How screwed am I?

Posted: 8/15/2017 5:19:09 PM EDT

For some idiotic reason I put my muzzleloader in the safe after shooting a few deer last season without cleaning the barrel.

It's a Thompson Center Omega with a stainless barrel. I use Triple Seven pellets.

Is it going to be a problem?

Hopefully not because it's absolutely the best shooting muzzleloader I've ever had.... easy cloverleafs at 100 yards since day one.

Posted: 8/15/2017 5:41:50 PM EDT

[#1]

Maybe ok, may be a tomato stake.

Clean it and see

Posted: 8/15/2017 5:42:14 PM EDT

[#2]

It will be fine

Posted: 8/15/2017 5:44:19 PM EDT

[#3]

You should be fine. My grandfather did that but left it for 2 seasons. We got it cleaned up and it still shoots good. Too bad grandpa cant shoot for shit

Posted: 8/15/2017 5:45:12 PM EDT

[#4]

My guess would be you're not getting off easy. Besides your barrel possibly being pitted, you may not even be able to get your breech plug out. Most people smear a little grease on the threads and that may have helped you if you did, but I think your in for a real pain in the ass. Not sure that a pitted barrel is a really bad thing with a muzzle loader (as compared with a conventional rifle) as most people shoot plastic sabots anyway, but it may affect accuracy a bit. You could well have sulfur crystals growing in your breach plug flash hole too, the proper size wire or letter drill should take care of that.
I hope all turns out well, keep us posted on how you do?

Posted: 8/15/2017 5:45:48 PM EDT

[#5]

Just clean it by firing another round through it. You'll be fine.

Posted: 8/15/2017 5:45:57 PM EDT

[#6]

We have made that mistake with blued barrels, as long as it was dry it is not a problem.

Posted: 8/15/2017 5:46:28 PM EDT

[#7]

Uh why do t you just clean it then see for yourself?

Posted: 8/15/2017 5:48:10 PM EDT

[#8]

Buy more stuff.

Everything is on sale.

Posted: 8/15/2017 5:48:12 PM EDT

[#9]

It'll be fine. I've left my encore loaded over a season also. Zero rust or I'll effects.

Posted: 8/15/2017 5:48:24 PM EDT

[#10]

Triple 7 = tons of rust. Plug the muzzle and soak the barrel with Ballistol for a few days.

I bought an Encore in a similar state last winter. Took about a week to get the bore somewhat respectable. Using Ballistol, Flitz and several brushes.

Posted: 8/15/2017 5:49:18 PM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:
It'll be fine. I've left my encore loaded over a season also. Zero rust or I'll effects.

View Quote

There's a difference between loaded and fired.

Triple 7 is the most hygroscopic and corrosive BP sub on the market. I ruined an Encore barrel with that mess.

Posted: 8/15/2017 5:50:47 PM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:
Just clean it by firing another round through it. You'll be fine.

View Quote

If you can shove another loading down the barrel you're probably right, but if it requires too much grunt to get one fully seated, it could cause a dangerous overpressure situation.................

Posted: 8/15/2017 6:47:14 PM EDT

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:
Uh why do t you just clean it then see for yourself?

View Quote

I'm not going to be able to till next weekend. Deer hunting is not too far off and it just kind of hit me that I never did clean it

Posted: 8/15/2017 6:49:48 PM EDT

[#14]

Dibs on your stuff when it blows up in your face.

Posted: 8/15/2017 6:51:17 PM EDT

[#15]

Dex cool thread

Posted: 8/15/2017 6:52:37 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
My guess would be you're not getting off easy. Besides your barrel possibly being pitted, you may not even be able to get your breech plug out. Most people smear a little grease on the threads and that may have helped you if you did, but I think your in for a real pain in the ass. Not sure that a pitted barrel is a really bad thing with a muzzle loader (as compared with a conventional rifle) as most people shoot plastic sabots anyway, but it may affect accuracy a bit. You could well have sulfur crystals growing in your breach plug flash hole too, the proper size wire or letter drill should take care of that.
I hope all turns out well, keep us posted on how you do?

View Quote

I do add a lot of TC breech plug thread lube so that may not be a problem...... we'll see. Corrosion in the barrel is my main concern.

May have to buy a new one as I'm not going to screw around too long with this one if it is jacked. Off to start another thread lol.

Posted: 8/23/2017 6:21:45 PM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:
My guess would be you're not getting off easy. Besides your barrel possibly being pitted, you may not even be able to get your breech plug out. Most people smear a little grease on the threads and that may have helped you if you did, but I think your in for a real pain in the ass. Not sure that a pitted barrel is a really bad thing with a muzzle loader (as compared with a conventional rifle) as most people shoot plastic sabots anyway, but it may affect accuracy a bit. You could well have sulfur crystals growing in your breach plug flash hole too, the proper size wire or letter drill should take care of that.
I hope all turns out well, keep us posted on how you do?

View Quote

I do spread a lot of breech plug grease on the threads. Removed it easily. Looking thru the barrel ? Yeah, it looked like a science project with salty looking outcroppings growing.

Put a used primer in and filled the barrel with that pink soapy black powder cleaning stuff. I don't have high hopes. Going to drain and check in a few hours.