My Sidelock Wasn't Cleaned for 3 1/2 Years

[Patocazador]

I hunt with a Sile Hawken Hunter which is a short-barreled Hawken clone. Years ago I bought a Hubbard Mag Spark and have shot BlackHorn 209 powder in it since. After a range session today I cleaned it. The last time it was cleaned was the summer of 2016. I had hunted with it many times and if I shot at a deer, I quickly reloaded and hunted again. After 3 1/2 years I thought it was time to clean it and see what condition the barrel was in.

The barrel was very dirty but otherwise there was no corrosion, pitting, whatever. Since BH 209 is really a smokeless powder, it was the same as if I fired my .25-06 without cleaning it.
Others had predicted woe and gloom but nothing of the sort happened.

Just passing this along for general knowledge.

[Hanshi]

Since I only use black powder I'm not familiar with the substitute powders with the exception of Pyrodex, which I tried and did not like.  I find it remarkable your rifle went that long without a cleaning.  I must say though, that on a forum I visit a guy used to say he used black powder but never cleaned the bore.  Apparently he only ran one dry patch down after shooting to get the flakes out and that was it.  I simply do not believe BP and not cleaning won't hurt the bore.  Even in an arid climate where a week or two makes no difference, something bad will happen in 2-1/2 years of not cleaning.

[Papa]

Agree with Hanshi on this one!

[Patocazador]

It still shoots as good as ever and no patches came out brown or rusty-looking.

I did give the gun some attention after it was reloaded without cleaning. I dry-patched the barrel up to the bullet and then ran a patch with a lube to coat it. The chamber was never cleaned in that time though.