Can you leave Blackhorn 209 Loaded overnight? For a WEEK? | Muzzleloader Hunting Test
Every year we are asked "Can I leave my muzzleloader loaded overnight?", "Do I need to unload my muzzleloader after hunting?", and "How long can I leave my muzzleloader loaded?". I'll be leaving my CVA Accura LR V2 loaded for 1 day, 3 days, and 7 days to compare the results while documenting the experience for you at home.
As a baseline for this test, I didn’t clean the barrel between shots. I wanted to see how Blackhorn would perform in these dirty conditions and I was pleasantly suprised with how it did.
This rifle will sit under cover on my cabin porch each night. Initially, I had hoped to leave the rifle at the loading bench for a ‘tougher’ test, but with incoming rain on day one, I didn’t want to totally ruin the test and decided to bring the rifle to the porch for a more eventful test.
The load for each test is 80 grains by weight of Blackhorn 209 and a .50 caliber THOR Hammer Bullet. THOR sent me the bullets to use in my videos. Thank you THOR! The primer I used was a Federal Shotshell primer, the cheap ones in the blue box. I have had great experiences with them and haven’t had a need to use another primer
Weather Conditions for the Test
This test was conducted in October in the Midwest, we saw rain, sleet, fog, and temperatures as low as 30 and as high as 70. That being said, it was perfect weather for the test, I think. We had variety and some seasonal extremes. Check out the daily weather in the images below.
Day 1 weather report
The 3 Day test saw dryer conditions each day, but temperatures yoyoed up, down and back up again.
The 7 day weather report continued to get warmer and then got cooler in the 2nd half.
Test Results
Overall, I enjoyed doing the test and hope that it provides some information for you to begin your own testing at home. Like all of my tests, this was not meant to be all-encompassing or a definitive test, just a single data point for you to reference in your own muzzleloading journey.
As expected, the Blackhorn 209 powder performed flawlessly after sitting in these conditions. Each shot was accurate as well, ringing the 100-yard gong offhand each time. With this kind of performance, it’s easy to see why folks enjoy this powder so much. Blackhorn 209 certainly isn’t cheap. This year Hodgdon raised the price of it by nearly double to “ensure supply”, I hope to see it come down in the next year.
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