Why Muzzle Down?

[JeffG]

While reading in some of the cleaning threads, I noticed some store their muzzleloaders muzzle down in the their safe. Why? To prevent dust from getting down the bore? My firearms rarely get dusty inside my safe so, curious if there is another reason for storing muzzle down after cleaning?

After seeing a few longarms with the wood around the wrist soaked in oil leaked from the breach, I can see why people would feel compelled to store muzzle down. Keeping a light coat of your chosen rust protectant shouldn't cause a problem.

 

[andy52]

I had a friend that believed gun metal had to have a very heavy coat of oil. The more, the better.

He probably served in the military, if you haven't seen a gun packed in Cosmoline, you haven't seen a gun properly oiled...

 

[ORBushman]

He probably served in the military, if you haven't seen a gun packed in Cosmoline, you haven't seen a gun properly oiled...

Nothing more need be said!

 

[david w]

He probably served in the military, if you haven't seen a gun packed in Cosmoline, you haven't seen a gun properly oiled...

Well, I was in the military. Vietnam Vet, here.

 

[Howard Pippin]

I am surprised at how a little bit of common sense can create such a controversy. I don't have a gun safe, never felt I needed one but I do have a dry 6 x 6 room where I keep my firearms. I happen to store all of them barrel down. It doesn't seem to morally affect the gun, none of them complain, never thought I over oiled any of them, including the unmentionables, and sometimes I would find a slight stain on what the barrel stood on. Did you ever have a cartridge shell stick in the chamber? I've seen this in 22's, I don't know if that dried residue created the problem but I've never had it. Sorry for the firestorm, I'm going to poll all my guns And find out what their personal feelings are. I will make the poll available to those that are interested. I don't want my muzzleloaders to think I'm racist. I have a hard enough time keeping them working the way it is.

Squint

 

[Graybeard2A]

Because they use way too much oil…
After a good cleaning, a thin film/coat is all one needs, if it runs - it’s not a tin coat.

And over time the oil from the outside the barrel will get onto & into the stock & cause it to soften & weeken! I store mine in both directions! wood, but up, polymer but down

 

[Jedidiah]

I store ALL of my muzzleloaders - a Musketoon, a Pritchett and a Whitworth - muzzle down in one of my three little gun-safes. I have other BP rifles and even a pistol, but here in UK they must ALL* be secured in a BSI/Home Office-approved storage facility - ie, a gun safe. Because of sheer lack of space, there are three of these items, and as all my other long guns are breechloaders, it can get pretty crowded in there, so some of those get pointed downwards, too.

*even the Sniders. We ALL know how popular THEY are with the criminal fraternity, right?

I do not know of a safe that will hold my ML's? They are way to long for any safes i have seen. i have two safes for my other items , but the ML's hang on the wall ?!!

 

[Dale Allen Raby]

I've heard of this upside down methodology many times over the years, but never practiced it. I keep most of my muzzleloaders stored horizontally on the wall. The ones I shoot just about every other day or so are usually leaned muzzle-up against a wall or in a corner. I use Bore Butter for an internal lubricant.... a light coating applied with a patch and fitted jag. I've seen recommendations to use a saturated wool mop, but always thought that the amount of grease that would leave behind is kind of silly.

I used to routinely pop a cap before loading the caplocks to avoid misfires, but of late, I have found I don't really need to do that, and since my general daily routine is to fire one shot, By skipping this step, I can effectively double my supply of caps. When/if I get a misfire, I can always use a pick to clear the channel and maybe put a little powder under the nipple.

Oil is a good thing, but it is kind of like wives; one is manageable, three or four are not. A Muslim soldier I once soldiered with told me that three was the optimal number of wives if anyone is interested. He had four. I don't think I could manage even two.

 

[muzzlecap]

I have seen many vintage guns that have soft or badly discolored wood from years of being stored with muzzles up. I store the majority of mine with muzzles down. As mentioned, you can also fit more into a space with muzzles down. Plus if you have modern guns with recoil pads, over time the pads get ruined from the weight of the gun resting on the pad if stored muzzle up.

 

[user 55620]

I park my weapons muzzle up if storing them for a short (normal) length of time. This appears the best way. However, my M-H was put in the safe after being used. It was well oiled and greased. When I went to use it 150 years later the front screw ahead of the trigger guard had rusted into the stock and destroyed the wood. Whatever had been used was highly destructive. Glue and sawdust mended it. The ‘preservative’ had seeped out of the barrel and into the wood. The rear screw was in perfect condition. Muzzle down would have let the goo run out of the barrel. I think.

 

[Capnball]

I've stored my muzzleloaders muzzle up for as long as I've been into the hobby. Never had a problem. I always make sure to run several dry patches through the bore, and dry the pan and flash channel area before I shoot the gun. Again, never had any issues.

Same here, I thoroughly clean before and after shooting. After for obvious reasons and before just in case there's a patch, (spiders nest, oil, anything else you can think of) in there from extended storage. The only thing I've ever gotten out of a stored barrel is a little oil on the patch. I check the touch hole with some compressed air and a wire gauge drill bit then a drop of oil back down the pipe with a clean patch. Then it's off to the range.

 

[Old-Duckman]

I'm surprised that no one mentioned about his dust issue...??

I can't see how a gun safe can be very secure if it allows dust to get inside?

Do you possibly have shelves in the safe that are made of a "pressed wood" type of product? If so I would think that they are deteriorating some and that is where the "dust" comes from.

Just wondering...and guessing.

 

[Siringo]

Sounds like some people are using too much oil. Just coat the bore no need saturating.

Worst or the worst for me was ballistol. That stuff would pool all the time, especially in a patent breach. AND I used it very sparingly. But then I switched to Barricade. No more excess oil issue.

 

[Brokennock]

My muzzleloaders are on my wall horizontally, slightly muzzle down. Being human, I don't get everything perfect and sometimes may have a little excess oil/bore protectant (God bless you perfect individuals who never have this happen) and would rather it run to the muzzle than the breach.
I store my modern rifles muzzle down,,,, partly, for the same reason. But, also, a muzzle down rifle or shotgun can be picked up by the stock or grip instead of the barrel. With an AR/FAL/HK-91 style rifle this means you are grabbing the pistol grip right out of the gate. With any style long gun this means you are not grabbing the barrel and then tilting it toward you when removing it from a safe.

 

[dylan84]

Nobody keeps them loaded and ready? How can you expect to defend the cabin?

 

[Mikekj]

I’ve seen many military armories and read many historical accounts, and have never heard of service arms stored muzzle down.
Quite frankly, if oil is running out of your weapon, you’ve used to much oil and/or didn’t wipe it down properly.

 

[Doc]

In the last 30 years, I haven’t had a spot of rust even in my various Damascus doubles some of which I haven’t shot in 4/5 years. All are stored muzzle up in my 3 large safes. Since I changed over to a silicone based oil which does not run, stays put on the barrels and absolute protection against any rust. Yes I have good safes and live in a relatively low humidity area. Yet I am very happy with silicone based oil. It’s very flammable so a cap or prime will clear the gun.
Doc,

 

[SPQR70AD]

My hunting buddy and I , (sorry ,I have to stop writing , and laugh ) , we were trying to find our m/ling A$$es , by the try and fail methods. We were trying to reinvent the sport from scratch. We knew almost nothing about m/ling , back then. My hunting buddy purchased a slightly used factory long rifle from a guy. Don't think the previous owner , truly had cleaned the rifle too well. He cleaned the bore , as it was shiny and well oiled. Well my genius buddy , (I'm laughing again) , plugged the touch hole, and squirted lighter fluid , (benzine) , in the bore and left the gun sit all night. Next A.M. , he wiped the bore out 'till dry , loaded , and we went deer hunting. Four does stood in front of him and the gun flashed , w/no bang. Deer started walking away , after they got bored w/his antics trying to clean the pan , and touch hole. Finally , he got a bang. He came over to me holding a chunk of maple tree , the .45 had shot off..No deer. Since the day was mostly over , we decided to retire to the tavern , to discuss what had just happened. Right off ,he told me what was wrong . Soaking the breech with benzine , was the wrong choice on the used gun. After the benzine soak , the gun should have been stood , muzzle down , and then wiped out the next A.M. The solvent had dissolved , and brought out every molecule , of whatever animal fats as liquid, from around the breech , the previous owner , had used as patch lubricant. We did later , at the tavern, get multiple shots ,and drafts , so as , to enhance our muzzle loading acumen......... ...oldwood

if you cant get a shot in the woods just get a shot in the saloon

 

[Eutycus]

Nobody keeps them loaded and ready? How can you expect to defend the cabin?

I suppose a ML could be used to fight off the "bad guys" and probably has been many times. But I'd reach for something else (maybe) to use as a defensive weapon.

 

[TFoley]

I do not know of a safe that will hold my ML's? They are way to long for any safes i have seen. i have two safes for my other items , but the ML's hang on the wall ?!!

Sir, you live in the USA, where, as far as I know, you can hang a cannon on your wall and nobody gives a hoot.

For those of us who live in a more constrained society, ALL our live-firing guns must be locked away securely - not even our significant others are permitted access to them. Wall hangers are non-firing antiques only.