Muzzleloading Cleaning--one more time

[joliver]

More questions on cleaning a muzzleloader...

1. As I understand it, there is a small "chamber" for the powder charge just in front of the breech plug. What is the best way to clean this "chamber"? Up til now, I have been taking the barrel off the stock, siphoning a mix of hot water and dishwashing liquid through the barrel, then siphoning hot clear water through it, making sure it was dry, then lubing with Bore Butter. I wonder if just running patches with whatever on them through the bore is enough to clean this "chamber", or is the method I've been using better? I don't see how running a patch with whatever on it down the bore could get down into this "chamber" and clean it.

2. When I run the clear water rinse through the barrel, would it help to have rubbing alcohol in it to help dry out the barrel?

3. What about using a moisture displacer like WD40 or something similar after cleaning and drying the bore?

Thanks in advance for your help....

 

:shake:Joliver, when you us BOILING water there is no need to add any thing other then soap. Also remember BOILING clear clean water for final cleaning. When done there will be no water remaining, just oil barrel when done. Been doing this for 40 plus years and have no rust yet and never to date had to remove breech plug! OH, I do use copper brush to scub barrel before cleaning with BOILING water and soap. :m2c:

 

[cayugad]

I take and clean the major fowling out of the barrel. With a water and soap bath this will really do most of the work. I then take a .30 caliber cleaning brush and wrap a cotton patch into the wires (and a back corner of the patch screw around the clean brush so you do not loose it). Soak that in a good solvent and slide that down into the small breech area. Turn that around a few times and them it will scrape that area clean too. It helps if you have the fowling good and soaked first with water or solvent. Then a little more of a water bath and it is normally nice and clean.....

 

[Landngroove]

When you are through with your cleaning and patch drying, try putting a hair dryer to the muzzle and running it for five minutes, or so. Really drys, and heats barrel, and if you use bore butter, it will melt right in.

 

[domino]

I agree with Crazyfrenchman, this is exactly the way I have cleaned my muzzleloaders for 20 some odd years, and I have not had any problems with rust, and I dont even grease them. checker ::

 

I use a slotted tip with a cleaning patch, soaked in Butch's Boreshine for BP or 50/50 Ballistol/Water, fold it over the tip and you can really feel how it pops into the recess of the patent-chamber. Let soak for a while, and turn the rod a few times. Doing this 2 times is regularly enough.