Cleaning. an invention?

[nebraska steve]

Actually an idea for cleaning the barrel. I just finished putting my Cabela's Kentucky rifle back together and was thinking I should get a piece of copper tubing that could be hook up to the garden hose. I am thinking I could then hang the rifle by the butt, and flush and scrub with the tubing shooting in water at 50 psi.

 

[buford87]

Semisane posted a picture of a device he made which was pretty much what you described. If you search his postings you should find it...................watch yer top knot...................

 

[nebraska steve]

I figured someone had already tried this. I will look at Semisane's posts and see if it is worth the effort. Thanks.

 

[Billnpatti]

It's already been thought of. I have one that I made from some plans that were online. I don't remember exactly where but it may have been on The Forum. It requires a piece of 1/4 inch brass tubing. Then a piece of brass rod is turned until it fits into the end of the tube. The brass plug is drilled from end to end and threaded. Four grooves are cut into the sides of the plug at equal distances around the plug. This gives four spray nozzles exiting thed end of the tubing. The plug is then carefully soldered into the end of the tubing being careful not to get any solder in the grooves. A tubing fitting is attached to the other end of the brass tubing that allows a piece of Tygon tubing to be attached. On the other end of the Tygon tubing, a series of fittings are attached that allow it to be attached to an outside faucet.

In use, the brass tube is inserted into the bore of your rifle and the water is turned on. You will get one main stream of water coming out the threaded center hole and the four small grooves around the side of the plug. If you want to spray at a right angle so that you are spraying sideways into the grooves, just screw a machine screw into the threaded plug. It diverts the water spray sideways to wash out the grooves.

 

[Flash Pan Dan]

Been there, done that. I still have it hanging there next to the facet in the mud room. Use it a few times until I realized I did have to go to all that trouble to keep my BP firearms clean and free of rust. From what you said I surmise that you took your rifle apart so you could clean the barrel, probably with hot soapy water, if that is the case I commend you on your diligence but you don’t have to do that to keep your rifle clean.

I have many rifles and smoothbores with barrels pinned to the stock and I never take them apart to clean them. Blackpowder fouling is detrimental to steel because of the salts that are in it. If you neutralize the salts the fouling can’t hurt the metal. All you need to do that is water. Soap is used to ease the mind of the user. All I do is put a tiny bit of soap in a couple of cups of tepid water, plug the touch hole with a toothpick and pour the water down the barrel filling it half way. I put my thumb over the muzzle and rotate the gun up and down a few times pour out the water, do it again until the water comes out clean and then dry patch until barrel is dry. Lube and you’re done.

 

[nebraska steve]

Well, I started with the idea to clean with the stock on, but got water under the stock. Thats when I broke it all down and did the whole drill. Thanks for the info.

 

[pargent]

:thumbsup: Yep by the time one has set up a modern setup the gun could be cleaned and oiled old school :haha:

 

[yakimaman]

I made one out of plastic tubing that connects to the faucet in my utility sink - takes all of 10 seconds to hook it up - tube down the bbl - quick water flush, wipe,oil and put it away. No muss, no fuss -

 

[M. De Land]

I'd like to bore scope some of your guns and see just how effective these light regimes really are.
I've gotten flash rust out of mine when I didn't get all the water out after cleaning the snot out of it with soapy water, clean water, dry patching and oiling. It quit when I left off the gun oil and anointed the bore instead with Hoppe's 9 after regular water cleaning and dry patching first. Near as I could tell it was still damp in the land corners and rusted right under the gun oil. The Hoppe's 9 lifted the moisture and let it evaporate while protecting the steel underneath. MD

 

[Sunkmanitu Tanka]

The Pedersoli company even made a small steam machine with a hose and metal tubes (for rifles or pistols) for cleaning guns. You put the metal tube into the barrel and inject hot steam into it. I know of one competitor who shoots with many different guns all day long. At the end of the day he makes quick work of cleaning the six to eight guns h used that day. I would not consider to buy this expensive gitmo just for cleaning one gun...

 

[Va.Manuf.06]

:thumbsup: Yep by the time one has set up a modern setup the gun could be cleaned and oiled old school :haha:

Yes indeed.

 

[Many Klatch]

Years ago a friend told me about his invention for cleaning multiple guns at one time. He made a copper manifold that he could hook up to a garden hose and soldered 3 or 4 - 24 inch long - 1/4" copper pipes to it. He built a wooden frame work so his guns would sit muzzle down over the 1/4" pipes.

He said he would come home, put the guns nose down over the manifold in his laundry tub in the basement. He hooked up the hose to the laundry tube spigot and then turned on the cold water and waited to see the water running out of the barrels. Then he went off and had a beer and watched some TV. When he came back in an hour the barrels were clean.

I never tried it, but it sounded plausible to me at the time.

Many Klatch

 

[outbackzack]

And all these years I have just been putting water and dishsoap in a coffee can, and swabbing the bore till the patches came out clean. Makes me wonder how I had that caplock in the cabinet for almost ten years with no rust.

 

[cynthialee]

And all these years I have just been putting water and dishsoap in a coffee can, and swabbing the bore till the patches came out clean. Makes me wonder how I had that caplock in the cabinet for almost ten years with no rust.

that is how I do it, but I use a larger 4 gallon bucket with a half gallon of water and a dash of soap as I would knock over a coffee can too easy. I am too clumbsy...

 

[stude 283]

Some are clumsier!For me bigger bucket just equals bigger mess.

 

[Rusty_Nail]

When cleaning the barrel with hot water, dont make it too hot, or you will get flash rust. After rinsing the last time, swab a couple of times with a dry patch, then a splash of denatured alcohol, then another couple of dry swabs. The alcohol absorbs the water molecules, and evaporates completely.

 

[Noggindrill]

Rusty Nail- I like your process of using alcohol as a final rinse...never thought of that one. Definitely a good way to scavenge any residual water.

I typically use hot water with a bit of Simple Green mixed in, then rinse again w/ plain hot water, and swab dry. Then I follow with a swab dampened with Ballistol.

The alcohol will definitely get used next time. It's readily available at 50, 70 and 90+% concentration. Which one do you use?

 

[Stubert]

Use the highest % of alcohol you can find.

 

[outbackzack]

I try to stick to around 80 proof, after the shooting and the cleaning---A good bourbon or scotch generally. :grin:

 

[Rusty_Nail]

Make sure its denautred for minimal residue, and the higher the % the more water molecules it can capture.