Cleaning after every shot

[PapaG]

When match shooting it was common to use one wet and one dry patch between shots. First shot out was just powder and a patch to "condition" the bore, then wipe/dry and proceed. This way the bore is the same for each shot.
My lube of choice for the patches was the same thing used to clean, either the commercial "Blacksolve" or the homemade 16 oz water, 2 oz peroxide, 1 oz lestoil and 1 or 2 oz of soluble oil.

 

[milemaker13]

Black- solve available at dixie? It sounds good from the description... used as both lube and cleaner?

Has a anyone else used this product?

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

I personally have not heard of Blacksolve. I use 409 cleaner most of the time, it cuts black powder fouling very well. I do occasionally use hot water but have seen the flash rusting as well. A good friend gave me a gallon of recovered air conditioner compressor oil and it has been great stuff for final oil after cleaning.

 

[paul harm]

When I shot pistol I would use 409 mixed 50/50 with water on the patch around the ball. That way I didn't have to use a cleaning patch. Worked great. For some reason I never tried it with my rifle.

 

[sharps59]

If you have 50 shooters on the line there will be 54 or 55 recommended lube formulas and at least that many methods of application and quantity applied.
Of course, MY method is correct.

your method is only correct if you are using my method. LOL

 

[PapaG]

Blacksolve was sold in small plastic bottles of about four ounces. Greenish color and you mixed it with water, a quart IIRC. I still have a bottle somewhere from about 1970.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Sounds like Simple Green.

 

[milemaker13]

I love simple green for general cleaning... seems like you guys are using several different types of cleaners for lube..
What are the rules here?

 

[Mike OTDP]

There ARE no rules. I personally like Ox-Yoke Wonder Lube for patches, use a Ballistol-soaked patch for an occasional wipe and for post-cleaning lube (and for cleaning in the field), and Simple Green as my cleaner of choice.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Only rule is clean it after you shoot it so it doesn't corrode. Use what makes you happy.

 

[milemaker13]

Clean after shooting... a lesson i learned years ago!

 

[dave951]

I've found that if you're shooting the holy black, real black powder, nothing cleans as quickly and easily as Windex. Use the actual brand. I put a couple squirts down the bore, then wipe a couple wet patches down, then follow with a couple dry. Then wipe with oily patch. No issues whatsoever and yes, you can use a mineral based oil for a bore patch for this purpose.

 

[Audie Murphy]

I tried black powder once. In fact, I bought all the essentials including a new black pistol and a rifle. I hated it. Got home and what a mess. Gave everything to my nephew.

 

[MEHavey]

BP is actually as easy (easier) to clean up than Smokeless.
How'd your nephew take to it ?

 

[Doc7]

Question for the BP shooters posting on the thread about what they do (rather than the Op question).

I use Hornady One Shot In maintenance and between shots right now. One Shot has proven steel protection qualities.

However i find there is as much as a 7” vertical difference at 100 yards between my 1st and 2nd shots (warm/clean vs warm/fouled, as encountered when cleaning every two shots to sight in). It’s awful for sighting in a hunting rifle. It’s just too slippery for that first shot! What type of bore protectant can I use that will have a closer To the same POI at 100 yards for 1st vs 2nd shot?

 

[MEHavey]

See
https://thefiringline.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5883712&postcount=4
(50 yds)

That's a barrel dry-patched out from BreakFree protectant for first shot, using a pillow-ticking patch that I've soaked in 1:7 cutting-oil/water/dried in the oven in long strips to carry in an Altoid tin/cut at the muzzle when loading.

Damp spit-patch wipe once between shots, then load again.



FWIW: Spit patch alone gives me darn near the same result -- 1st shot to last.
But ya gotta start with a patched-out/dry barrel no matter what method used.

 

[Doc7]

The Hornady one shot is a dry lube as it is so there is nothing for me to dry out . Maybe I will try running a spit patch even before the first clean shot too. About to be muzzleloader sight in time for me!

 

[MEHavey]

I will try running a spit patch even before the first clean shot ...

Roger that.
That'll set up the 1st-shot barrel condition to be near the same as succeeding shots.

 

[4v50 Gary]

I've never read of anyone in battle wiping down the barrel after every shot. There was no time. I've only read one account of a soldier peeing down his barrel to remove the fouling (sorry, I don't recall which book). It wasn't unusual for a soldier to drop his firearm and pick up one from a fallen comrade so that he may continue fighting.

 

[MEHavey]

In a battle line, the troops used either smoothbore or rifled musket.
The smoothbore used undersized ball/paper patch, and the rifled musket used Minnies.


.

 

[whughett]

You boys must be absolute crack shots, my revolvers, the Colts, go cylinder after cylinder, I've gone as many as 60 shots with out a loss of accuracy that made much difference. Course handguns at 12 to 25 aren't rifles at 100 plus, I'm not trying to ram a projectile, patched or otherwise down a 30 inch bore and I don't shoot for points against anyone. As for cleaning I like to remove the powder fouling leaving the oiled condition finish alone. Hot water and a little dish or hand soap. Only time I've see flash rust in the bores or chambers of my revolvers is when they were stripped cleaned with something that removes the oils also, even the exterior finish has a slick feel, from the vaporized bees wax from the wads I suppose.

 

[milemaker13]

Hot water and dish soap will generally strip the oils. This is when ive see the flash rust. Last time i took advice from here and used cold water and only a drop or two of dawn. It seemed to work well with no flash rusting.

 

[robhof]

Id say rougher than it should.. if i brush the bore between shots , my next patched ball goes in smoothly. If not, it is very rough indeed.

As to a snug cleaning patch itself? In a dry bore? I cant say.. i will check that when i have a moment.

What compound did you say you used? I think polishing could help me. I know my bore is rougher than it should be..

It's actually a valve lapping compound that was part of a kit from LBT(lead bullet tech.) that I got many yrs ago for my DW 367 Max., and ended up using on all my guns after seeing such a dramatic improvement in my DW. It truly improved both the accuracy and ease of cleaning of all my B/P guns and I can usually get many more rounds out of my B/P rifles before having to swab the bore.

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

I think this discussion has veered so far left of the reality of musket shooting in the Revolutionary War that is is no longer even entertaining. The products mentioned were not even being germinated at that time.

 

[MEHavey]

Shot my .50 BP rifle today using 3f goex. I had some trouble ramming the ball home so i went ahead and brushed the bore after every shot…..What was the common practice when muzzle loaders were the only firearms around?

Answer for ...

Rifled RB: Lard/tallow/bear grease/Spit patch wipe
Smoothbore Musket: Undersized ball/patch cartridge (unlubed) no wipe
Rifled Musket: Undersized Minnieball (and grease if you believe British history in India) no wipe

That responders might also progress w/ ideas beyond that of 150-250 ago is to be expected;