I have run into the red patch syndrome after cleaning my muzzleloaders.
The full procedure for cleaning my Pedersoli 0.54 cal. Hawken is the following.
I run 2 or 3 soaking wet patches of Ballistol and water mix at the range using both sides of the patch.
At home, which may be one or 2 days later, I dismount the barrel from the stock and unscrew the nipple.
With a bucket of clean hot water I used a flexible cleaning (range) rod and patch to pump water in the barrel and through the nipple opening. I do this until the water exiting the nipple opening does not contain black water.
I put the nipple back in the barrel and pump water through it until clean. I find 2 half buckets of water are enough.
I dry the barrel with patches and run ballistol soaked patches through the barrel until they come out clean. The number varies and depends upon the water cleaning stage.
I shot my Hawken on the 2nd of June, about 40 shots, and cleaned it on the 4th of June.
Considering bdp303 rust remarks I pulled it out of the cabinet today, the 17th of June.
The first patch was a oil soaked brown, the second was mostly dry with brown from the groves.
A bore light down the barrel showed a bright shine bore.
Also a wipe of the exterior of the Hawken showed no brown stain on the patch.
In the description of Ballistol’s properties, it is described as having a penetrating ability which I think results in the brown patches which after a few days is stuff (?) that has worked out of the metal pours of the barrel..
I have used any number of cleaning products and any firearm will need to be cleaned more than once with any of the products I have tried. Try cleaning with your favourite cleaner on the day of the shoot , put it away for a couple of days and clean it again, you may be disappointed.
For the ex-service types, remember cleaning every day ?
A number of the shooters over at
CasCity.com also like Ballistol.
My apologizes for being long winded, but for black powder guns I prefer Ballistol,
Your opinion may differ.