Any experienced muzzleloaders on here?

[ferris bugler]

Anyone have experience with TC Hawken black powder rifles? I have one that was my dads. It sat for a couple of years with a charge in it and I'm wondering what my approach should be. I have removed the charge and have cleaned the rifle. Any way to check whether or not the black powder corroded the gun to the point where there is damage? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Elkduds]

Consider putting a clean patch on a bore-sized jag, run it all the way in, back it out. Does it feel looser where the load sat? Is there rust on the patch? Those would be trouble signs. The sure way to tell would be to take the barrel out of the stock (remove pins through stock under barrel), clamp barrel in vise w rag protecting barrel from vise jaws, and unscrew the breech plug. Then you can look right @ the place where the powder sat.

IMO the barrel will not have been damaged, here's why. Unburnt powder is not that corrosive. Also, very little O2 could get past the round to the powder, maybe a little throught the cap nipple, so that would reduce the rate of rusting. How sure am I? Not emough to test fire it w a 50 gr. powder charge.

[Indian Summer]

Duds is spot on. Dry powder ad no oxygen no problem. The other factor would be moisture. Assuming it was high and dry indoors I wouldn't worry. The barrel will obviously be fine. By design muzzle loaders have thick walled barrels so safety is not a concern. A Hawken is a quality model too. Fire in the hole!

[ferris bugler]

Thanks fellas. I pulled the nipple and everything looks pretty good there so I assume the barrel is probably ok as well. Looking forward to giving it a go.

[Rangerz]

If you are really concerned, you could get a bore scope camera or take it to a gunsmith that has one. Will probably be ok though.

[Indian Summer]

Another suggestion would be to start with a powder charge a hair on the light side. Then shoot several times. if you get a consistent group that is a sign that the condition of the barrel and breech are in good shape.