Daily Flintlock Rifle Maintenance

[Rangefogger]

Anyone here have the privilege of shooting your flint rifle every day? If so what do you do as far as maintenance goes on your rifle? Do you clean it every day, or Every other day? Do you notice a lot of rust? Does it take a toll on your rifle?

I’m planning on making a move to a new to me home where there is plenty of room for shooting and no one to complain about it, and I’ve always dreamt of being able to practice with my flinter every day after work. Just wondering what my maintenance will be!

 

[rich pierce]

If in the desert it may be possible to skip cleaning after a days shooting. With normal humidity it’s going to rust if not cleaned daily.

 

[EC121]

If you will wipe it out with a good cleaner and dry it after the day's shooting, it will be good til the next day. No need to sterilize it. I would leave it on its muzzle overnight to let any thing left in the bore drain. Then wipe it good to check for wet fouling before shooting the next day.

 

[tenngun]

I had two long treks about six weeks long. I shot a lot, though not every day, and my guns were kept loaded. I used lard and tallow as my steel protection and guns stayed good

 

[Brokennock]

If using animal fat based lubes and protectants, daily cleaning,, in an average to low humidity environment,, shouldn't be necessary. If, you are sure you will shoot again in the next day or two. Otherwise give it a good rinse, swab, rinse and dry,,, then swab with animal fat,,, like mink oil or lanolin.
If you are using water based or mineral oil based lubes,,, clean, clean, clean.

That said, even if you are using animal based lube, it certainly wouldn't hurt to give the barrel a warm water flush, swab, and rinse,,, then relube, every evening that you shoot,, with a good detail cleaning once a week.

 

[smo]

BN,

Why the concern with the mineral oil based lube?

 

[Robby]

Britsmoothy has mentioned that he doesn't always clean his gun after a days shooting, with no rust problems, and he certainly does not live in a low humidity climate. I don't recall his protocol but it works for him. maybe he will weigh in.
Robby

 

[Daryl Crawford]

@Brokennock I've had good results with mineral based oil, but I only use it during a real cleaning session. I use olive oil mixed with bees wax as lube and to help clean between shots. I agree that non-petroleum based lubes are what you need. That and a water rinse can neutralize the salts left after shooting. Probably will get away with a good cleaning every few days.

 

[Erwan]

When coming back home : with boiling water in the barrel, swabbing a bit, I let drying muzzle down and swipe with a greasy patch. During the time that the barrel is drying, I clean and oiling the lock...
Never more for using every day, and it is largely enough : did it ~thirty minutes ago for shooting tomorrow.

 

[Professor flintlock]

Anyone here have the privilege of shooting your flint rifle every day? If so what do you do as far as maintenance goes on your rifle? Do you clean it every day, or Every other dRangefoggerI shoot a flintlock ay? Do you notice a lot of rust? Does it take a toll on your rifle?

I’m planning on making a move to a new to me home where there is plenty of room for shooting and no one to complain about it, and I’ve always dreamt of being able to practice with my flinter every day after work. Just wondering what my maintenance will be!

 

[Professor flintlock]

I shoot a flintlock just about everyday. Been shooting for 57years. I lube my patches( which I cut at the muzzle) with hoppes 9plus. I clean with every shot. Picked that up shooting target. When I finish a session I will run five or so patches with 9plus till patch is relatively clean. If I don't feel I'll get back to it for a day or so I'll run a patch with a lite oil. If it is going to long term storage l'll wash with windshield washer fluid. Dry it good then lube the barrel with rig. Best preserver on the market. Jim Chambers used to sell Accurbore . Also very good. I'm kind of lucky got a range out my heated shop. Rain or snow it's nice. Only have 50 yds. But that is enough to keep me sharp.

 

[Brokennock]

Mineral oil is not animal fat or plant based.
I'll refer you to the mountains of posts by @Britsmoothy who has covered this subject well, hunting and shooting multiple days per week and not cleaning after every single session.

I'm sorry, I just don't have it in me at the moment to got in depth

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Anyone here have the privilege of shooting your flint rifle every day? If so what do you do as far as maintenance goes on your rifle? Do you clean it every day, or Every other day? Do you notice a lot of rust? Does it take a toll on your rifle?

I’m planning on making a move to a new to me home where there is plenty of room for shooting and no one to complain about it, and I’ve always dreamt of being able to practice with my flinter every day after work. Just wondering what my maintenance will be!

That is going to be awesome…you will love it.

When I was 13 through 19…we lived out in the country. I shot my .50 CVA Mountain Rifle nearly everyday after school. I’d fire 1 or two shots to check my sighting, then head out. Wore out the original lock, and took it to a local gunsmith to get repaired. Found a used lock at a pawnshop, so I bought it to have just in case. Back then it was cheaper to shoot my muzzleloader than was to shoot my .22, I hunted a huge prairie dog colony in the rolling hills and ridges across the ditch from our house. Hunting started as soon as I crossed the ditch and extended for about 2 miles, so I covered a lot of ground. In winter the sunset early after school, so I did much of it at a run. Sneak, shoot, collect my target animal, then gallop to the next set of cover; sneak, shoot…repeat. Had I gone out for cross country, I could’ve been a state champion. Some of my fondest memories of growing up.

I cleaned my gun everyday with the hot soapy water in a bucket method, then I met a guy named Fred Newcome (sp?)…multi time Colorado State Muzzleloader Champion. So Fred pretty much walked on water in my young mind. He showed me how he cleaned and maintained his firearms using a WWII surplus military oil…that was a quicker method, no boiling water and didn’t leave that fine rust residue you find days later when you use hot water to wash out the barrel before oiling it.

Shooting everyday will wear parts on your gun, but your shooting skills will reach a point where you will surprise yourself…great times.

 

[Rangefogger]

That is going to be awesome…you will love it.

When I was 13 through 19…we lived out in the country. I shot my .50 CVA Mountain Rifle nearly everyday after school. I’d fire 1 or two shots to check my sighting, then head out. Wore out the original lock, and took it to a local gunsmith to get repaired. Found a used lock at a pawnshop, so I bought it to have just in case. Back then it was cheaper to shoot my muzzleloader than was to shoot my .22, I hunted a huge prairie dog colony in the rolling hills and ridges across the ditch from our house. Hunting started as soon as I crossed the ditch and extended for about 2 miles, so I covered a lot of ground. In winter the sunset early after school, so I did much of it at a run. Sneak, shoot, collect my target animal, then gallop to the next set of cover; sneak, shoot…repeat. Had I gone out for cross country, I could’ve been a state champion. Some of my fondest memories of growing up.

I cleaned my gun everyday with the hot soapy water in a bucket method, then I met a guy named Fred Newcome (sp?)…multi time Colorado State Muzzleloader Champion. So Fred pretty much walked on water in my young mind. He showed me how he cleaned and maintained his firearms using a WWII surplus military oil…that was a quicker method, no boiling water and didn’t leave that fine rust residue you find days later when you use hot water to wash out the barrel before oiling it.

Shooting everyday will wear parts on your gun, but your shooting skills will reach a point where you will surprise yourself…great times.

Those are truly the kind of memories that stick with you forever. those simple pleasures seem to trump everything else…

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Those are truly the kind of memories that stick with you forever. those simple pleasures seem to trump everything else…

Think about shooting, almost everyday, hitting prairie dog sized targets out to 150 yards, at a run everyday for 6 years. That’s essentially a Seneca Run….Those were shining times.

You will love the freedom of your new home…

 

[Daveboone]

Some folks live a lifestyle and location that is luckier than the rest of us. I think for most of us it isnt a question of how little maintenance we need to give our firearms but getting a routine that is fail safe to ensure we dont have problems. That usually means a daily cleaning. That is what was taught in the military for literally hundreds of yearsI love my rifles, and they are worth the few minutes daily to ensure I dont have problems. Ten fifteen minutes...max after a shooting session and I have nothing to worry about. I am a hot soapy water kind of guy, followed by a squirt of WD

 

[Mad L]

Anyone here have the privilege of shooting your flint rifle every day? If so what do you do as far as maintenance goes on your rifle? Do you clean it every day, or Every other day? Do you notice a lot of rust? Does it take a toll on your rifle?

I’m planning on making a move to a new to me home where there is plenty of room for shooting and no one to complain about it, and I’ve always dreamt of being able to practice with my flinter every day after work. Just wondering what my maintenance will be!

Everyone has their way of cleaning and everyone will tell you that they way is the Best Way... except those who keep fighting rust.
Largely it will depend on the Environment you shoot in and the Environment you store after shooting. The next factor would be 'what' you shoot (type gun, type of lube, type of powder, etc). Lasr factor would be 'how' you clean and 'what' you use to clean.

With those three basic factors; what works for one may not work for another.

 

[hanshi]

I know for a fact how immersed in detail cleaning one can get if one happens to be OCD. I've never done a "quick clean" on a muzzleloader in my life, such is the burdened life of an OCD shooter.

 

[olskool]

i have a 100yd range at home and can shoot every day, but i clean my guns after shooting the same day. but i have a friend who cleans the next day or two with no ill effects. we both live in SC where humidity is high to say the least. but we both use the best patch lube i have ever tried that help clean your bore with every shot, the balls slide down like cream corn and the guns are accurate shot after shot. then i have a formula to clean my guns in 10 min. with a lot less cleaning patches. i do not put water on my guns either. if there is any interest in what i use i would be glad to share,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Ames]

Yes please. I'd love to load like cream corn.