Very informative Daryl, thankyou very much.

Ok so my reasoning might seem daft, but it is based in reason I assure you!

I usually look at guns of 100+ years of age, as you know. I love hammer guns, and as a rule old guns full stop. Better fit finish quality.....everything, just as with God knows how much else.....cars, tools, even shoes.....I used to find bits of Victorian shoes in Cornwall on the farm, they SURE dont make things as they used to. I also use a little import for trimming anything up to 1.5" branches.....a 100 year old briar hook. Made in England all that time ago.

Anyway-these old guns come with issues usually, and also in cartridge format at very high prices. A similar muzzle loader is often 1/10th of the price!!! And yet even if slower, it comes without the risk of many problems that the cartridge gun comes with.

Alas, I am not thinking of power....I am thinking of strength! I wish to know that I can fire the loads it was designed for over and over without any eventual issues-such as loosening.

Question; How the hell does one keep the chamber area and chamber end of the barrel clean inside??? How do you check for corrosion internally??

Thanks

Ben