Newbie Cleaning Help

[garand_guy7]

Hey everyone!
I got my first flintlock, a .50 cal Lyman Deerstalker. I want to make sure I know how to clean it properly before I shoot it. I hear that the hot soapy water method is the best followed by alcohol, then dry, then oil. True? Please let me know the best way to clean this rifle.

I was also told to get bore butter and use it, but it seems this might not be a good idea. Any thoughts on bore butter? Also, how do you take the nipple and breech plug off this rifle? It's a flintlock so I don't believe there is a nipple, but I keep being told to take the nipple off... Thanks guys!

 

[buford87]

Welcome to the forum, what you have been told about cleaning is good solid advice. However the bore butter is a lube not a rust preventative. any good modern type of gun oil can be used to prevent rust, just remember to clean the oil out of your barrel with alcohol and let dry before shooting. Also you are correct your flintlock does not have a nipple..................watch yer top knot...............

 

[Zonie]

Welcome to the forum.

You heard correctly about cleaning your rifle.
The fouling is water soluble and the soap will help break down any oils from the patch lube you've used. After cleaning your gun the next priority is to cover the bare steel with a good oil to protect it from rust.
I have had great success with Birchwood Casey Barricade which seems to dry to a very thin protecting film.
Because it drys you don't need to be concerned about using a petroleum product with black powder (or Pyrodex). It won't combine with the powder fouling to make the tarlike substance that so many are concerned about.

As for Bore Butter I've had pretty good success with it when I use it as a patch lube.
I've had very poor success with it when I tried using it as a rust preventative.

You DO NOT take the breech plug out of the barrel on any sidelock rifle or pistol. They are not meant to be removed and you will damage your gun if you attempt to remove it.
You will also void the warranty by removing it.

If your gun is a flintlock it does not have a nipple. Do not trust anyone who says a flintlock has a nipple because obviously they don't know what they are talking about.

It may have a "vent liner" which is a plug with a hole in the center and is located in the barrel right next to the pan.
Normally, these do not require removing when you clean your gun so if your gun has one, leave it alone.

While I'm speaking about the touch hole in your vent liner or barrel I might mention that these are usually quite small as they are supplied from the factory. Many have found that drilling this little hole out by using a 1/16" drill bit greatly improves the reliability of the gun.

 

[garand_guy7]

Thanks for more good info. This is what I'm wondering about. From the diagram it looks like the cleanout hole or touch liner? What is this and what should I do with it?

http://img829.imageshack.us/i/picfik.jpg/

 

[C Barker]

That's the touch hole liner. As Zonie said you can leave it alone or as some do take it out when cleaning just remember to put some anti-seize grease on the threads when you put it back.

 

[C Barker]

Just noticed the posting earlier "Touch hole diameter?" You might want to check it out. :grin:

 

[paulvallandigham]

That is the touch hole liner. Follow Zonie's advise and leave it alone.

If you want to do anything with it, consider unscrewing it, and the clean the threads, both in the barrel and on the TH liner. Then, coat the threads with Antiseize, a product you can buy at most hardware stores. The product fills the gaps in the threads, prevents gases from cutting the threads, and clogging them with BP residue. That means that IF you ever DO HAVE to remove The TH liner, it will come out easily.

 

[F_Thomas]

I am a New-B to flintlocks myself. Here is a link to cleaning instructions from Tennessee Valley Muzzleloading. It covers waxing the stock and in your case you can remove the barrel but you can plug the touch hole with a toothpick to let the water and soap soak away the fouling.

The one thing I found odd was the use of "Type F" transmission fluid as a protectant. Don't use it on the inside of the bore nor get it on the face of your frizzen. It works great and after you apply it wipe the excess off with a paper towel. I have used WD40 as a protectant on the inside of the barrel and had no rust problems. BE SURE AND SWAB IT OUT BEFORE FIRING!

Cleaning Instructions

 

[Stubert]

The reason they say type f is because it is parafin based. (as in candle wax)

 

[David W.]

I use warm soapy water, never very hot water. I use Rem oil after the rifle is clean. As already mentioned, wipe the barrel with alcohol before shooting. Never, ever remove the breech plug! As far as the touch hole, some will disagree. I never remove mine and can't because it does not have a screw slot. If yours has a screw slot and you insist on removing it, invest in some gunsmith screw drivers so that you can match it to the slot. I simply think it's not neccesary.

 

[David W.]

Welcome to the forum.

Many have found that drilling this little hole out by using a 1/16" drill bit greatly improves the reliability of the gun.

Don't you mean 5/64"? The standard liner hole size is 1/16".

 

[Zonie]

To my knowledge, there is no "standard liner hole size". Many of the liners I've installed came with holes smaller than 1/16 inch in diameter.

Based on many comments from our members I also get the feeling that Pedersoli, Uberti and others supply vent liners with holes that are someplace around .050.

The 5/64 (.078) you mention is the size I often drill the vent liners I've used but most folks feel that this is just about the maximum that they like to use.

A large diameter in a vent liner, usually improves the reliability of a flintlock and increasing the speed of ignition.
On the negative side, the larger hole allows more of the gas from the burning powder to escape and is reported to cause greater variation, shot to shot in velocity.

I recommended 1/16 as a good starting place for someone wanting to improve their flintlock.
Of course if their vent liner already came with a 1/16 inch hole thru it, I would recommend trying it for a while. If some improvement is needed they should consider enlarging the size but there are several Number size drill bits between 1/16 and 5/64 they should try first.

These sizes are #52 (.0635), #51 (.0670), #50 (.0700), #49 (.0730), #48 (.0760).

Many hardware stores stock these number sized bits but you have to ask for them.