I shoot blackhorn 209 and plan to hunt this weekend, but I’m also going up north in 2 weekends. How long can I leave the powder in and still be safe to assume the gun will fire. It will not go into a cold/hot/cold/hot situation, so excessing condensation should be a real problem.
Thoughts? & Thank you!!
Everything I have read about it would tell me it should be just fine. If it won’t be absorbing moisture there shouldn’t be a problem!
Dont take it in and out alot. Warm truck, cold outside. Did that to long one year and it fired when i needed but had no power.
I’ve done a month with no issues. It would go under my back seat when not hunting. So it would go from cold to a little warm while driving and back to cold. Also shooting Blackhorn.
DT
I don’t push the envelope. Usually two to three days in consistent temps and I toss the powder in the trash. By that time I want to clean the rifle anyway since mine isn’t stainless.
One time I brought my loaded cold muzzleloader into a warm house for the evening. Next morning I shot it with a delayed ignition and low fps. Don’t take much for these thick steel barrels to condensate.
It probably would not be a issue. But for the cost of a load of powder I would not chance it. With loose powder like Blackhorn even a little moisture could have a rather noticeable change to the FPS and thus accuracy.
Correction on by statement about Blackhorn possibly being effected by moisture. A former member here who was the go to for all things on Muzzleloading informed me that Blackhorn is NOT effected by moisture. I found this Info. on Blackhorn 209 ” Blackhorn 209 is virtually non-hygroscopic. Changes in temperature or humidity do not affect performance. Blackhorn 209 will not setup or degrade like some other propellants. Shelf life is essentially unlimited.
I figure I get one or two opportunities to pull the trigger on my smokepole aimed at a deer each year. I reduce the risk and start fresh each time in the field. Do I need to? Probably not. But as with most things, peace of mind has a cost as well.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
