what do you use when swabbing between shots?

[user 34300]

I use something wet. For along time that was GI bore cleaner. Also Murphy's. Also actual Black powder cleaner from Track. Now I am using Ballistol and water. Water is the only important part.

I do swab between shots for load development. My club requires swabbing during matches, yes that a weird rule. I never shot long strings without swabbing. Accuracy is my goal so consistent bore condition it necessary.

 

[cynthialee]

I use 99% pure rubbing alcohol.
with the heat of the barrel and the small amount of alcohol I use it evaporates well before I pour new powder down the barrel

 

[Grenadier1758]

I use "Possum Piss" - 1:1:1 isopropyl alcohol, murphy's oil soap, and hydrogen peroxide.

Though I have been told that hydrogen peroxide breaks down over time and turns into just water. Since I made my batch up 10 years ago, I imagine what I really have is 1:1:1 alcohol, MOS, and water.

Anyway I squirt a bit on a patch and then squeeze the patch to distribute it throughout the patch. It is damp but not dripping. I don't want to risk fouling the powder. It helps that my flinter has a chambered breech so the patch never goes down to where the powder ends up.

"Possum Piss"? Many of us here on the forum use the same mix, only we call it MAP because we mix it up in a different order. Some will even call it "Moose Milk" because it is one of many mixes that have a milky look when mixed up.

 

[M. De Land]

Just wondering about what fluid you use to swab between shots.
How damp or wet are your swabbing patches?

I use windshield wash fluid on a wet patch squeezed out then one dry patch for percussion followed by a cap to clear flash channel. Same with flint lock followed by soft wire flash hole pic.

 

[Cattywompuss]

Depends. For target shooting, just water. For hunting practice I shoot from a clean barrel each shot, so I clean it up and dry it out and do it all over again. Luckily with BP that just means a couple minutes wet and dry swabbing.

 

[JeffG]

I carry a strip of flannel bedsheet, tied to my bag. I keep a square in my mouth and wipe between shots. Not too wet, damp.

 

[Timber Wolf]

"Possum Piss"? Many of us here on the forum use the same mix, only we call it MAP because we mix it up in a different order. Some will even call it "Moose Milk" because it is one of many mixes that have a milky look when mixed up.

P.P. must be the "Southern" name for M.M., cause we have more Possums than Mooses down here. I don't care to Milk, or get Pissed on, by either one though.

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

Good ol spit on two patches...first patch good and wet, the second not so much.

 

[Semisane]

Try seating the patched ball with a fairly wet patch of 91% alcohol on the loading rod. Seat & Swab?

 

[olskool]

i do not swab between any shots. i can shoot literally all day long with my patch lube and never swab. one time a reporter asked Johhny cash, why do you play the same rhythm on every song and others have a different rhythm with every song? johnny said, because they are still looking for it, i found it. and i found it,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[hanshi]

I don't swab between shots. At the end of the shooting day I push a "kinda" wet patch down the bore followed by a dry patch. I've used water, WW fluid, DGW's Black Solve", etc. Back at home I just give it a regular, normal cleaning using water.

 

[TDM]

I use "Possum Piss" - 1:1:1 isopropyl alcohol, murphy's oil soap, and hydrogen peroxide.

Though I have been told that hydrogen peroxide breaks down over time and turns into just water. Since I made my batch up 10 years ago, I imagine what I really have is 1:1:1 alcohol, MOS, and water.

I use this formula for the end of day cleaning. Its also know as "Witches Brew". Works great, and yes, the hydrogen peroxide will break down over time. Especially if exposed to light. If I need to swab during shooting I use 50% water/50% Ballistol. Then a dry swab.

 

[ohio ramrod]

Most of the time I don't swab between shots, I use a leather over powder wad which tends to clean the bore. If the humidity is up and loading gets hard I just use some old fashioned spit

 

[olskool]

50/50 dawn dish soap and water, soak the patch and load, you will never swab again, and the accuracy is second to none. the 100th shot of the day slides down the bore like the first,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[NorthFork]

If I actually need to swap then it's spit or plain water.

Spit patch for woods walk/match or if hunting TOTW mink oil are my only rifle lubes. I NEVER need to swab when using my smoothbores. I use only some form of vegetable oil in them, be it canola or peanut.

For C/B I only use crisco and it seems to work just fine. No need for swabbing or cleaning of arbors.

 

[COTNTOP]

The last several times I shot, tried using some Thompson Center T17 in spray bottle cutting patches at barrel. Just sprayed a little on ticking where I place ball and never had a problem, no cleaning between shots.

 

[hobbspj45]

Spit or Mr. flintlock

 

[Caterpillar Hunter]

I use about 1/3 of a sheet of WetOnes. Followed up by 1 dry cleaning patch. And period correct from the '90's. 1990's, that is.

 

[cvco]

Yes peroxide breaks down to water and in fact you can smell it becoming weaker year by year. In 10 years its long gone. I bought two large bottles for use in the pandemic and after 2 years what I have left is still very potent, fresh really, so that gives you an idea. Maybe by year 4 youd really see the degradation. If it wont even sting your hands, yes its gone.

I think everyone has the right answers in here. There is no one, final best way. I think what specifically one does depends on the situation, climate, firearm, how its being used, what you are shooting with (what has been in the barrel). People I know, if swabbing between shots or final cleaning, they dont use anything but warm water and then a dry patch but it doesnt mean I or anyone else needs to follow that. So, everyone is right.

 

[yonderin]

Spit patch followed by dry patch after every shot.