Field Cleaning Kits

[roundball]

FWIW, here's something someone might be interested in.
Not being a purist, I take advantage of a few modern conveniences when hunting with my Flintlocks...one is what I call a "Field Cleaning Kit".
When I take a shot hunting, I am not in a hurry to reload.....the deer is either down in plain sight and a second shot is not necessary, or has bolted out of sight behind some trees before falling and a second shot is not possible anyway.

So I use a field cleaning kit of supplies to clean the bore and lock assembly as much as possible, reload in a fresh clean rifle, and hunt some more, not worrying about a fouled rifle for a few hours.
In addition, I carry the whole mess of dirty items out of the woods leaving behind no litter, no BP odor, etc...I carry a few of them while hunting and the kits consist of the following:

Pint size ziploc = 1
2" x 3" ziplocs = 2
Pre-saturated cleaning patches = 5
Dry patches = 5
Lubed patch = 1
Alcohol wipe = 1
Q-tip = 1
Pipe cleaner = 1
Muzzle mitt = 1

Before and after photos of a kit:

 

[Swampman]

"When I take a shot hunting, I am not in a hurry to reload.....the deer is either down in plain sight and a second shot is not necessary, or has bolted out of sight behind some trees before falling and a second shot is not possible anyway."

I used to think that myself. Cost me a nice buck. Baby wipes are handy. You can clean a gun with them too. I've cut small patches from them and they work fine.

 

[roundball]

I used to think that myself. Cost me a nice buck.

Never had that happen using my full power hunting loads...but it's a perfect example of what can happen when using entry level 60grn plinking loads for big game...use real hunting loads and put the ball in the heart...they won't get 35yds.

 

[Swampman]

60 grains of 3F is a full power hunting load in a .54 caliber rifle. I missed the first shot and spent a couple of minutes with a deer standing 20 yards away until I was almost ready to shoot again. Be prepared to reload. It's historically correct.

 

[roundball]

Sounds like you need a lot more practice...at any rate, please stop high-jacking this thread...if you want to debate using target loads for big game hunting, go open your own thread to do so...this thread is about 'Field Cleaning Kits'.

 

i carry presaturated patches and dry patches in my shooting bag to quick clean in the field. i would think everyone does. for that follow-up shot.

 

[Swampman]

It seems that I wasn't the one who hijacked it. 30 years ago I did need more practice. I find creek water and a rag to be quite suitable for field cleaning. Unless I'm going to spend more than 3 or 4 days in the woods, I clean when I return to the village.

 

[3 stinky dogs]

Thank you for that list. I will be adding a larger version to my shooting box for the range. :thumbsup: Also the one in your picture looks like it could be stuffed in your pockets and carried with out any fuss.

 

[roundball]

Thank you for that list. I will be adding a larger version to my shooting box for the range. :thumbsup: Also the one in your picture looks like it could be stuffed in your pockets and carried with out any fuss.

Yeah they sure do...a ziplock pack folds over in half twice, lays flat, takes up no room, and weighs nothing...fits into a shirt pocket, pouches, etc...I don't like to hunt with a fouled rifle or leave litter in the woods...this makes it simple...get home, toss the ziploc in the trash

 

[CrackStock]

I agree with SwampMan on cleaning. I carry some cloth cleaning patches from an old tee shirt which I dip in creek water to clean. A few dry ones to dry and on a final patch I use a dab of Ballistol from a sample bottle that I keep refilling. I used to tote a chemical chest around with me and got caught without it a time or two and learned that I could simplify without consequence.

I might think about toting an alcohol prep pad with me in the future as they are readily available at work and therefore quite convenient.

If I shoot while hunting, I generally reload while the smoke is clearing. If I do not need that one, I just shoot it out later and clean when I get home.

I agree with RoundBall that 60 grains does seem a bit light for a hunting load in a .54 to me. I used a stouter load when I hunted with a .54. But then, I was hunting for hogs in fairly open ground.

CS

 

[pathfinderifh]

Re-load immediatly, You never know whats around the corner. Hunt the rest of the day and unload and clean at the end of the day,If ya feel like it,IMHO. :v

Pathfinder

 

[roundball]

Re-load immediatly, You never know whats around the corner. Hunt the rest of the day and unload and clean at the end of the day,If ya feel like it,IMHO. :v

Pathfinder

I understand that philosophy and respect it...but for me, the whole reason I evolved to and enjoy hunting deer with Flintlocks was for the pleasure of the old ways...to slow things down and savor the moment.

I used to hunt with Remington semi-auto .30-06's, Remington pumps, Marlin lever actions, etc...but I intentionally got away from that...I like the challenge of the hunt with one shot and don't worry about hurrying for a second shot...if something comes around the corner while my first buck is laying in the leaves and I'm cleaning my rifle, I'll just chuckle and have a good story to tell...
:v

 

[Stumpkiller]

I carry a little one ounce bottle of moose milk, a roll of dry cotton patching, a tin of Moose Snot, a half dozen pre-cut cotton patches in the tool roll and a Ted Cash oil bottle with Birchwood Casey Sheath. There's a turn-screw to remove the lock in the roll, also. I also have a tiny corked bottle of 91% isporopyl alcohol about as big as the last two sections of my little finger (an old nitro tablets bottle with the threads ground off). There are three feathers in the tool roll for plugging and clearing the vent, as well as a couple metal vent picks in my kit.

When I'm going for real old timey I swap out the rammer for an all wood version and carry a spring-style tow worm and some tow in place of the patches and jag.

Three spit patches and a wipe with moose milk is enough to get the gun 85% clean.

 

[Swampman]

Read "The Falcon". It was important to reload because when you shot you were letting everyone know where you were at, and that you were unloaded. Those are the "old ways." These rules still apply in the world in which we live. Maybe more so than ever.

 

[oomcurt]

I haven't read the book...but I agree with Swampman here. About 20 some years ago where I used to hunt in WI some bad actors would roam the area and when they saw a guy gutting his deer they would try to hijack it at gunpoint. Also, it depends on just where you are hunting, that something around the corner might have lunch on its mind.

 

[Darkhorse]

After taking a shot I usually reload immediately. If I am staying in the woods for a few days I'll either pull or shoot the ball then clean better.
I carry a simple cleaning kit to camp.
Range rod, alchohol and oil.
On my person I carry several patches. In the woods I mostly clean with spit. In camp I'll plug the touchhole and pour a little water down and let it soak for a few minutes, then pour it out. Then pour a little more in, remove the plug and place a rag in the frizzen and clean like normal with a wet patch and jag. This tight fitting patch will blow most of the crud out of the touchhole and into the rag. Like blowing your nose.
I do that a couple of times and dry real good and I'm ready to go.
Clean barrel, breech and liner.
It only takes a little bit of water to clean out the breech this way. Too much makes a mess.
When I get home I do a more complete job.

 

[Cherokee]

My old man always told me and my brother this.
He was out of the back woods of Tennessee.
Never shoot all your shells up when hunting (shotgun in his case) when you go back to your car you never know what your going to get into.
He said if your empty and no ammo you could be handing your gun and car keys to someone who does have a loaded gun. Thats the kinda thing that went on in his area.

 

[Stumpkiller]

About 20 some years ago where I used to hunt in WI some bad actors would roam the area and when they saw a guy gutting his deer they would try to hijack it at gunpoint.

I took my first deer in 1980, a nice 210# 8-point, and while I was hopping up and down beside it two fellows arrived along the logging road in a Jeep. As they started towards me, with guns, my two hunting buddies walked in from the side and one yelled "Way to go, Charlie!" and the two others turned and left without saying a word. Always will wonder how it would have turned out if I was alone. :hmm:

I carried a .45 for many years after that.

It's just not worth fighting over a deer, but I don't unload until I am at the roadside near the car, now. Jack O'Connor wrote of returning fire once when someone shot twice in his direction, even though he was yelling and waving his arms after the first shot (confused him for a turkey, was the reason given).

 

[dwarvenchef]

I have been shot at more than enough times while hunting. Most I'm sure was "wrong place wrong time" but a few where drive by shots out the windows while I was in plain sight, aften wonder about those...

 

[mglampson]

I carry most of what I need in the patchbox of my rifle. In there I can fit, a jag for the ramrod, 6 or 8 cloth cleaning patches, some round wooden toothpicks for the vent. Water can be found in streams, puddles or hand melted snow. The most field cleaning I do is wiping the pan.

I always reload after the shot. The deer I've shot always seem to run off, though not too far. Even if they drop in their tracks I reload, would hate for one to get up and not be prepared to put em back down.

I empty the rifle at the end of the day when I get back home and do a through cleaning then. If I am going for more then just a day hunt then my cleaning kit gets slightly bigger. Then I have a small beaded leather bag that holds a cut down tooth brush, a supply of extra patches and a leather covered bottle of Ballistol. The bag fits nicely in my hunting pouch. My turn screw and other tools are in the pouch all the time anyway and I don't look at them as part of the cleaning supplies.

Britches