Rethinking clean-up of my GPR

[Maven]

Like many of you, I removed the GPR bbl. from the stock and the lock from its mortice to clean them after a day's shooting. While neither was much of a chore, it dawned on me that removing and reseating the bbl. and wedges might "loosen things up" so to speak and degrade accuracy a bit. I now strive to clean the bbl. without removing the wedges and bbl. itself from the stock and things (accuracy) seem to be VG -> excellent. One other idea: if you do remove the bbl., try wrapping the protruding part of the bbl. that fits into the tang with the thicker (yellow container) teflon tape to keep things tight. Try it: I think you'll like it!

 

[pacanis]

I've been waiting on the mood to shoot my Lyman Trade Rifle again for about a month now after cleaning it like I would a pinned barrel ML.
The reason? Those first two high shots. The next seven were in that one ragged hole.

 

[pacanis]

No difference here.
First three shots were high. But I did pull the third shot and the elevation was better.
Then I put one in just left of the bull.

For the heck of it I shot some LGP conicals using the same 70 grains, one left and a little low, one right and a little low.
I walked up to the target about 15yds away, the distance my shot will most likely be if the deer approaches my stand, and shot a third conical. Bullseye.

Maybe it just takes my eyes a few shots to start focusing on the sights
I better go for a lung shot

 

[SDSmlf]

One other idea: if you do remove the bbl., try wrapping the tang with the thicker (yellow container) teflon tape to keep things tight.

Are you removing the tang when you clean?

 

[Maven]

Never, SDS. I think I need to edit my original post to say that the Protruding "horn" at the rear of the bbl. gets wrapped in teflon tape.

 

[morehops52]

I always take the barrel off to clean on my hooked breech models. Never felt the need to tighten things up. Perhaps I need to rethink?

 

[Maven]

mh52, I started doing the above in part because of accuracy concerns (stock, wedge, hook breech interaction) and convenience, or perhaps laziness. Everything is clean and rust free with no accuracy issues, but the weather hasn't been conducive to any kind of shooting lately.

 

[springfield art]

I don't think the old timers took guns apart all that much; there's methods of cleaning that don't involve the stress and wear to the "fit of parts", and I know I've seen tips on such in articles.

 

[longcruise]

I've always taken the barrels out of any hooked breech gun. It's a habit I got into with years of shooting a TC Hawken. It doesn't seem to have any effect on accuracy for me. Same with a GPR. A consideration for the tc is the lock can't be removed without removing the barrel. I'm sure there are varying opinions on this, but my locks are always removed to clean, so......

 

[morehops52]

None of my rifles have accuracy issues. If groups open up I would not hesitate to tighten up the barrel to stock. As such, if it ain't broke...

 

[SgtMaj65]

Always remove barrel to clean my two hooked breech .50s. Never had accuracy issues shooting PRBs.

 

[leadhoarder]

IF it ever did become a problem you can tighten things up by tapping the lugs with a hammer or round stock.

 

[springfield art]

Just wondering about the Old West and before; black powder guns get un-usable fast without cleaning; imagine the hardships old muzzle loaders and cartridge guns went through in the hands of the Native Indians. Can't believe they were doing "detail cleaning" after every usage. That's probably why any truly "Indian Used" firearms from history are in such bad shape.

 

[Thingamajiggy]

I've never had an issue with accuracy after removing bbl on my hooked breech guns but I do label and mark which side up on wedges so same wedge goes in same slot and same side up.

 

[hanshi]

If it has a hooked breech I remove the barrel for cleaning. If it has a pinned barrel I clean it in place.