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Retreever
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Reloaded Black Powder Cartridge Storage
Nov 7th, 2023 at 5:10pm
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About a year ago I bought a "Falling Block Works" rifle barreled in 45-120. I was able to test fire using Trail Boss (30g) shortly after I got it but then my cancer returned I have been in poor health all of this year and just starting to recover.

My plan is to load cartridges over the winter for load testing in the spring.

This is the first time I would be storing loaded BP cartridges for any length of time and I was wondering if there are risks or potential problems in doing this?

Any and all feedback is appreciated.

Thanks, Retreever
  
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gunlaker
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Re: Reloaded Black Powder Cartridge Storage
Reply #1 - Nov 7th, 2023 at 6:11pm
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Depending on the lube you use, you might get some corrosion on the brass where the lube touches it if it sits for a long time.   I've had that happen when I made my own lube, but not since switching to DGL.

I've shot lots of ammo that's a year old, and some older.  Generally left over ammo from matches, and it's always shot just as well as when freshly made.

If you are worried about it, prep the cases, and load the primers and powder with a wad on top.   Then just before going to the range, compress the charge if desired, and seat the bullets.  The powder and primers will last longer than we will, with no degradation.

I hope that's useful to you.

Chris.
  
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Retreever
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Re: Reloaded Black Powder Cartridge Storage
Reply #2 - Nov 8th, 2023 at 9:35am
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gunlaker wrote on Nov 7th, 2023 at 6:11pm:
Depending on the lube you use, you might get some corrosion on the brass where the lube touches it if it sits for a long time.   I've had that happen when I made my own lube, but not since switching to DGL.

I've shot lots of ammo that's a year old, and some older.  Generally left over ammo from matches, and it's always shot just as well as when freshly made.

If you are worried about it, prep the cases, and load the primers and powder with a wad on top.   Then just before going to the range, compress the charge if desired, and seat the bullets.  The powder and primers will last longer than we will, with no degradation.

I hope that's useful to you.

Chris.


Thanks GL much appreciated. Your suggestion about seating the bullets later seems a good idea.

Retreever
  
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Redrighthand
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Re: Reloaded Black Powder Cartridge Storage
Reply #3 - Nov 8th, 2023 at 10:00am
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I have had no problems with storing loaded BP ammunition. No corrosion, no failure to fire. I use a combo of SPG and DGL for lube.
  

Mike Brooks
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Bent_Ramrod
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Re: Reloaded Black Powder Cartridge Storage
Reply #4 - Nov 8th, 2023 at 2:55pm
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I've stored black powder cartridges for over a year with no problems in use.  The paper-patch loads undergo no change.  The grease-groove loads sometimes have a faint greenish tinge to the lube, but this is not accompanied by evidence of serious corrosion in the brass; after firing and cleaning, it's fine for further reloading.  The lube sometimes dries out a little, but the function of softening fouling and eliminating leading never seems to be impaired.
  
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Schuetzendave
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Re: Reloaded Black Powder Cartridge Storage
Reply #5 - Nov 8th, 2023 at 5:04pm
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I have shot five year old Swiss BP cases lubed with Alberta Schuetzen Lube without corrosion occurring or any affect to accuracy of the loads.

They were stored inside in my basement.

I know that loaded rounds stored outside can have the brass become brittle and crack on firing. 
Over extended periods of extreme winter and summer temperature changes the brass becomes brittle.
A fellow provided me loaded cases that had been stored more than 10 years this way in his unheated garage.
1 out of every 5 ruptured when fired.
« Last Edit: Nov 8th, 2023 at 5:17pm by Schuetzendave »  
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Griff093
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Re: Reloaded Black Powder Cartridge Storage
Reply #6 - Nov 9th, 2023 at 10:52am
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I have both had BP cartridges and shotshells loaded for several years with no ill effects.  Shotshells are generally stored in their original cartons and in an ammo can.  Metallic cartridges, both rifle and pistol rounds are generally stored in MTM plastic boxes with the bullet down.
  
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SchwarzStock
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Re: Reloaded Black Powder Cartridge Storage
Reply #7 - Nov 18th, 2023 at 3:50pm
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The longest I have stored loaded BP cartridges is about 18 months, not by choice, but no problems....
  

If your rifle is not in 7.62 and you can't hit what you are aiming at with de-linked machinegun ammo you are a pretender.
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George Babits
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Re: Reloaded Black Powder Cartridge Storage
Reply #8 - Nov 20th, 2023 at 9:50am
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Back in the '60s, I was buying original 43 Spanish for my rolling block at Poyomic Arms for $5.00/100.  That ammo had to have been at least 50 years old.   Still worked very well with only about 5% misfires.  When dismantled, the powder was "cakd" and had to be dug out.  Lube looked like maybe beeswax or something similiar.

George
  
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marlinguy
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but they sure are neater!

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Re: Reloaded Black Powder Cartridge Storage
Reply #9 - Nov 20th, 2023 at 10:38am
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What happens to BP when it's in a sealed cartridge for years? Has anyone pulled bullets and seen something that made them think it went bad at a set period of time?
I've also fired BP cartridges I knew were many decades old and not had any issues I could tell. I didn't chronograph them as I was trying to just use them up to get cases to reload with. But they seemed to shoot fine, and groups weren't erratic.
  

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Chuckster
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Re: Reloaded Black Powder Cartridge Storage
Reply #10 - Nov 20th, 2023 at 12:07pm
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Worked in a gun shop in college. One of the jobs was cleaning up old ML shotguns for wall hangers.
Many of them were still loaded. Black powder never failed to ignite after it was pulled.
One was loaded with about a tablespoon of smokeless stick powder. Thankfully, did not fire. 
Chuck
  
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