Stainless Steel and Blackpowder

[jakes10mm]

I was told by an "unverified" source that the corrosive nature of blackpowder is more destructive on Stainless Steel than Carbon Steel.  Can anyone verify this for me.  I have a Ruger SBH that I'd like to shoot smokeless, blackpowder, and blackpowder substitute through (cleanings between powder types), but to not want to destroy my revolver.  I fired pyrodex powder in a carbon steel BH without problems.  Brass was messy afterwards, but the revolver seemed to clean up easily.

Thanks.

[knight0334]

If you clean your firearm properly like most knowledgable blackpowder shooters do after shooting, I seriously doubt there will be a problem.

I'm no chemist, nor do I play one in the forums-but my best informed guess would be the stainless would less likely to have corrosion issues then carbon steel.   however, its is very possible that I am wrong.

[44 Man]

The 'corrosion' that black powder causes is actually rust caused from the 'salts' left behind after shooting.  Since stainless is much more rust resistant than carbon steel, it will resist this much better.  BUT it still must be cleaned after shooting to prevent damage.  44 Man

[Redhawk1]

As others have stated, if you keep your guns clean, they will be OK.  

[unspellable]

Stainless steel WILL rust, particularly the stainless alloys used in firearms.  But it is much more resistant to rust than conventional steel.  Burning BP may drive minute carbon particles into the surface of the steel.  These provide starting points for rust.  How ever the stainless will still be more resitant to rust than conventional alloys.

Bottom line, make sure you clean up and oil down just as you would for a conventional steel revolver with BP.  You'll have no problems.  Any BP arm should be pulled out and given a quick swab down one day after shooting, one week after, one month after, and one year after.

Don't mix brushes for cleaning up after BP and Smokeless.  reserve one set for each.

[Blackhawk44]

Once had a stainless Old Army and found that, in my case, the older Pyrodex was much more of a problem than black.  It proved much harder to completely remove than black and while black might leave a small temporary stain, the Pyrodex would eat into the metal very quickly and quite deeply.  Gave away nine pounds of Pyro for this reason.  Never had the same problem with my blue OA.

[jakes10mm]

I agree with you feedback.  I tend to be a "clean feak" with my firearms.  After seeing what Pyrodex did to my brass, I have been concerned with the "Staining" of a stainless steel Blackhawk.  I'm considering either Geox BP or Hodgdon 777 for a hunting load.  Worst case hunting scenerio, I let off a BP/777 round in the morning, sit out in the field until nightfall and not get the opportunity to swab it out for 8-10 hours.  That full day sitting is what I'm concerned with.  Ideally, I head out on the first day of firearm season, barely get the chance to get set-up, a HUGE buck wanders along, one shot from the Blackhawk and I have venison and the opportunity to clean up the revolver.  

P.S.  I have a basis understanding of the corrosive nature of BP & substitutes to brass.  The "pyrodex brass" has been separated from my smokeless brass.

[John Traveler1]

Stainless steel guns ABSOLUTELY will corrode and pit if neglected long enough.  For the casual shooter who cleans his guns after a day's shooting, it is much more rust resistant than carbon or chromoly alloy steels.

I once examined a S&W model 64 stainless steel revolver that was stored inside a car's door panel all summer/winter.  When it was examined months later, it was very badly pitted and scarred.  Not just the hardchromed hammer, trigger and springs, but the gun frame itself.  Except for the fact that the rust and corrosion flaked off the metal, it looked like some of these dug-up relics of the Civil War that are found in farmer's fields.

[Greeenriver]

The only BP sub I use is American Pionier Powder, but I have left my SS Ruger 32H&R go for a couple weeks after shooting an  entire day of Cowboy shooting with it and NO rust at all.  Cleaned up easily with just HOT water and patches. Lite oil and good to go again.  

I don't recomend not cleaning after every day of shooting, but with APP a few days won't hurt at all, and one day in the tree stand won't hury with any BP or Sub.


  Greeenriver(Smokeless residue cleans up harder than the APP residue)