Brown Bess Help

[Myers16]

Hi everyone, I have recently purchased a 1771 Brown Bess from IMA. Looks almost new with new stock clean lines and the lock looks like it just left the armory. My issue is the barrel, I dropped a bore light down the big black hole and could not see anything due to rust. Not just ordinary rust but the hard Industrial kind. I paid for a hand select and they sent a great looking gun with exception of the barrel. I need advice on what you to use to clean it out , I believe the rust produced more rust over the years in a dark corner somewhere. If anybody has a secret and is willing to share I would be grateful.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Is it rust or packing grease?

 

[Myers16]

Now that you ask , it appears to be both. Kind of hangs down in strands , was thinking about plugging up the touch hole and dumping in a gallon of vinegar. Not sure if that is the right thing to do.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Now that you ask , it appears to be both. Kind of hangs down in strands , was thinking about plugging up the touch hole and dumping in a gallon of vinegar. Not sure if that is the right thing to do.

I would plug the vent and tip boiling water in and out until the breach is to hot to touch . Dry patches and let the heat dry it then access again

 

[Myers16]

Thanks for the advice looks like my Saturday is Brown Bess day.

 

[Sam squanch]

Might be YAK grease..

 

[Grenadier1758]

More or less along @Britsmoothy's suggestion, I would make a mix of one part unsulferated molasses, one squirt of dish soap and 9 parts of very hot water. Vinegar is too strong and could harm the finish of the stock. Plug the touch hole and fill the barrel with the mixture. Let this set for 15 minutes and dump out. Do this several times until no more extra dark crus is coming out. Run a dry patch down to dry the bore and see what is left of the dried oils and possibly rust. If the patch is greatly discolored, then you want a 12 gauge cleaning jag and a piece of the copper chore boy cleaning pad or a wad of 0000 steel wool to run down the barrel. Run the abrasive jag through the bore between 25 and 50 times, maybe more until the bore is clean, May take several pieces of the steel wool or chore boy copper pad. There may still be some pits in the bore, but that may not have an adverse effect on shooting. Now a rust inhibiting lubricant such as Barricade can be applied to protect the bore

 

[oldwood]

Would say absolutely no to the vinegar , unless you want more rust than you might already have. This job should require a good range rod , or an adapter for different ends on the Bess rod. Plug the touch hole and fill the barrel w/hot tap water. If you have a ribbed .75 cal r/r tip , put a cleaning rag on it with a little 00 steel wool on the cloth for a little extra bite. run the tip in and out to see what the goo is inside the barrel. If it's really just goo , the hot water should clear it up. Once the goo is gone , and the barrel isn't shiny, perhaps showing some light rust , more steel wool will be in order. Always lubricate the wool with something so it doesn't bind in the bore. Check the results. If shiny , good to go. If bore slightly pitted , make a rotary lap out of a 3/8" piece of steel rod stock with a 2" slot cut in the end to insert cloth backed emery cloth in the slot. Obviously , the rod stock should be long enough to go to the breech face , and stick out of the muzzle to attach an electric drill motor. DANGER here , you have created a powerful tool here. Always keep the lap moving in and out , don't run it in just one area so as to make an uneven area of the bore . Frequently wipe the bore and check if the rust is gone. Lightly lube the lap so it doesn't load up with debris. Change the emery cloth often , and try fine grit first , if necessary advance to medium grit . Once the bore is shiny go back to fine grit for final polish. Move through the grades of steel wool coarse to fine if necessary . I used to use this procedure on original .69 cal. C.W. percussion muskets . In the early 1970's these guns sold for $40 each , so were a good place to learn gun mechanics. Admittedly , the lap described above is a little harsh on a new musket ,but it made the available rusty bore originals shootable. Sorry I went so far into the weeds , but may be there is some pearl of wisdom you can use. ....................oldwood

 

[Loyalist Dave]

More or less along @Britsmoothy's suggestion, I would make a mix of one part unsulferated molasses, one squirt of dish soap and 9 parts of very hot water. Vinegar is too strong and could harm the finish of the stock. Plug the touch hole and fill the barrel with the mixture. Let this set for 15 minutes and dump out. Do this several times until no more extra dark crud is coming out. Run a dry patch down to dry the bore and see what is left of the dried oils and possibly rust. If the patch is greatly discolored, then you want a 12 gauge cleaning jag and a piece of the copper chore boy cleaning pad or a wad of 0000 steel wool to run down the barrel. Run the abrasive jag through the bore between 25 and 50 times, maybe more until the bore is clean, May take several pieces of the steel wool or chore boy copper pad. There may still be some pits in the bore, but that may not have an adverse effect on shooting. Now a rust inhibiting lubricant such as Barricade can be applied to protect the bore

I myself, would do the hot water and the soap, THEN the molasses and water, and you might need to get a long piece of PVC pipe with a glued and sealed cap on one end, and make a dunking chamber for the barrel, and submerge it for several hours in the molasses/water.

I use Evaporust to do the same stuff.

Since your Bess is not supposed to be browned or blued, the solution that you use will bring it closer to regimental bright.

For a few dollars you might want to consider investing in an inexpensive ENDOSCOPE so you can get a great view of the interior of that musket barrel.

LD

 

[smoothshooter]

Hi everyone, I have recently purchased a 1771 Brown Bess from IMA. Looks almost new with new stock clean lines and the lock looks like it just left the armory. My issue is the barrel, I dropped a bore light down the big black hole and could not see anything due to rust. Not just ordinary rust but the hard Industrial kind. I paid for a hand select and they sent a great looking gun with exception of the barrel. I need advice on what you to use to clean it out , I believe the rust produced more rust over the years in a dark corner somewhere. If anybody has a secret and is willing to share I would be grateful.

Keep a cotton rag like a shop or hand towel wrapped around the barrel at or just below the muzzle when you are working with any liquids to catch any dirty stuff from running down the outside the barrel and making a dark stain streak in your wood. 70% isopropyl alcohol is good at degreasing things. I would try to flush out any grease or oils first, then go after the metallic solids second.
If you feel competent to remove and reinstall the barrel, having it separate from the stock would be best.

 

[FlinterNick]

Prior to messing with the barrel, I’d advise leaving the breech plug in if you can. I’ve seen these kits get messed up from removing the breech plug.

First thing I would do is give it a deep clean with warm ultrasonic soap (the blue stuff used to clean jewelry). Then mop out with Brilo soapy steel wool, dry it down with a mop and some light oil.

Then inspect with a bore light, if it seems too heavily pitted and questionable I would send over to Mr. Bobby Hoyt to be reamed and lined, I would send just for a general inspection of the barrel too.

Some older smoothbore barrels in great condition can be polished up by lapping the bore with a long dowel and patches covered in Tripoli or Emory Wax, this only works if the pitting is very mild. This can also be achieve with aluminum carbide paper in high grits 600-5000.

 

[toot]

Might be YAK grease..

or YAK FAT? THEY USE IT FOR COOKING I have heard?

 

[sportster73hp]

I have spent hours window shopping IMA only made a few purchases. Do you have pictures of your Bess? Was it complete? Have considered their kits with new stock.
Good luck with your cleaning.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Prior to messing with the barrel, I’d advise leaving the breech plug in if you can. I’ve seen these kits get messed up from removing the breech plug.

Agree. Some of these BBs have press fit and welded breech plugs. Trying to remove requires runing the entire barrel.

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

I would plug the vent and tip boiling water in and out until the breach is to hot to touch . Dry patches and let the heat dry it then access again

I would add some household borax to the hot water. Borax is a degreaser and should not hurt the metal.

 

[Eterry]

I will only add, for everyone who owns an android phone, there's a nice super cheap scope on amazon you plug into your phone and use the 4 foot cord with light and camera to take pictures for under $30.
You I-Phone users are SOL.

 

[Rudyard]

Press fit breach plugs ? vinegar condemned ?. I use the brine from pickle jars. once boiled out I have not observed any horrific problems .Don't know about Yak grease rancid ghee is just as likely . Such hordes clearly different to the Indian practice of oiling the poop in the bores net result the oil runs down into the action (In BLs ) or lock & wrist region so it rots and takes on an overall black appearance (you can tell any rescued Indian rifle by its black appearance ,While ex Africa ones are blanched and the horn dried and cracked as a rule ).
Mr Hoyt is a legendary figure I stand in awe at his evident talents I've a few Brls he could work his magic on . Your 1770 barrel has had a lot of time to acquire a bit of rust particularly considering its storage conditions ?. Lots of luck.
Rudyard

 

[fireman1]

Tagging this for future reference.

 

[Myers16]

Update on IMA Brown Bess. I was finally able to remove rust and grease using Kurd Kutter and multiple wire brushing. I must have used 100 patches to get the bore down to where I could see a bore light dropped down to breach. I hope to shoot it this weekend.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Good job to get your Bess cleaned up. Keep the first charges light. Make lots of smoke.