Touchhole plug other than toothpick?

[ronrryan]

I cut the ends off the toothpicks, cut'em to a proper size in length, time will tell you what length you like. Tap the blunt end to drive the toothpick in. There should not be a sharp end projecting into the barrel. The toothpick almost never leaks: after a while, just never. Put water in barrel, let sit, pour out--repeat as necessary. With some water in, push wet patch into barrel, turn rifle over so water will not enter stock mortices, pull the toothpick, and drive water out the touchole. Use patches as necessary until perfectly clean, dry with alcohol patch and dry patch, lube with oil of choice...clean and lube the exterior, lock, etc...you are done. Have a beer. Good smoke, Ron

 

[ronrryan]

Forgot to mention the above advice is with the lock OUT. I usually clean and lube the lock whilst the barrel is soaking a bit. Ron

 

[redwing]

Sounds like lots of work and water just to clean a M/L. Close the vent add your cleaner 99% ALC. and MOS this will clean and not leave moisture in the breech or barrel. Pump the rod it will clean the breech bolt face. Rinse with a little ALC. light oil bore. Good to Go. :thumbsup:

 

[ronrryan]

Redwing, doesn't seem to take a lot of time, and I sort of view it all as part of the shooting session. But then, I'm retired, so time is not as big a deal as it used to be. Good smoke, Ron

 

[Tumblernotch]

The old large wooden kitchen matches work great They are softer than toothpicks allowing you to whittle the bare end to a taper and push them into the touch hole. The soft wood makes a much better seal than a toothpick.

This is what I've been doing for years. Works good. If you don't have any handy you can also whittle a green twig or any other soft wood. When I use matches to light the forge, instead of throwing them away I keep a few on my workbench just for this purpose. After I use one I can cut the end off that had been in the hole and re-taper it and use it again a couple of times if I want. This is recycling carried almost to an extreme, but it works for me!

 

[brubincam]

-----get your wife to hold her finger on it tight whilst you scrub it clean----- :idunno:

 

[Tumblernotch]

-----get your wife to hold her finger on it tight whilst you scrub it clean----- :idunno:

Yeah, right. I can see that happenin'...NOT! :haha:

 

[redwing]

Sorry Ron I have been retired for many years. I am not a 1 pound a year shooter. I burn over a case every 12 mos. A 1 pound a year spit patcher can peddle at cleaning. :rotf:

 

[CG6018]

What a hoot we flintlockers are! :applause: Toothpicks, matchsticks, twigs, pipe cleaners, C-clamps, etc., and we all gladly continue to burn black powder, patches and round balls so we can spend time pondering the serious problem of plugging the touch hole!

Is this a great country, or what?! :thumbsup: I hope everyone had a meaningful Fourth. :hatsoff:

 

[Ketchakah]

Use a bigger tooth pick.

 

[MSW]

i use one of those cute gadgets from TotW- the C clamp which holds the bit of tubing against the touch hole, so you can pull water through the touch hole from a can.

i've also used a feather and a kitchen match, but the bambo skewer sounds kinda cool.

 

[Isiah1103]

I often go the other way. I'll take a syringe and needle and shoot hot water or cleaning fluid through the touch hole while the muzzle is pointed down. Do this two or three times then swab normally.

 

[B. Miller]

For my Lyman GPR I purchased another touchhole liner off their web site then filled in the back side with JB Weld leaving the opening for the screwdriver. When I'm done shooting I just change out the flash hole liners to clean the barrel.
Bruce

 

[Rafsob]

I don't get it??? First off I wouldn't put anything in the touch hole for fear of breaking it off inside. I shoot mainly cap locks and just remove the barrel and nipple, then I put it in a container of hot, soapy water and run my bore mop through the barrel. Now that I have a GPR in flintlock, I just remove the barrel and scrub away in hot, soapy water. If I am doing something wrong, let me know.

Why are you guys so worried about water going through the touch hole??? :idunno:

 

[Skychief]

Many here, with pinned barreled flinters, prefer to NOT remove the barrel for cleaning. The fear is that parting the barrel from the stock can/may/will goof up the stock over time.

So, we speak of things to plug the touchhole to let some water or other cleaner stand in the bore for awhile.

Savvy? :haha:

Skychief. :thumbsup:

 

[Rafsob]

Many here, with pinned barreled flinters, prefer to NOT remove the barrel for cleaning. The fear is that parting the barrel from the stock can/may/will goof up the stock over time.

So, we speak of things to plug the touchhole to let some water or other cleaner stand in the bore for awhile.

Savvy? :haha:

Skychief. :thumbsup:

10-4!

I can understand that.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I use thornapple thorns and have never had one break off in the vent. They're tough little things - I have plugged and patched many a mower tire to attest to that.

Make great pins to hold powder horn base plugs in, too.

 

[Le Loup]

I have been removing the lock and barrel from my guns to clean the barrel for over 30 years, and have not had any problems. But a vent quill should block the vent fine.
I still recomend taking the barrel out.