muzzle load cleaning?

russ1986 · October 26th, 2009, 08:01 AM

I am very new to the gun world here. When i get home i am going to be getting a muzzle loader for hunting purposes. I was looking around on some websites like basspro cva ect. I sow special cleaning kits for just muzzle loaders. Is this really needed or can i just use the things i use to clean my 9mm. which is a cleaner/penetrating oil.

JohnD13 · October 26th, 2009, 08:08 AM

I can't speak to cleaning up with black powder substitutes like Pyrodex or similar products, but, if you use black powder, NEVER use petroleum based products on a muzzleloader for cleaning! You end up with a black tar like mess. Hot water is all you need to clean away black power fowling. TC makes some good products for bore seasoning and rust protection, and I'm sure there are others out there.

rstickle · October 26th, 2009, 08:46 AM

I have a couple of flintlocks, and if you are using black powder you can clean the weapon using just water and patches.

russ1986 · October 26th, 2009, 01:25 PM

ok thanks i will take a look when i get home in 10 days or so in the store for some stuff any more advice on this will help thanks

rainmaker · October 26th, 2009, 03:49 PM

I shoot flint with straight black powder, and hot water + a little dish soap always works for me. Push the ramrod w/soaking wet patch in and out like a plunger. With a caplock, you can fit a plastic or rubber tube over the nipple (other end in a can) to keep the dirty water from spraying all over. With a flintlock, wrap a towel around the stock to help keep the dirty water off the stock and point the touch hole down. Some rifles allow you to easily take the barrell off the stock, which can make things even easier.

Follow with a couple clean wet patches just to be sure. Follow with dry patches until dry. Follow with light oil. The hotter the water, the better since the bore dries quicker. Cleaning's not complicated, but it can be messy. I don't shoot Pydodex, and I don't know it would any different, but several folks make cleaners specific for Pyrodex.

Check around your local gun club or range for somebody who shoots muzzleloaders regular. They should be able to give you advice on the care and feeding of a ML, as well as advice on what type you might like to buy.

SAnta01 · October 26th, 2009, 08:54 PM

Above all... MAKE SURE YOUR BARREL IS 100% DRY!!! Before you oil her back up.

rstickle · October 27th, 2009, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rainmaker

Cleaning's not complicated, but it can be messy.

Never, ever clean a black powder weapon in the house if possible! And if you have to make sure its not on your light colored rug. I speak from experience, fortunatly, NOT mine!

There is a product that helps bead ands remove water from the barrel, but I can't find the name, and I won't be home to check till mid-November. Meanwhile check this place for black powder supplies:
Track of the Wolf - Muzzle Loading & Black Powder Guns Kits, Parts, Accoutrements, Rendezvous Gear & Primitive Americana

russ1986 · October 27th, 2009, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rstickle

Never, ever clean a black powder weapon in the house if possible! And if you have to make sure its not on your light colored rug. I speak from experience, fortunatly, NOT mine!

There is a product that helps bead ands remove water from the barrel, but I can't find the name, and I won't be home to check till mid-November. Meanwhile check this place for black powder supplies:
Track of the Wolf - Muzzle Loading & Black Powder Guns Kits, Parts, Accoutrements, Rendezvous Gear & Primitive Americana

ok thank you and no i never clean my guns in my house.

xXxplosive · October 27th, 2009, 10:27 AM

Warm water with mild dish detergent, then clean water.........then run dry clean patch material through the barrel all the way to the face of the breech plug untill dry.........I let my rifles and/smoothbores stand a couple hours then lube the barrel usually with some patch lube. No oils with petroleum distolites or WD 40 as it kills powder.......

And....I actually remove the lock and thoroughly clean all the working parts with denatured alchaholl and Q-tips...I know a clean gun is an accurate gun and when I hunt I want no FTF due to maintenance issues...

HotGuns · October 27th, 2009, 10:59 AM

I do mine in the kitchen sink...which is stainless steel. The sink is full of water, the hottest it will get.

The first step is to remove the barrel. The second step is to make a tight fitting plug from patches. I take the nipple off and using the cleaning rod I draw the extremely hot water into the barrel, using the rod as a piston to draw the water in and push the water out.

At first, the water will be black. As you continue doing it, the water in the barrel will eventually become clean. You may even have to refill the sink again if the water gets dirty.After it is clean and the barrel is dry, you run a patch through the barrel that is saturated with lube. I use the Thompson Center patch lube which is made from vegetable fat. As already mentioned, don't use a lube with petroleum in it as this reacts with the heat and the power residue which makes it really difficult to remove.

Doing this is the most complete way to clean a barrel. The very hot water will heat the barrel enough to evaporate a lot of the water and once swabbed with a good lube, it should be good to go for quiet awhile. Lube the outside to prevent rust, put the barrel back in and put it up for the next season.

October 26th, 2009, 08:01 AM	#1
russ1986 Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: VA Posts: 52	muzzle load cleaning? I am very new to the gun world here. When i get home i am going to be getting a muzzle loader for hunting purposes. I was looking around on some websites like basspro cva ect. I sow special cleaning kits for just muzzle loaders. Is this really needed or can i just use the things i use to clean my 9mm. which is a cleaner/penetrating oil. __________________ NRA LIFE MEMBER the way to be safe is never to be secure. Benjamin franklin

October 26th, 2009, 08:46 AM	#3
rstickle Senior Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Laurel, MD Posts: 12,739	I have a couple of flintlocks, and if you are using black powder you can clean the weapon using just water and patches. __________________ Rick EOD - Initial success or total failure

October 26th, 2009, 01:25 PM	#4
russ1986 Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: VA Posts: 52	ok thanks i will take a look when i get home in 10 days or so in the store for some stuff any more advice on this will help thanks __________________ NRA LIFE MEMBER the way to be safe is never to be secure. Benjamin franklin

October 26th, 2009, 03:49 PM	#5
rainmaker Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Southwest Ohio Posts: 107	I shoot flint with straight black powder, and hot water + a little dish soap always works for me. Push the ramrod w/soaking wet patch in and out like a plunger. With a caplock, you can fit a plastic or rubber tube over the nipple (other end in a can) to keep the dirty water from spraying all over. With a flintlock, wrap a towel around the stock to help keep the dirty water off the stock and point the touch hole down. Some rifles allow you to easily take the barrell off the stock, which can make things even easier. Follow with a couple clean wet patches just to be sure. Follow with dry patches until dry. Follow with light oil. The hotter the water, the better since the bore dries quicker. Cleaning's not complicated, but it can be messy. I don't shoot Pydodex, and I don't know it would any different, but several folks make cleaners specific for Pyrodex. Check around your local gun club or range for somebody who shoots muzzleloaders regular. They should be able to give you advice on the care and feeding of a ML, as well as advice on what type you might like to buy. __________________ Steve

October 27th, 2009, 10:27 AM	#9
xXxplosive Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: USA Posts: 122	Warm water with mild dish detergent, then clean water.........then run dry clean patch material through the barrel all the way to the face of the breech plug untill dry.........I let my rifles and/smoothbores stand a couple hours then lube the barrel usually with some patch lube. No oils with petroleum distolites or WD 40 as it kills powder....... And....I actually remove the lock and thoroughly clean all the working parts with denatured alchaholl and Q-tips...I know a clean gun is an accurate gun and when I hunt I want no FTF due to maintenance issues... Last edited by xXxplosive; October 27th, 2009 at 12:45 PM..

October 26th, 2009, 08:08 AM	#2
JohnD13 Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Castleton on Hudson, NY Posts: 108	I can't speak to cleaning up with black powder substitutes like Pyrodex or similar products, but, if you use black powder, NEVER use petroleum based products on a muzzleloader for cleaning! You end up with a black tar like mess. Hot water is all you need to clean away black power fowling. TC makes some good products for bore seasoning and rust protection, and I'm sure there are others out there.

October 26th, 2009, 08:54 PM	#6
SAnta01 Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ga. Posts: 40	Above all... MAKE SURE YOUR BARREL IS 100% DRY!!! Before you oil her back up.

October 27th, 2009, 10:59 AM	#10
HotGuns Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 7,582	I do mine in the kitchen sink...which is stainless steel. The sink is full of water, the hottest it will get. The first step is to remove the barrel. The second step is to make a tight fitting plug from patches. I take the nipple off and using the cleaning rod I draw the extremely hot water into the barrel, using the rod as a piston to draw the water in and push the water out. At first, the water will be black. As you continue doing it, the water in the barrel will eventually become clean. You may even have to refill the sink again if the water gets dirty.After it is clean and the barrel is dry, you run a patch through the barrel that is saturated with lube. I use the Thompson Center patch lube which is made from vegetable fat. As already mentioned, don't use a lube with petroleum in it as this reacts with the heat and the power residue which makes it really difficult to remove. Doing this is the most complete way to clean a barrel. The very hot water will heat the barrel enough to evaporate a lot of the water and once swabbed with a good lube, it should be good to go for quiet awhile. Lube the outside to prevent rust, put the barrel back in and put it up for the next season. __________________ AR. CHL Instr. To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical. Thomas Jefferson

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