Cleaning equipment for Enfield

[Wolfbane]

Not looking for anything period correct, but I would like to know how people clean Enfields or any other Muzzle loader that does not have a hooked breech. I have heard of some interesting systems, but if anyone has diagrams or instructions, that would be great.

Thanks from down under.

 

[mike alexandre]

Get hold of an old nipple, find a drill the same size as the hole at the top end where the nipple fits and drill right the way through. Find a length of brake bleeding type plastic tubing to fit the nipple. About a yard should do. To wash/ clean the bore, mount the rifle horizontaly-fit the wash nipple-fit the pipe - allow the pipe to sit in a jar of what ever you want to wash your bore out with- insert a cleaning rod to the bore with a cloth patch thats a good fit. As you push and pull the rod it will draw cleaning fluid up the pipe and into the bore. Pump several times and you will see the £rap collecting in the jar.

 

[Wolfbane]

Thanks for that, explained it just nicely. :hatsoff: Sorry about posting this in the wrong area, please move if appropriate.

 

[boar]

If you know someone on a Oxygen machine, the old tubing they throw away has a perfect end that will fit over your nipple. Thats what I use. Dilly

 

[poordevil]

I take the barrel off mine when i get home and fill a 1 or 2 gal bucket with water and a small amount of liquid dish soap and place the nipple end in the water, pour a little water down the barrel to prime the pump so to speak and using a shotgun cleaning rod, work it up and down with patches. Water will suck into the barrel and it will be clean before you know it. I then remove the nipple to clean and dry the area. I also squirt some WD-40 or other spray oil through the nipple to displace the water and BINGO! its clean. Takes me about 15-20 min.

Out in the field the same shotgun rod and black powder solvent works till you get it home for the big clean.

Good luck
P.

 

[mike alexandre]

"I took this pipe from Mr Johnstons oxygen supply Boss"
"Oh ya - what did he say"
"Not a lot " ????????

 

[Poor Private]

If you have an 1853 .58 caliber rifled musket 3 bander. You will notice that the ramrod rammer end has a slot through it. This is all that was needed to clean the barrel. you put your cleaner on a rag and slide it through the slot like a bow tie and have at it. You can also buy a privates tool this is a y shaped devise that has a nipple wrench, ball jag, and oiler, with a screwdriver that will fit all of the enfields screws. You can find one at www.Blockaderunner.com. they run about 40bucks. This is all that the civil war soldiers used during the great rebellion. For a few dollars more you can puchase a sargents tool this will include a main spring vise.

 

[Wolfbane]

Wow guys thanks for all the reponses; its going to take me a bit to process this. I had thought that the original weapons must have had an efficient means of cleaning in the field, but I am paranoid about corrosion.

 

[mike alexandre]

Points taken but I've only got 2 banders and in the workshop I use the cleaning rods I have set up for each type of gun I'm cleaning. I dont use the rod on an Enfield especialy an original for anything other than keeping the barrel stiff.

 

[rebel727]

If you have an 1853 .58 caliber rifled musket 3 bander. You will notice that the ramrod rammer end has a slot through it. This is all that was needed to clean the barrel. you put your cleaner on a rag and slide it through the slot like a bow tie and have at it.

That doesn't do a very good job of cleaning. The tip is also a patch jag which does a very good job.

 

[poordevil]

In RE: to the threaded tip. black powder shops (Dixie Gun Works) sell adapters that screw on the tip and will allow you to use shotgun cleaning tools,like wire brushes,( I use a 20ga in mine, can't find a 24 ga around here) so while in the field you can have the old time appearance, but modern goodies to clean with. It is not hard at all. Just use black powder solvent from who ever makes it, T/C and others, a little oil and you will be fine.

Someone posted here that they have a stuck ram rod. One way to avoid that is to pour water , shake , dump repeat a time or two to get some of the crud out of the barrel. That way the cleaning tools have less to work against.

P.

 

[Poor Private]

Rebel 727,
If you clean your gun more than once in a while it works fine. I guess your not using the right stuff to clean with. I toss down a bore scope every time after I clean and it's fine. How do you think they did it in the old days out in the field?? Use your privates tool and the ramrod, and cleaning cloth and boiling water, and a touch of oil afterwords. Polishing the brass is easy too you use a bit of ash from the fire.

 

[mike alexandre]

All very probably correct but it wont have sufficient seal to pull cleaning fluid up a plastic pipe and into the barrel which is where this all started.

 

[JackAubrey]

I have a .58 calibre range rod,bore moppes and brushes, even a breech scraper.I remove the barrel and nipple.Fill a bucket w/ water and put the barrel in, then pour water down bore.I let it sit and soak while I clean the nipple w/ a pipe cleaner and lock.Next, I return to the barrel w/ my range rod, run the brush, then the jag w/ cotton flannel cleaning patches.Run several pipe cleaners through flash channel. Remove barrel from bucket and rinse.Put the kettle on the boil, then pour the hot water down the barrel.Run dry patches till bore is dry then lubricate w/ sweet oil,quickly, so as to prevent flash rust.Oil nipple threads and reinstall,wipe down and oil exterior of barrel.Reinstall barrel.Oil stock.Done.Best regards,J.A.