proper care for gun

[Rod Lassey]

Not sure why, but on a Traditional Muzzleloading forum, nobody's talking about cleaning the traditional way.

Here's what I do---after removing the lock,stop up the vent with a feather or bit of wood, and pour in a gill or so of warm water (no soap), put my finger over the muzzle, and swish it back and forth a few times. Turn muzzle down, pull the vent plug, and let drain. Meanwhile, clean up the lock with a bit of moistened tow, rag, etc., wipe dry, and oil (I use racoon or bear oil--racoon's easier for me to get around here). Thread some tow, bit of rag, etc., on the worm at the end of the wiping stick, wet it, and scrub the barrel--twist it about some at the bottom to scrub the breech face. I'll go through a couple of wet batches of tow doing this. Then, I follow it with dry tow, until I'm satisfied that the bore is dry--tow's very absorbent, so it only takes a couple hanks. Then, I put oil (**** or bear, again) on the tow, and wipe down the bore. Wind the oily tow off the worm, and wipe down the exterior, too. Reinstall lock.

That's it--takes longer to tell it than do it, and I routinely do this in camp after a day shooting, hunting, etc. When at home, I follow the same routine---no space-age solvents or oils, I try to do it as was done.

Probably not for everyone, but it works for me.


Rod

 

[Stumpkiller]

Not that I'm doubting your method Stumpkiller but how do you get the area that the cleaning jag can't reach clean?

I start with a tight jag and cleaning patch, first with soapy water and then dry, repeating a few times. Then I switch to a breech scraper and scour the breech face. Then a wet patch pushed in ahead of a two-armed tow worm, then a dry patch on the worm. The worm scrapes and the patch picks up and gets into the corners. Repeat a few times then wipe with a patch with penetrating oil (Barricade) on it.

PS - I had a Bess for 15 years and removed the barrel once in that time. All I ever used to clean it was soapy water, tow (raw flax fibers) and a worm. I did wipe it with Sheath on a patch between uses.

If they get rained on I take a piece of light cardboard, drip some Barricade on it and wipe it in the barrel channel. My rifle barrel was boiled in bear grease and has a coating of that on the underside so I haven't done the cardboard trick (only been five years).