modern cleaners

[Hawkeye748]

Barrel Blaster is the same thing as Blue Wonder Gun Cleaner, just under a different name. This is great stuff for cleaning guns. Removes rust, lead, copper, what ever. Used it in some "shot out", corroded Mauser barrels, restored them to very good accuracy, Not great but very good.

Used this for about 8 years. Great stuff.

 

[PRM]

You're not alone; we've all spent lots of money on 'new' bp cleaning products. And we each and separately seem to all come back to plain old water. I'm even wondering if soap actually does me any good. I've had perfectly good results with plain old lukewarm water. This summer I'm going to experiment with just that, nothing else. - MYKEAL

I started out using soap and hot water. Turner Kirkland (Founder/Owner Dixie Gun Works) sold me my first muzzle loader and said that was the best way to clean it. I guess one time I did not have the soap with me and used hot water only. Had to be at least 20 years ago - I started using hot water only and have always had good results.

I am a believer in Gibbs to displace any water in hard to get places, as a lubricant, and rust preventative. Its carrier is not petroleum based, no residue like regular gun oil. I use it on all my guns (BP and smokeless) and have completely done away with any rust problems. On semi-autos, the actions do not get sluggish in extreme cold due to its composition. On smokeless guns it also doubles as a an exceptional cleaner. Check out their site and read some of the testimonials. Last year, when I deployed to Afghanistan, the company sent our MTT Team, Gibbs to take with us. Outstanding product and a great American Company supporting the troops.

http://www.gibbsbrand.net/

 

[arcticap]

Time to throw gas on this fire and ask... if you get spots of rust, what do you use to get it off?

To really dissolve rust, use Evaporust. Just be aware that it will also remove gun bluing.
Here's a thread about using it:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=521252&highlight=evaporust

The Evaporust home page:

http://evaporust.com/index.html

 

[wittzo]

Thanks, Rusty. I've read about the hose trick, some places sell a pre-made kit, but I have the stuff laying around the house to make one, I just haven't yet. Right now, I catch the water with a plastic washbasin when I don't take the stock off. (I've only taken it off twice so I could let it run into the sink, there was no rust on the unfinished barrel, so the Ballistol is doing the trick or the stock is tight on the barrel)

Stock to barrel fit is why people glassbed their stocks and free float the barrels, every time a variable is introduced, accuracy is affected, so it makes sense. Every time you take the stock off, you're changing the variables.

 

[Fingers McGee]

Time to throw gas on this fire and ask... if you get spots of rust, what do you use to get it off?

RB-17. Removes the rust, does not affect the finish.

FM

 

[Palehorseman]

I have always use the universal solvent for cleaning BP firearms, works great every time. BTW, it is AKA H2o, or water.

 

[rusty from italy]

Stock to barrel fit is why people glassbed their stocks

I made a glass bed under the tang in all my .58 musket, and a paper bed under the barrel band, everthings must be lock and don't shatter for good accuracy, but sometimes this way doesn't work for some "costruction bug" in the rifle, and the only way is to sell it to someone that need for wall hanger
I had a three band enfield with the stock completely bend to the right, only a new stock made it a decent shooter
Rusty

 

[Jay29]

I use Thompson Center's #13 Black Powder Solvent followed up by bore butter inside the bore. I use Breakfree CLP to prevent corrosion outside of the bore.

I learned my lesson with petroleum products inside the bore. It makes a real mess.

I can shoot all day long just using bore butter patches in my .50 flintlock with 60 grains of FFFG Geox. Just before I leave the range I run 2 patches of bore cleaner #13 down the bore so it can dissolve the fouling on the way home.

 

[Mike OTDP]

My father and I used 409 for many years, but switched to Simple Green around 1990. Excellent cleaner.