Well I am learning that when you take a full stock flintlock to the range, it gets a lot of attention.

Twice now when I have gone to the range "old-timers" have pinned me down with monologues of their guns, loads, etc., etc. Today the guy stood within 4 feet of me, if he wasn't talking he was watching me load and shoot. Now I know they mean well, but its tough to concentrate when someone is yakkin' at you.

During the monologue this guy-one of the line safety officers at the range-told me about using corn starch. He told me that if I put corn starch on top of the charge, in between the charge and the load, I would not have to swab out the barrel. The corn starch would scrub the barrel on its way out. Presumably taking dirt, etc., along with it.

At first I just nodded like a bobble-head, but then he disappeared, only to come back a while later with some corn starch. And 'natch, he stood there and watched me pour this stuff down the barrel.

My question is: was this guy loopy from standing out in the heat for too long? Or does corn starch really clean fouling out of the barrel as the guy said it would?

Thanks again for all your help.
~Robert