JOHN L. HINNANT
45 Cal.
- Joined
- May 29, 2004
- Messages
- 711
- Reaction score
- 2
Greetings out a huntin',
For the past 51 years I have shot BP rifles for hunting, formal/informal competition, and just plinking pleasure. The hot/warm/cold soapy water method is causing the brown after rust in you barrel. With all of your previous cleaning you should have already removed any grease or oil in the bore. I dicarded the soapy water method more years ago than I care to remember along with just about any other method you can think of.
In 1974, on the advice of a friend, I tried BLACK SOLVE(now available from DIXIE GUN WORKS) and greatly simplified my BP shootig life. A 4oz. bottle of B-S mixed with water makes 32ozs. of cleaning solution.
During a shooting session of any kind, the bore is wiped with a patch slightly dampened with B-S, 3 strokes with each side of the patch. Never forget there is also a safety factor involved with wiping between shots. I have been to some matches where wiping between shots was required and inforced.
At the end of the shooting day a 1/8" X 3' long neoprene flush tube is fitted over the nipple, tied off to the muzzle, and the bore is flled with 3-4 inches of B-S. the B-S is allowed to set in the bore for 10-20 minutes, then using a snug fitting patch on the cleaning rod, the solution is plunged up and down the bore and through the nipple. Removing the barrel from the stock is not necessary. The solution is drained from the bore through the flush tube. The bore is given a secondsoaking/draining. Leaving the tube in place, swab the bore with B-S wet patches util clean. With some of my barrels(past and present) the patches never come out snow white, but have a faint gray look. Regardless the bore is now clean with no brown after rust.
WD-40 or any other moisture inhibiter is sprayed down the bore to drive moistue out of the breech plug barrel thead area. THIS IS A VITAL STEP. If the barrel uses a patten type breech, use a dry patch on a worm to dry the powder chamber.
RIG Gun Grease has my personal favorite for protecting the bore from rust, both short and long term. To date, it has never failed me. Just knocked on wood.
Once a year the barrel and lock is removed from the stock, inspected for rust, cleaned, greased, and re-assembled.
Do I claim my method is the best way? NO! It is the best and easiest method for me. Shooters who have tried BLACK-SOLVE as outlined above have not gone back to previous methods(unless they were out of B-S).
Currently, nobody in my area carries BLACK-SOLVE, so I order it by the case(24 bottles), get a discount, save on shipping charges, and am living happily ever after.
I have no quarrel with other cleaning methods or desire to debate the subject. Each shooter chooses a procedure to fit their needs, and they need not defend it. 2-3 times a year, I shoot with a group of guys at our state matches. Many different cleaners(commercial & home-brewed) are used. Nobody neglects cleanining. The bores are spotlessly cleaned and preserved with grease or oil.
For me, my method is easy with a mimimum of work.
Best Regards, John L. Hinnant
For the past 51 years I have shot BP rifles for hunting, formal/informal competition, and just plinking pleasure. The hot/warm/cold soapy water method is causing the brown after rust in you barrel. With all of your previous cleaning you should have already removed any grease or oil in the bore. I dicarded the soapy water method more years ago than I care to remember along with just about any other method you can think of.
In 1974, on the advice of a friend, I tried BLACK SOLVE(now available from DIXIE GUN WORKS) and greatly simplified my BP shootig life. A 4oz. bottle of B-S mixed with water makes 32ozs. of cleaning solution.
During a shooting session of any kind, the bore is wiped with a patch slightly dampened with B-S, 3 strokes with each side of the patch. Never forget there is also a safety factor involved with wiping between shots. I have been to some matches where wiping between shots was required and inforced.
At the end of the shooting day a 1/8" X 3' long neoprene flush tube is fitted over the nipple, tied off to the muzzle, and the bore is flled with 3-4 inches of B-S. the B-S is allowed to set in the bore for 10-20 minutes, then using a snug fitting patch on the cleaning rod, the solution is plunged up and down the bore and through the nipple. Removing the barrel from the stock is not necessary. The solution is drained from the bore through the flush tube. The bore is given a secondsoaking/draining. Leaving the tube in place, swab the bore with B-S wet patches util clean. With some of my barrels(past and present) the patches never come out snow white, but have a faint gray look. Regardless the bore is now clean with no brown after rust.
WD-40 or any other moisture inhibiter is sprayed down the bore to drive moistue out of the breech plug barrel thead area. THIS IS A VITAL STEP. If the barrel uses a patten type breech, use a dry patch on a worm to dry the powder chamber.
RIG Gun Grease has my personal favorite for protecting the bore from rust, both short and long term. To date, it has never failed me. Just knocked on wood.
Once a year the barrel and lock is removed from the stock, inspected for rust, cleaned, greased, and re-assembled.
Do I claim my method is the best way? NO! It is the best and easiest method for me. Shooters who have tried BLACK-SOLVE as outlined above have not gone back to previous methods(unless they were out of B-S).
Currently, nobody in my area carries BLACK-SOLVE, so I order it by the case(24 bottles), get a discount, save on shipping charges, and am living happily ever after.
I have no quarrel with other cleaning methods or desire to debate the subject. Each shooter chooses a procedure to fit their needs, and they need not defend it. 2-3 times a year, I shoot with a group of guys at our state matches. Many different cleaners(commercial & home-brewed) are used. Nobody neglects cleanining. The bores are spotlessly cleaned and preserved with grease or oil.
For me, my method is easy with a mimimum of work.
Best Regards, John L. Hinnant