if you get the barrel hot enough with the water that it's almost uncomfortable to hold you don't need the alcohol also I've found if I use a oiled patch I have to clean the barrel after the second or third shot oil and black powder don't mix well
Went back to water - cleaning woes and foes
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ronaldrothb49
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My cleaning solution is water and a little Dawn Dishwashing Soap, it costs pennies to make a gallon of it. I have been doing this for a long times and have tried all kinds of magic cleaning products never found anything that worked better. I will say from my experience I will never put anything containing Hydrogen Peroxide in the barrel of any gun I own ever again. I do wipe between every shot with a slightly damp patch of the cleaning solution. at the end of the day for my flintlocks I plug the touchhole with a tooth pick pour some of the cleaning in the barrel swish it around to coat the barrel and let it sit while I clean the lock. Then dump the solution out of the barrel then use wet patches. 4 or 5 patches later I have a clean patch.
For a percussion I have a nipple I drilled out attach a rubber tube to it stick it in a container of the cleaning solution and start pumping. couple patches and I have a clean patch.
It works for me
For a percussion I have a nipple I drilled out attach a rubber tube to it stick it in a container of the cleaning solution and start pumping. couple patches and I have a clean patch.
It works for me
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LOL , wow ..... Water patches till its clean , dry patches till dry , an oil patch .....your done .Its a very simple operation ....
The Damned Yankee
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In my classes I teach shooters to keep it simple. Hot water and a little dish detergent is all that is needed on all parts. Thoroughly dry and oil. Next day disassemble, wipe dry (looking for dirt missed) and re-oil. Don't waste money on fancy solvents that may or may not work. But there is always that one guy, who is a mechanic (or shot for years) and always recommends some fancy new high speed, low drag expensive cleaner / degreaser that will take off the finish off anything you spray it on!
You don't really need BOILING WATER
At 76, been using the boiling water for well over 60 years. For me personally, I feel that it is needed.
It works. Thanks for your comments. This forum allows us to agree to disagree. Best to you.
smoothshooter
50 Cal.
Water is good. Even cold.
As I've said before, how did our ancestors get by with just plain water and bear grease or tallow?
Tried a bunch of BP cleaners. Now use water. Works best.
Tenring
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I do the same, can’t beat hot water and soap.
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For 43 years . Just straight water cold or room temp. patch till dry then Barricade and store muzzle down. Just plain works is easy. Why complicate things.
Mwal
Mwal
Banjoman
Hillbilly
I did some extensive testing and discovered that water from the rain barrel works best for muzzleloader cleaning. The little tadpoles can get to the breech and eat out the crud.
So much over thinking, so much over prepping. I too used to make a chore out of cleaning, I too hated getting water on my stock, under the barrel, into to trigger assembly; tried all the 'hoses' and pumping water up and down with a tight patch (even did a hillbilly comedy skit about it).
Got so tired of making an easy task difficult and messy, got tired of being told "Not On The Dinner Table! TAKE THAT OUTSIDE!!"
Now I just K.I.S.S. it.
No hot water, yes I use a store bought cleaner, less then a dozen patches, a few Q-tips - Done.
No mess, no fuss, never had rust, barrel looks like new.
Got so tired of making an easy task difficult and messy, got tired of being told "Not On The Dinner Table! TAKE THAT OUTSIDE!!"
Now I just K.I.S.S. it.
No hot water, yes I use a store bought cleaner, less then a dozen patches, a few Q-tips - Done.
No mess, no fuss, never had rust, barrel looks like new.
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Tap water works very well for me.
Last edited:
Borax is great stuff!
I use it when boiling down turkey wing bones to make turkey calls, it is also an ingredient for some methods of skinning and tanning small game.
I used it in the drying process of a couple rabbit feet (still have mine, now years later).
I have also heard it is good for washing wool and I use it when felting knitted caps (no harsh chemicals I think was the claimed 'upside').
The old Borax mule trail (Calif-Arizona) was a good Rattlesnake hunt trip as well (back in the 70s).
But I have never used it to clean firearms.
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