Does black powder corrode stainless steel?
Questions and answers from Reddit
Here are some of the most informative comments from the post.
“Fired black powder? Yes, in time it will but the residue is slower to rust SS than regular steel. The rule is to always clean a black powder firearm on the day it was shot.”
“Yes. How quickly depends on the stainless.”
“Well sort of and not exactly. The residue from fired black powder contains salts that are hydroscopic, so it's something of a double whammy when moisture is present. It's always a good idea to clean after shooting, although if the weather is dry it can sit for a few days w/o issue on a gun, stainless or not. If you aren't sure about timing or weather, it's a good idea to at least spray it down with a solution of "moose milk" which is ballistol and water mixed about 1:7-10.
Cleanup after shooting does not need to be a big deal. I'm a BP cartridge loader and shooter in cowboy action. I clean 4 guns (2 revolvers, 1 rifle, 1 SxS shotgun) in about 45 minutes using only moose milk, a bore snake, and a paper towel. Spray liberally, wipe, wet bore snake, run through barrel/chambers. If the guns are going into storage, I lube up the moving parts with a little pure ballistol and put them away.”
“Read somewhere years ago that the fired or burnt Black Powder creates a type of mild Sulfuric acid, and that is why it eats steel pretty fast, however, Tanker trucks do transport Acid and corrosives. The tanks are usually made of stainless steel. Here is why; https://sciencing.com/corrosion-stainless-steel-sulfuric-acid-8723157.html”
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