Cleaning black powder pistols. Any tips?

[langenc]

I just used some 'simple green' to clean a couple handguns. I had heard about this for some time. I was please with the results.

Spray it in-turn gun/parts over and spray some more. I laid it on a paper towel. Towel can then be used to wipe it up. Toothbrush or brass brush may be needed on some 'tough' stuff.

 

[K.A.T.]

T Coops,I find the same mess inside my pistols also.I can't imagine not stripping it all the way down after every time out.It takes me two hours to clean mine.After the soap and water bath,then the blow dryer.I then take Q-tips with Lacquer Thinner and clean the inside of the frame and all the internal parts,around the clyinder where the nipples screw in.You can trash out a dozen Q-tips doing this,the soap and water doesn't get all the grime.Load her back up with Borebutter.I don't think I could sleep at night not cleaning the inside of my gun.

 

[Titanvk56]

Do you run the dishwasher without detergent when cleaning those ROA's?

I use whatever detergent my wife has under the sink plus 1 drop of Dawn dishwashing soap and will set the dishwasher on heated dry. If you use too much Dawn then you will be mopping the kitchen floor.

My stainless ROA comes out clean as a whistle but occasionally will have a stubborn water spot or two and for that I just use Never-Dull and it will shine right up.

 

[.44walkersabot]

Go to Wal-Marts and buy a spray can of 'Gun Scrubber' in the sporting goods dept. Remove the grips from the revolver. Further disassembly is not required. Spray the piece good, being careful to blow it into all the cracks and niches. Allow to set for about 5 minutes. Then drop into a pot of boilimg water. Boil for about 10 minutes. Remove from hot water and lay on clean dry cloth. After water has evaporated oil lightly, using your fingers to massage the oil into the warm metal parts while the pores of the metal are still open...Work's for me. I'vd used this method for over 30 years and no problems yet that I know of.

 

[.44walkersabot]

I'm sorry. I need to add something here. When I said 'further disassembly' is not required I meant detailed stripping. Of course you back your nipples out. When you're making sure the piece is dry, use something like a pipe cleaner to work around the small, tight areas. If you know how and have the time it is still a good idea to detail strip every once in a while if for no other reason than to examine each part (screws, springs,everything) in minute detail, checking for wear and tear. If you don't know how, there are several sites on your computer that will show you the diagrams and schematics of your particular piece. WARNING!! Re-assembly of a blackpowder revolver from full dis-assembly is very time consuming and can be very complicated. If you do not qualify at least as a 'homegrown' gunsmith, (and you must not be or else you wouldn't be looking for cleaning tips) it would be my humble suggestion that you simply remove the grips, the clyinder, the nipples, drop the loading lever and let it hang free, spray all metal parts down with a solvent, boil all metal parts, dry, lighly oil, re-assemble and enjoy..

 

[bigbadgun]

I have a 1847 Colt Walker repro I clean it with hotwater from the tap and Dawn dishsoap I take it down to the last screw everytime call me crazy but i enjoy doing it. It takes about 2 hrs then while reassembling i use a small aetist paint brush and bore butter everything and when it is all put back togeather and you rack the hammer back and it slides like silk, I get this warm fuzzy feeling all over

 

[JCT]

When you think you're dealing with a mess, think of this: A friend of mine had his Walker loaded from a camping trip, left it for a couple weeks wet from rain. Tried firing it off, but it wouldn't go. He should have waited and got a ball remover, but....
He removed the nipple and boiled the whole gun, powder, wax wads and all. What a mess that makes. I got to help clean it up. Sludge for days, oily, waxy... It was a mess, 6 cylinders with 60 grains powder in them.

 

[Pancho]

One thing I've always used before drying my guns is rubbing alcohol. I pour it all over the wet parts. It really gets in tight places and alcohol mixes readily with water and speeds drying. Oh, BTW don't put an alcohol soaked gun in the oven it's not needed and the explosion would ruin your day.

 

[Shell Shucker]

Good lord......... it ain't rocket science! When I clean my Old Army I Field strip it, remove the grips and nipples and proceed to clean it in a sink full of hot soapy (dish soap) water. I rinse it with hot tap water and blow it dry with an air hose. I then spray everything with REM-Oil or similar, blow off the excess, and reassemble. I've never had a problem. It is usually faster than cleaning a smokeless revolver.

 

[230RN]

Sixth Level of Nirvana

A couple of years ago I got a small portable two-gallon compressor which is handy for all kinds of cleaning and drying applications.

I recently cleaned my Uberti 1858 and found the compressed air extraordinarily helpful in blasting crud out of crevices, water off of wet little parts, blowing dust out of corners prior to using the vacuum cleaner, cleaning the floorboard hot water heat fins, and a myriad of other uses which only became apparent after I bought the thing.

The compressor is also good for drying eyeglasses, cleaning my electric razor, and all kinds of things.

Since I am a confirmed bachelor (after two tries) I can do things the way I want, and I have the compressor under my kitchen table. It is half-hung by a good bungee cord from a screw-eye under the table and part of its weight is supported by a thick foam pad under it.

This arrangement quiets the thing down quite a bit.

I once designed a house for myself, and in it I provided for compressed air lines and floor drains in the kitchen and bathrooms, and all 110 Volt outlets were 3 feet above the floor.

Oh, and the garage had a grease pit.

Ah, Nirvana!

 

[Shell Shucker]

Floor drains and airlines; at true MAN house! I love it!
My last house had a MAN basement. Half of it was "finished" (flooring and paneling). The finished part had a large work bench, a kitchen table, sink, an easy chair, and a TV. The unfinished part had a toilet, shower, and a brass tumbler. Sure miss that basement.........

 

[230RN]

Oh, and big black left hands painted on the walls over every toilet tank about eyebrow level.

Since I'm right handed.

 

[.44walkersabot]

That rubbing alcohol sound's like a good idea to me. I know I have used alcohol (lighter fluid to sometimes) to wipe the oil off like part of a barrel for touch up bluing. It damned sure worked for that. I also agree with Shell Shucker that lot's of people make too big of a deal about cleaning a gun. But I will say that if you remove the barrel and all the springs and pins and cams and screws and what all, when it come's time to put it back together you'd better know what you're doing. It just all depend's on how far down you strip it...Okay...

 

[RockRifle]

Two pages and nobody uses 409?? I use it almost exclusively. It's soap and water in a spray bottle. Cheaper and less complicated than alot of these mixtures, and easy to transport. After my guns are clean the dry, bore butter on the inside and RIG on the outside (blued finish)