Cleaning muzzle loader

[dutchhunter]

I have been swabbing between shoots with two wet patches then two dry ones .no problem. But when I am done shooting I clean her really good with as many wets as needed.my question is do you leave a shot out primer in the gun to stop all the cleaning solvent from entering the trigger area.i notice after a few wet patches there can be a fair bit of liquid left in the bottom of the barrel.

[lazyman]

Dutch not knowing what ML you have hard to say I use a Knight MK 85 so this is not really an issue for me.

[dutchhunter]

I have a TC Triumph online. I just hate the thought of all the funky solvents going into the firing pin hole

[GW11]

Hey Dutch, do you pull the breech plug and do a soap and water cleanup each time? That's the best way to start. Once you get it "soap and water clean" it takes very little in terms of solvent and oil to finish cleaning. When mine gets put away it only has a light coat of oil in the bore. I also give the breech plug a thorough cleaning each time as well.

[MikePal]

With the break open in-lines, pull out the plug, remove the barrel and just stand it in a bucket. Pour a kettle of hot water thru the barrel and let the breach end soak in the water. Scrub the barrel, wipe it down (dry), then give it a coat a light oil.

No 'funky' cleaners needed.

The trigger and receiver get cleaned separate from the barrel.

[benjhind]

With the break open in-lines, pull out the plug, remove the barrel and just stand it in a bucket. Pour a kettle of hot water thru the barrel and let the breach end soak in the water. Scrub the barrel, wipe it down (dry), then give it a coat a light oil.

No 'funky' cleaners needed.

The trigger and receiver get cleaned separate from the barrel.

Right or wrong, this is what I've been doing for close to 20 years. I leave the breech end in the boiling water and as you swab it brings the boiling water up the barrel. Dry swab it well and oil it. During hunting season, I oil the outside only. When I'm putting it away for the year, I oil the inside of the barrel and make sure to swab it out well before the first shot next year.

I've never used any solvents, including soap. Not saying you shouldn't, its just how I do it.

[stevietangles]

Stand the gun on the muzzle in the safe. That way no oil or solvents seep out not in the action.
All my guns rest muzzle down in the safe


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[bellerivercrossbowhunter]

So glad I have a savage 10ML II(smokeless powder). No stabbing or cleaning needed..lol

[Gun Nut]

So glad I have a savage 10ML II(smokeless powder). No stabbing or cleaning needed..lol

That why I think it should be termed a black powder season not a muzzle loader season, not only would it get some of the older black powder breech loaders off the wall and back into action, but it would give you smokeless powder fellas a more round pastime. Half the fun of the black powder shooting is doing the clean up at the end of the shoot. It heralds back to a day where keeping your firearm in top shape determine it's overall effectiveness. The lax approproach to firearm maintenance in the age of smokeless powder has spelt the ruin of a good many fine firearms. It's all part of the well round black powder experience, lol.


You don't stop hunting because you grow old. You grow old because you stop hunting.
- Gun Nut

[MikePal]

Half the fun of the black powder shooting is doing the clean up at the end of the shoot. It heralds back to a day where keeping your firearm in top shape determine it's overall effectiveness.

That's my overall opinion too. I have actually gone backwards as my addiction to black powder shooting increased. I went from the substitute powders (T7) with in-line .50 cal MLs, to a .45 side lock patch and ball .45 Kentucky using Pyrodex too what I'm shooting now ..an old musket cap .58 Musketoon using Goex 2FF powder...the dirty of the dirtiest. LOL.

I thoroughly enjoy the cleaning process, I don't look at it like a chore but rather an integral part of the experience in shooting Black Powder guns.

Doing something fun with my thumbs other than operating a game console...LOL...