how do you clean a muzzel loader?

Answer 1

Contrary to some opinions, a serious hunter is neither cruel nor a murderer. Impressing uninformed tree huggers is not a high priority. I didn't see anything in your question about hunting.
The newer muzzle loaders are relatively easy to clean. They are built to disassemble simply. Use muzzle loader solvent. Brush and wipe the barrel and bore using the cleaning ram rod as with a rifle. Use gun oil for the firing mechanism. When finished reassemble the fire arm and wipe with a clean cloth leaving a light thin coat of oil. Safety first. Be absolutely and completely familiar with your fire arm. Be sure the firearm is unloaded and in safe condition before and after cleaning.

Answer 2

Well there are many preperations to clean muzzle loaders ,, but unfortunately they are mostly all water based. Water and black powder or Pyrodex do not mix . You will get rust in parts you can not or do not take completely apart. I use good old Hoppes #9 for my .54 Thompson since I can not get the small cleaning plug out near the cap nipple. (I bought it frozen in like that) I also use Hoppes on my .58 Parker and Snow civil war rifle and my .58 Enfield musket because I dont want to take any chance of rust in them. For my 10 Ga double bbl Parker damascus shotgun which I use black powder in brass reloadable shells I do use a water bath since I can take the gun completely apart and dry and oil all parts. So using water or water based products is OK if you go to the trouble to completely break down your firearm. If you cant or wont break it down use Hoppes # 9. For water cleaning I get a tub of hot water and use a large wet rag patch on my cleaning rod to get the water flowing up and down the bbl by hydraulic pumping action. Then dont forget to use solvent and oil and grease after the water bath and get all the water out. I love shooting old guns so I am very particular in cleaning and therefore preserving them as well as my modern firearms . Good shooting and hunting to you.

To the PETA person above. I love shooting and hunting Got a whole freezer full of venison. and a maple stump full of lead . Have a nice day!

Answer 3

I use both the primitive way but use modern preservatives.We heat soapy water in a deep bucket. Our barrels are removed from he guns. We set the barrels down into the hot soapy water and use a cleaning rod with mop . The mop will act as a water piston and will pull the hot water into the barrel and cleans it pretty well. We also use wire brush after. The barrel will be pretty hot from the water so we use WD40 in every nook and cranny and then dry it off with patches. For a finish we use a product that preserves the metal from rust. (cant recall the name now but available from Leighi Valley shooters.) Our guns have never had a spec of rust on them.

Answer 4

This October Country Muzzleloading web page http://www.octobercountry.com/muzzleloader_cleaning.php describes how to clean primarily the traditional, side hammer, hooked breach muzzleloader rifle that shoots a patched round ball; however, it also discusses cleaning traditional style muzzleloader rifles that shoot conical bullets, fullstock muzzleloader rifles, and inline muzzleloader rifles.

Modern muzzleloader cleaning is covered at http://hunting.about.com/od/blackpowder/l/aa010801.htm

The Remington web site has some illustrations along with their instructions at http://www.remington.com/safety/safety_center/muzzleloader_cleaning.asp

The Connecticut Valley Arms (CVA) FAQ http://www.cva.com/faq/index.htm#25 covers specifically how to clean the CVA electronic ignition muzzleloader.

Answer 5

Muzzleloaders us a diffrent propellent than smokless powder firearms, so use those product intended for use to clean these guns.

Answer 6

Tediously; first use boiling water in the barrel and then everything else. Wear old clothes and take plenty of time, it is a messy thing you do.

Answer 7

An addition to capnarlo's post: Use Hoppe's No. 9 black powder solvent, not the nitro powder solvent.

Answer 8

I think it's just like cleaning a normal gun but it will take more cleaner....

Answer 9

It's spelled "muzzle" and you shouldn't be hunting. It's extremely cruel and inhumane to kill defenseless animals for sport - or for food. There's plenty of food at the local grocery store.

Does it make you feel tough to sneak up on a helpless deer and put a hole in him? Does that boost your ego?

If you really want to show you're tough, go to Africa and kill a lion by hand. Then I'll be impressed.

Answer 10

Very carefully!