was a kit put together by a first time builder so hard to say.
When it was first brought to me you could almost shake the wedge pins out of it.

 

[HiDesertHunter]

This is the muzzle of the Renegade that was given to me I mentioned in my introductory post.

It had not been cleaned in over 20 years but was in the relatively dry climate of Central Oregon.

 

[springfield art]

This shotgun was still loaded when I bought it at an antique show. It was loaded for over 100 years and wadded with this old newspaper.

The powder was still dry and loose

View attachment 49869View attachment 49870

People who deal in old guns say it's common to find loaded muzzleloaders. I once had a flint military musket that had a load in it. It's not uncommon. Cool that yours is actually 'dated'!

 

[nhmoose]

If you shoot it Clean it DUH!

 

[Britsmoothy]

If you shoot it Clean it DUH!

My bess was shot yesterday but it's not been cleaned. I guess I'm a DUH

 

[Britsmoothy]

Now she needs a clean!
Shot on friday. Rested saturday and shot again sunday.
Now she is grubby.

So this is how I plug the vent.

The frizzen clamps down on the tissue and prick.
A good rodding with wet patch and then boiled water in and out a few times. More rodding with a patch. More hot water in and out a few times. Dry with patches on the rod.
Clean outside with damp patches.
Once dry. Beeswax and olive oil inside and out.
See you again Bess in a couple of months in perfect condition

 

[Bent Sight]

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.