B/P loads expiry age.

[Angel_Eyes]

Don't know if there is a definitive answer, but, has anyone any idea how long a cap and ball revolver can be left loaded and still be viable and would it cause any damage to the revolver?

[Ranch 13]

Assuming the gun was clean and unfired when it got loaded, and the lube used to seal the chambers don't leach into the powder charge, and it doesn't get moisture in thru the nipples, the lifespan of those loads should be indefinite. There would be no damage to the gun.

[Peddler Parsons]

I got my great grandfathers rifle a few years back and had it hanging on the wall, a friend came over and  asked if I had ever fired
it. I took it down and checked the barrel length and found out it was still loaded, so to be safe I pulled the ball and wad then dumped out the powder, installed a cap and set it off to remove to remove any left over powder (it went puff), It had been loaded for over 70 years or so. It had been keep in the closet at home for many years, The reat of the powder I loaded into a rifle case and it went boom.
I cleaned the old rifle up and at 75 yards it exploded a plastic milk jug