Been reading here and other places on the web, watching videos too, regarding cleaning of a cap and ball revolver. I plan on using Pyrodex and the info from the web is, at best, contradictory…so I decided to go to the manufacturer. Below is the response that I got from Hodgdon’s tech support. My intent is not to start conflicting cleaning thread but to simply pass on the information that I got.
For Black powder , Pyrodex or Triple 7 powder you will clean the guns with hot soapy water. Avoid normal petroleum based gun cleaners. I would first remove the majority of the fouling with hot soapy water.
As far as a protectant or cleaner I use Ballistol.
Ballistol is a product that can be used as a straight up cleaner or mixed with water. Ballistol has a slightly alkaline base and will help neutralize any of the acidic corrosive residue left behind. It is sold in aerosol and straight liquid.
First I would clean with hot soapy water to remove the majority of the fouling.
Then get a plastic tub large enough to submerge the revolver in , make up a 10% ballistol / water solution and soak the entire gun in it. remove the grips first. ( a squirt bottle of this mix works great for cleaning in the field) between shot strings. You can keep this solution for several cleaning sessions.
Then spray the entire gun with straight ballistol for long term storage.
Use a degreaser like birchwood casey gunblaster to remove the ballistol from the cylinder and nipples prior to the next shooting session.
For Black powder , Pyrodex or Triple 7 powder you will clean the guns with hot soapy water. Avoid normal petroleum based gun cleaners. I would first remove the majority of the fouling with hot soapy water.
As far as a protectant or cleaner I use Ballistol.
Ballistol is a product that can be used as a straight up cleaner or mixed with water. Ballistol has a slightly alkaline base and will help neutralize any of the acidic corrosive residue left behind. It is sold in aerosol and straight liquid.
First I would clean with hot soapy water to remove the majority of the fouling.
Then get a plastic tub large enough to submerge the revolver in , make up a 10% ballistol / water solution and soak the entire gun in it. remove the grips first. ( a squirt bottle of this mix works great for cleaning in the field) between shot strings. You can keep this solution for several cleaning sessions.
Then spray the entire gun with straight ballistol for long term storage.
Use a degreaser like birchwood casey gunblaster to remove the ballistol from the cylinder and nipples prior to the next shooting session.