tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1999508328036467805.post4840954454675851624..comments2023-10-29T15:32:19.571-04:00Comments on The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles: Black Powder Safety: Don't Leave it Charged!Albert A Raschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11431765456546701021noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1999508328036467805.post-69693505191875126212011-10-18T08:50:02.290-04:002011-10-18T08:50:02.290-04:00I don't believe this story. Whatever reason th...I don't believe this story. Whatever reason the gunsmith had for passing on this second hand information, I haven't the fainest idea, but there is no reason to accept it. Your first assumption was probably correct, and the owner of the gun wouldn't admit it. I have personally stored a loaded blackpowder rifle for over two years, or three, and know many friends who do as well. Not that I think it is a good idea, but I've never had one rust as long as it wasn't shot or wet....<br /><br />Think about it. Black powder is a simple combination of charcoal, saltpeter, and sulpher. I have known stored KEGS that have been excellent for over thirty years. Now, modern smokeless powders are nitro-cellulose, and the nitroglycerin can and does change over the years due to the loss of ether in the base, and extreme heat, which causes separation, and sometimes makes a cartridge a "dual load", with more combustible powder next to less combustible powder. And even then, I have had and shot many cartridges that were over 40 or 50 years old. Often the higher pressures in old cartridges are from the bullet "gluing" itself to the case, and for that reason alone, it is usually unwise to shoot them...<br /><br />So, don't take everything you hear for granted...sometimes don't take anything.....jeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05240252629333977247noreply@blogger.com