Best anti-rust for after cleaning

[nicholas542]

Hey guys i'm new to this muzzleloader thing have a few questions on correct cleaning methods. I have been using Barrel Blaster to pre-clean, and the hot soap/water. I have been using wd40 to lube the barrel after cleaning to keep rust down. Is there a better or more proper method for anti-rust ?

 

[Celt5494]

I've tried this that and the other. What I do now is just use warm water and a little dish soap. Run a brush through thoroughly. After that some patches until they come out clean. I rinse it all real good with clear water. After that dry it with some clean patches. After it's good and dry coat the barrel with Ballistol. Every few weeks if the gun is not stored in a humidity controlled environment such as a good safe run a clean patch through. If you get any schmutz on the patch run a brush or two then some more patches then re-apply the Ballistol down in another lubed patch. The stuff just works.

 

[nicholas542]

thanks for the info i'm just looking for anything from a experienced muzzleloader at this point. I've been into it for less than a year now.

 

[Bill Hall]

After the barrel is dry, I just use whatever gun oil was the cheapest when I bought it. Bill

 

[jessestrish]

I have used the t/c seasoning patches seems to work for me.

 

[Pete Gaimari]

Ballistol.

 

[Vaino]

After the hot water cleaning and rinse, Oxyoke 1000 is used. Have been using this "stuff" or a similar patch lubricant since 1978 w/o any rust. Sometimes the LRs are on the rack for a year w/o any further lubrication and never any rust. The waxy lubes like Oxyoke 1000 adhere to the bore w/o running off.....Fred

 

[Fred_Dwyer]

I have been using wd40 to lube the barrel after cleaning to keep rust down. Is there a better or more proper method for anti-rust ?

Nearly anything is better than WD-40 for rust protection, I'd use olive oil before WD.
That isn't an absurd observation, bore butter is made with vegetable oil.
Mineral oil from the pharmacy is good also and cheaper than ballistol, plus it doesn't smell like a dead skunk's bum.

 

[William O.]

Hey guys i'm new to this muzzleloader thing have a few questions on correct cleaning methods. I have been using Barrel Blaster to pre-clean, and the hot soap/water. I have been using wd40 to lube the barrel after cleaning to keep rust down. Is there a better or more proper method for anti-rust ?

That's going to be a very subjective question, but as to what works best for me, I swab the barrel in between shots with an alcohol dampened cleaning patch as well as just before I leave the range. It cuts down on a lot of crud and is as quick as anything else I've tried. Then if I'm not going to do the soap and water immediately I will spray a clean patch with my favorite rust preventative, I prefer AMSOIL MP spray but also use Remington oil with good results too. Since oil will render your powder charge pretty much inert be sure to swab the bore with an alcohol patch before loading again to get rid of any left over oil.

 

[David W.]

I personally don't go with what I FEEL is the best, but what scientific observations have proven. Ballistol is about the best one can use for rust prevention. I have performed many rust tests for salt, temperature, and humidity on steel in an environmental chamber using various greases. I have never tried Ballistol in those tests.

I do think who ever posted the test strip results on this forum, performed the test properly. Ballistol was a clear winner.

 

[rafterob]

I use RemOil mainly because I was given a bunch by my Son. It works very well and is enduring. Most the "experts" I know use Ballistol. I have used olive oil also and it works good for about a month but after that it seems to lose its rust preventing ability.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Birchwood Casey's Barricade (formerly Sheath) liberally applied inside & out! I shoot in the rain with rifle, ml shotgun, and C&B revolvers. Barricade has never let me down! Great stuff!

Dave

 

[Jumpshot]

I just run a patch with Break Free on it down the bore, then remove the oil with clean dry patches before shooting it again. I've been doing it that way for years with my muzzleloaders and centerfires, never had any problems with rust in the bore.

 

[hanshi]

Realistically, if what you are using works for you then there is no reason to keep looking. For rust protection I use Barricade (sometimes a high quality gun oil) for long lasting protection. So far Barricade is as good as anything out there and is far better than most.

I'm paranoid about rust and am constantly swabbing bores "just to make sure". Barricade has the advantage that it dries and leaves a protective film on the metal. I always swab prior to shooting but with Barricade it doesn't hurt if you forget.

 

[StewartLeach]

After cleaning with nylon brush, warm tap water and a few drops of dish soap, patches, and drying with several patches, including a patch or two wrapped around a 30 cal brush if rifle has a powder chamber breech like TC, Lyman, Green Mtn, I wipe bore and powder chamber with patch damp with Ballistol or Barricade. Mrs. Fox lets me stand the rifle in the corner of the kitchen so I can run the patch at least daily for 2-3 days. Rifles are then stored nose down so oil doesn't migrate and collect in breech and nipple. Before firing, wipe out oil with patch wet with hardware store 100% alcohol.

White Fox

 

[Stumpkiller]

Birchwood Casey's Barricade (formerly Sheath) liberally applied inside & out! I shoot in the rain with rifle, ml shotgun, and C&B revolvers. Barricade has never let me down! Great stuff!

Dave

Ditto here.

WD-40 is great for chasing out water but doesn't do much for rust prevention. It's neither a good oil or a good protectant, but will do either briefly.

 

[Jim Fitzgibbon]

After cleaning with nylon brush, warm tap water and a few drops of dish soap, patches, and drying with several patches, including a patch or two wrapped around a 30 cal brush if rifle has a powder chamber breech like TC, Lyman, Green Mtn, I wipe bore and powder chamber with patch damp with Ballistol or Barricade. Mrs. Fox lets me stand the rifle in the corner of the kitchen so I can run the patch at least daily for 2-3 days. Rifles are then stored nose down so oil doesn't migrate and collect in breech and nipple. Before firing, wipe out oil with patch wet with hardware store 100% alcohol.

White Fox

You Know White Fox that is a great idea of storing
a rifle up side down.

Fly :hmm:

 

[Zonie]

Another vote for Barricade.
It's GOOOOOOOOOOOOOODDDDDDD stuff.

 

[Curtis Makamson]

...and another Barricade vote. My only complaint is occasionally it disappears off of the shelves of local merchants and is not quickly restocked.

 

[Tumblernotch]

I've been happy with 3 in 1 oil for many years. If you can find 3 in 1 Light Machine Oil, it it is even better, especially on your lock.