Good Info For Rusty Barrels,Expensive For Me

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nit wit

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The story starts many years ago with a .54 Hawken build by Lucien Langlois who owned Structly Muzzleloaders in New Vinyard Maine. I don't know who he built it for and Lucien died a few years ago in Tennessee. I walked into a shop in Skowhegan to post our Gun show flyer. I saw it in a rack, shouldered it and it fit me to a T. I have a weakness for Hawken style rifles and this one was not heavy. I dropped a AAA battery down the bore and shined a light on it, I could have cried. I have never seen a custom gun so rusted and neglected! The shop owner said to make an offer. I told him it's worth 200. One of his gun experts said all you need to do is run a brush up and down. I explained to him he was full of crap! I have saved a few out of many.
We dickered and because my friend Lucien built it and I'm an expert I paid $350. I got her home and starting brushing, scotch pad on a jag, after a couple hours I figured I was screwed.But I'm an Expert! I had bought some rust dissolver by Rust o leum. I plugged the drum and filled her up. The next morning I looked and it was bubbling. I left it until the next day. I dumped it out and rinsed it out with warm water.Then I spent an hour using Hoppes #9 and a path on a jag. I got so it was pretty shiny, the rifling was pretty much gone. I loaded up 3 times and shot at GEEZER SHOOT targets. 3 for 3, I cleaned it and called Bobby Hoyt! Remember, I'm an expert! I'm having him bore it to .58 and rifle the bore.
The good news is now you know about Rust Dissolver a product that works. 52 + years of shooting muzzleloaders and hundreds of guns, many mistakes you to can become an expert. I will let you in on a secret, I'm still learning! Best of luck.(photos) #1 You can see the bubbles from it working,#2 The barrel is clean, it had been loaded with rust.
Nit Wit
 

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Ever used electrolysis on a bore? It will work. Plug the nipple. Fill with water and washing powder. Make sure to insulate the anode from the barrel. Hook up a low amp charger and voila!
 
The story starts many years ago with a .54 Hawken build by Lucien Langlois who owned Structly Muzzleloaders in New Vinyard Maine. I don't know who he built it for and Lucien died a few years ago in Tennessee. I walked into a shop in Skowhegan to post our Gun show flyer. I saw it in a rack, shouldered it and it fit me to a T. I have a weakness for Hawken style rifles and this one was not heavy. I dropped a AAA battery down the bore and shined a light on it, I could have cried. I have never seen a custom gun so rusted and neglected! The shop owner said to make an offer. I told him it's worth 200. One of his gun experts said all you need to do is run a brush up and down. I explained to him he was full of crap! I have saved a few out of many.
We dickered and because my friend Lucien built it and I'm an expert I paid $350. I got her home and starting brushing, scotch pad on a jag, after a couple hours I figured I was screwed.But I'm an Expert! I had bought some rust dissolver by Rust o leum. I plugged the drum and filled her up. The next morning I looked and it was bubbling. I left it until the next day. I dumped it out and rinsed it out with warm water.Then I spent an hour using Hoppes #9 and a path on a jag. I got so it was pretty shiny, the rifling was pretty much gone. I loaded up 3 times and shot at GEEZER SHOOT targets. 3 for 3, I cleaned it and called Bobby Hoyt! Remember, I'm an expert! I'm having him bore it to .58 and rifle the bore.
The good news is now you know about Rust Dissolver a product that works. 52 + years of shooting muzzleloaders and hundreds of guns, many mistakes you to can become an expert. I will let you in on a secret, I'm still learning! Best of luck.(photos) #1 You can see the bubbles from it working,#2 The barrel is clean, it had been loaded with rust.
Nit Wit
Nit, off topic, but i have been to Skowhegan region beautiful country!
 
My Belgian flint barrel is currently soaking in lye/water to soften the rust on the outside. I'm scrubbing daily with a brass brush. The scabs are gone revealing some shallow pitting. I'm hoping to get the last of the rust out of the pits. Btw, the bore looks great.
Kevin in NC
 
Ever used electrolysis on a bore? It will work. Plug the nipple. Fill with water and washing powder. Make sure to insulate the anode from the barrel. Hook up a low amp charger and voila!
I have done that many times with milsurps and a few times with ml guns. A charger delivers more juice than needed. It can be done with a single D cell in a holder with leads. Some people have gotten more elaborate and use a flashlight with leads cobbled up.
 


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