I just got a Traditions Lightning from my uncle he did not take care of it well and it is rusting on the inside of the bore and very dirty. What would be the best way to clean the boar and get it into shooting condition? I can not find this rifle on the Traditions website do they still make it. I also tried to download the manual but they did not have that listed either. I will call Traditions in the morning to see if I can get a manual.This is my first BP rifle so any info/tips would be greatly appreciated!
Traditions Lightning?
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arcticap
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Use a copper/phospher bore brush or similar means with solvent to remove any loose rust or old powder residue from the barrel interior. Then you can determine how much pitting or permanent damage there is and how to deal with it.
Some folks use valve grinding compound from an auto parts store to try to lap the bore.
Are you able to remove the breech plug?
Some folks use valve grinding compound from an auto parts store to try to lap the bore.
Are you able to remove the breech plug?
The breech plug on a Lightning is easily removable (IF it isn't rusted in place, and IF you have the tool - it should have come with the gun, along with an insert to remove the nipple).
Articap is right on: copper brush/solvent/many patches are the first things. They should get you to the point where you can see what the real condition of the bore is.
Once that's done you can consider polishing the bore to remove pits. I say 'consider' because that's not a step to be taken lightly. If the pitting is minor, you may just want to live with it, as taking grinding compound to the bore has serious negative consequences if even slightly overdone. You almost have to say that the pitting is so bad the barrel is junk, so that grinding compound can't make it worse before you go ahead with that. It's perhaps worth getting a professional opinion after it's cleaned.
The Lightning is no longer being made.
Articap is right on: copper brush/solvent/many patches are the first things. They should get you to the point where you can see what the real condition of the bore is.
Once that's done you can consider polishing the bore to remove pits. I say 'consider' because that's not a step to be taken lightly. If the pitting is minor, you may just want to live with it, as taking grinding compound to the bore has serious negative consequences if even slightly overdone. You almost have to say that the pitting is so bad the barrel is junk, so that grinding compound can't make it worse before you go ahead with that. It's perhaps worth getting a professional opinion after it's cleaned.
The Lightning is no longer being made.
I don't have any of the tools or accessory's, But I will go to academy today and get what I need. Can I use just regular gun boar solvent or do I need to get the BP Boar cleaner? The worst rust is on the end of the muzzle. The boar is Realy dirty but lightly rusted. There is some pitting on the Muzzle but I think the boar is just surface rust. I will see when I clean It.
Lightning breech plug wrench
A Traditions Lightning breech plug wrench is available from Deer Creek Products 765-525-6181 (they do not have a web site or email address) for $13. It's item no. A1519 in the 2007 catalog.
I did a product search at Midway USA, Brownell's, Dixie Gun Works and Cabela's for the term, "breech plug wrench" without success, so Deer Creek is the only one I know of that has it via mail order. I have seen them hanging on the wall in a Traditions blister pack at various gun shops in this area.
The issue with the bore is corrosion, so I think you need a rust remover first. Ballistrol comes to mind, but there are many others. I've had good results with Blue Wonder Rust Remover. A regular black powder solvent is meant to clean out bp fouling and provide some rust protection in doing so, but it is not a rust remover per se. Once you have the corrosion cleaned out, then a bp solvent would be a good idea to clean out any fouling that the rust solvent did not remove (although there should be very little of that left, if any).
Iosso Bore Cleaning Solvent and Polishing Compound would be an excellent choice for the final step polishing of the bore once the cleaning is completed. That is, if the pitting is minor. It won't do the major lapping job that a valve grinding compound would (without lots of elbow grease).
A Traditions Lightning breech plug wrench is available from Deer Creek Products 765-525-6181 (they do not have a web site or email address) for $13. It's item no. A1519 in the 2007 catalog.
I did a product search at Midway USA, Brownell's, Dixie Gun Works and Cabela's for the term, "breech plug wrench" without success, so Deer Creek is the only one I know of that has it via mail order. I have seen them hanging on the wall in a Traditions blister pack at various gun shops in this area.
The issue with the bore is corrosion, so I think you need a rust remover first. Ballistrol comes to mind, but there are many others. I've had good results with Blue Wonder Rust Remover. A regular black powder solvent is meant to clean out bp fouling and provide some rust protection in doing so, but it is not a rust remover per se. Once you have the corrosion cleaned out, then a bp solvent would be a good idea to clean out any fouling that the rust solvent did not remove (although there should be very little of that left, if any).
Iosso Bore Cleaning Solvent and Polishing Compound would be an excellent choice for the final step polishing of the bore once the cleaning is completed. That is, if the pitting is minor. It won't do the major lapping job that a valve grinding compound would (without lots of elbow grease).
Thanks ,They have the breach plug wrench at academy. I will give what you recommended a try. I will post back tonight how well it is working, Thanks for the help.
PS
Would it be a good Idea to upgrade to 209 Primers with this Kit?
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/39556-11833-472.html
PS
Would it be a good Idea to upgrade to 209 Primers with this Kit?
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/39556-11833-472.html
arcticap
Member
Using #209 primers is a matter of personal preference. They are hotter and are probably more useful if you're going to load pelletized powder. But they are also more expensive, and the older full strength ones have a reputation for being "too hot", causing a hard crude ring to form around the breech plug, especially with 777 pellets. They do increase velocity, but the older ones might actually hurt accuracy. If you're willing to buy the new style #209's, then the conversion might be worth it.
BTW, I use loose powders with #11 caps in my inline and never had a misfire, and accuracy may only be 100 feet per second less than with #209's.
Why not wait and see how the Lightning cleans up first, shoot it and then decide if you want to buy the primer conversion? While it is a nice option to be able to use either type of primer, try to make sure that the gun will still shoot well enough to benefit from buying it.
BTW, I use loose powders with #11 caps in my inline and never had a misfire, and accuracy may only be 100 feet per second less than with #209's.
Why not wait and see how the Lightning cleans up first, shoot it and then decide if you want to buy the primer conversion? While it is a nice option to be able to use either type of primer, try to make sure that the gun will still shoot well enough to benefit from buying it.
Musket caps or 209 primer?
I purchased my Lightning at an auction and it had what I believe is the standard Lightning nipple installed, which requires musket caps. I use loose powder (actually, 777) almost all the time, although I did do some testing with 777 pellets. Never had a problem with failures or misfires, so I've no motivation to try the 209 conversion. Except...
Musket caps can be a little hard to find. The bigger outfitters around here don't tend to carry them, so it took a while to find some. 209 primers are available in almost every store of any size that sells muzzleloader supplies, so that might be a reason to go that way. Either should be plenty of spark for the Lightning.
I purchased my Lightning at an auction and it had what I believe is the standard Lightning nipple installed, which requires musket caps. I use loose powder (actually, 777) almost all the time, although I did do some testing with 777 pellets. Never had a problem with failures or misfires, so I've no motivation to try the 209 conversion. Except...
Musket caps can be a little hard to find. The bigger outfitters around here don't tend to carry them, so it took a while to find some. 209 primers are available in almost every store of any size that sells muzzleloader supplies, so that might be a reason to go that way. Either should be plenty of spark for the Lightning.
The Traditions Lightning bolt was also my first BP rifle. I've had it for about 5 years now and can goup very well. My rifle's favorite load is two 50gr. Pyrodex pellets with a 240 grain bullet with sabot behind a 209 primer. On a good day i can group as accurate as 1 1/2" at 100 yards.
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