Problem/Question

[SETDAHOOK]

So, 3 years ago I borrowed by back up muzzleloader to a buddy for a late season hunt. Well, my buddy did not shoot the round off after the last day of the season. So, to my surprise my gun has had a slug and powder in it for 3 years.

My question is, what do I do??? Is it safe to shoot it??

Thanks for you help.

[JacobMHD]

Take out the breech plug and push the load out the back end.

[96trigger]

I would shoot it.

But if you don't feel comfortable with that, check if the powder falls out the breech, if it does you are OK, if they are pellets and don't fit, I would fire it. Should be just fine to shoot, we shoot shells that are more than 3 years old. The only thing that would concern is a hangfire. If that happens, you will need to soak it in water to completely saturate that powder, then push the bullet out.

Again, I would throw in a primer and fire it, More than likely it will go boom and your problem will be solved.

Just what I would do, maybe somebody on here has more info. I would think as long as the powder is dry, and it should be, you are OK.

[bassNspear]

i would take out to breach plug and push it down! 3 years is a long time, i wouldnt think its a problem, but i wouldnt want to take that risk!

[HC Eye Hunter]

I would shoot it, as long as your freind loaded it correctly the worse that coulds happen is a misfire or hang fire caused by moisture in the powder. If a misfire happens take out the breach plug and push out the round.

[96trigger]

Isn't it much more dangerous to try and unload a charge than to try and fire it? Just asking. Again, I am pretty much a novice in all this, but all the books say if you have to do unload it like that, to soak it in water and saturate the powder.

[HC Eye Hunter]

Been muzzleloading for 25 years and I knew of a guy who soaked his gun in water so the charge wouldn't go off. What a mess, I would not recommend soaking a charge in your muzzleloader.

[HC Eye Hunter]

96, the charge was put in the gun to fire at a target or a deer. As long as the charge was put in the correct way and gun has been kept in a dry place there s/b no issues. The charge is not going to blow up the gun due to it being loaded and not fired. I have loaded speed loaders from the past year that contain a ball and powder and just cause they were loaded last year doesn't make them go bad. As long as the powder is dry there should be no problems. Just make sure the projectile clears the barrel. I would recommend a good cleaning after the round is removed.

[JacobMHD]

Here's my take. So you take the gun hunting this year and Mr. Big makes his entrance. You have one shot to make it count. Do you want to risk this opportunity on a three year old load, or would you rather have fresh powder? The bullet and wad can be salvaged. I would feel more confident with a fresh load in my gun. I would also give the gun a good cleaning once I have removed the load.

[96trigger]

HC, you misunderstood my post. My question was, is it much safer to put a primer on it, and try and fire it in a safe location, then try and unload it manually with a full charge and round in it? Thanks.

Again, if it were me, I would go out to the pasture, fire it into the dirt, then clean and reload before taking it out. If it didn't fire, then i would manually unload the charge and bullet after waiting to make sure that there was no hang fire.

[Bucksnort101]

Shoot it, clean it, reload it. I don't think you'll have any problem dealing with it either way, unless you have a ramrod that is made out of flint, then you might have a problem;)

Seriously, as long as you make sure there is not primer in the ML or are opening it up near a heat sourse or open flome you should not have any problems taking the breech out, pouring out the old powder, pushing out the bullet and then starting over, but if it were me I'd just take the easy road and shoot it out of there and clean it up.

[picksbigwagon]

I can't comment on whether to shoot it our not since I have no experience with a muzzie, yet, but everyone has missed the obvious here, next time, don't loan this guy anything....that is just really bad that he didn't fire it to unload it or that he didn't tell you about it either. He didn't even clean it either......You didn't say if he was an ex friend or not...

[HC Eye Hunter]

Now that's sound advice.

[Bucksnort101]

I got to thinking about this and my previous response. Do you know who loaded the shot that is in the ML? Three years ago gives you plenty of time to forget. If your friend loaded it, did he put too much powder in, maybe got distracted and put in a double load of powder? Was the powder Pryodex, Triple 7, or just plain old Black Powder. In any case has it attracted moisture (probably not) and caused some corrosion in the gun (again, probably not but I'd rather be on the safe side here).

If I was confident there was not an excessive load of powder in the gun I would not hesitate to shoot it, but in this case there may be some doubt.

After thinking about it I guess if it were me I'd pull the breech plug and take the powder out, then use your ramrod to push the bullet out. Once again making sure there is no primer in the Rifle. Clean it up well afterwards.

P.S. I probably wouldn't loose a friend over this, but I probably wouldn't loan him my ML again as stated by others.

[SETDAHOOK]

Thanks for all the advice. I think I am going to pull the breech plug out and go from there. I don't know how much powder he used, but I do know they were pellets. I am pretty sure it stayed moisture free, but you never know.

If he does ask to use it again, I will be more than willing to let him use it. It is only a gun and he is a pretty good friend, who has limited funds. It is not the end of the world that he did not shoot the load, however it would have been nice. I enjoy the fact that he is interested in the outdoors and without using my gun he would be sitting on the couch doing nothing.