How do you store your longguns?

[ldykeman]

Forgive me if this is old news or obvious (I am really new here)...but here goes... I have been reading a lot of the great info on this forum, but I haven't read anything on the recommended way to store a ML. When I first got into muzzleloading many years ago, I was frustrated with hangfires on my Renegade caplock. I am meticulous in my cleaning procedure. I use hot soapy water with the breech end submerged, forcing water through the flash channel. I then rinse with very hot water, dry with patches and lube for storage. Before firing, I dryswabbed and fired caps before loading, but still had hangfires. A friend who had been into muzzleloading for a while then suggested that I store my ML muzzle down, so that any excess bore coating would migrate toward the muzzle, not towards the breech. I didn't change anything about my cleaning/shooting preparation proceedures, but I started storing my ML muzzle down. End of misfires, period. I read on this forum about rinsing with alcohol before shooting, which would certainly clean up anything in the breech area too. This sounds like a great idea also. So, is storing muzzle down a common thing to do?
Larry

 

[dlpowell]

I use hot water and soap for basic bore cleaning. Followed by bore butter until patches come out clean. I soak the GPR nipples in No. 19 while cleaning the barrel. Scrub all small areas with an old toothbrush dipped in No. 19. Wipe the gun down barrel and stock with gun oil and store it barrel up. I've left guns over a year this way and never had a sign of rust anywhere. Snap a couple of caps at the reange or home before hunting. Blow down the barrel for sign of a clear nipple. Fires first time all the time. Total time per gun is less than 30 minutes. I usually do 2 at a time. :hatsoff:

 

[Leon/Iowa]

It sounds like you clean about the same way I do. Only I store my gun with the barrel up. Hot water and soap in a pail. Then you dry it out and oil the barrel. That is more then likely the problem. How much oil you use on the barrel and nipple threads. Use a patch or swab that has oil on it, not soggy with oil. One swipe down and up the barrel will do. You just want a film of oil in the barrel. Not oil running out the end. Then I put one drop on the nipple threads and replace the nipple. Before loading the rifle, I fire one cap off. Works every time for me. Hope this helps. Leon

 

[Mike Brooks]

I lean mine in a corner. I thought everybody did. :redface:

 

[bnail]

I lean mine in a corner. I thought everybody did. :redface:

But I live in a round house!
Now I'm really confused!

 

:haha: Me too...sounds like you are putting too much 'oil' or whatever in the bore...after cleaning with tap water, dry, and follow up with a dab of Lehigh Valley Lube, I run a patch in the barrel with mink grease (bear grease is better) on it. Then I put the gun into a gunsock and lean it in the corner (I am running out of corners!)....no problems, even in this humid LA climate.

P.S. before reloading again, I swab out the grease with a dry patch...check/clear the touchhole or nipple channel, etc....

 

[boar]

I hot water clean,dry with paper towel, you find out which ones are best,then light oil on cloth patch,I always pull and clean nipple. I store 7 of them in gun case which is full of those packets that keep out moisture, Muzzle up, the rest are leaning in corners. Before I load I run a patch down. I don't dry fire a cap as this will dirty the gun, I leave them loaded sometimes for a week before I get a shot at game,groundhog, squirrel. Always go off. I sometimes clean in woods if water is handy,then can leave loaded for a few days. Mostly hunt with 32 CVA squirrel rifle. It has a drum on it and when you blow back up the barrel it is very open channel from drum to barrel. Usually the snail type breches are not as Open. Dilly

 

[blacksmithshoppe]

But I live in a round house!
Now I'm really confused!

Bruce, you don't live in a round house, it just looks that way because the room is always spinning.
Jeff :youcrazy:

 

[Boomer]

I lean mine in a corner. I thought everybody did. :redface:

Im releaved to learn that I am not the only one that does :grin:

 

[Norskie]

I put mine up over the mantle. Reminds me, I need to build another fireplace... :winking:

 

I store all of my ML's horizontal on a rack that tips the muzzles slightly at a downward angle. I clear the bore with alcohol which is a great degreaser before loading and have no problems with this system.

 

[longfowler]

I store all mine the same way,and never seem to have a problem. when I clear the bore before shooting, I use brakleen from an aresol can. it's not pc but its handy and works great!

 

I store mine muzzle up, in my gun safe with a Golden Rod heater, in a climate controlled vault I built as part of our house.

Vic

 

[rebel727]

Muzzle up in whatever corner or gun cabinet has room, whether it has room or not. :hmm: Pistols lay flat on whatever flat surface is close. An empty gun and/or one in a safe ain't worth a damn when ya need it. I don't have that problem.

 

[bioprof]

Doesn't it depend upon whether you live in the southern or northern hemisphere? If it works better putting it upside down in the northern hemisphere, then wouldn't you want it right-side up down under? :youcrazy: :rotf:

 

[bioprof]

Doesn't it depend upon whether you live in the southern or northern hemisphere? If it works better putting it upside down in the northern hemisphere, then wouldn't you want it right-side up down under? :youcrazy: :rotf:

Sorry, I know this was a serious question. Just trying to be funny.

 

[flashpanner]

Really? I thought if you lived in the northern hemisphere that you stored the gun muzzle down. If you live in the southern hemisphere, then it was muzzle up. Reason being is that everything flows towards the equator, including barrel oils, swabs and greases! :rotf:

 

I have enough handguns in strategic places throughout the house I don't have that problem either.

Vic

 

[renovato]

I clean with Ballistol and water, followed by a generous coating of Ballistol (or CorrosionX if the gun won't be shot again shortly). I leave them muzzle up. I run a dry patch down the muzzle before I take them out and pop a few caps in them to make sure all is clear, then give a final wipe with a dry patch before loading. I haven't had any misfires this way.

Before using Ballistol, I used warm soapy water, followed by whatever gun oil I had handy. Same procedure before firing. I didn't have any misfires then either. I guess the oils I have used have been thin enough for the caps to blow out easily

 

[shmrck1]

I use Hoppe's #9 Plus till patches come out
clean and very dry. Lube barrel with bore
butter and store horizontaly where I see them
every day. Swab barrel monthly, first clean patch then bore butter. Wipe down entire gun with
bore butter rag. Works for me.
snake-eyes