For starters, get yourself a good solid range rod. You will be glad you did. Save the factory rod in the event your range rod fails.

I have two of these:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20712&id=0031502 215801a&navCount=1&podId=0031502&paren tId=cat20819&navAction=push&catalogCode=IF &rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat2081 9&hasJS=true

DAC Universal Muzzleloader Cleaning Kit



Item:
IF-215801

Then, really clean the bore with a quality bore solvent such as Butch's Bore Shine. 20-30 strokes with brush followed by about 5-6 soaked patches and 15-20 strokes.

Then an 50/50 mix 99%alcohol & Windexpatch followed by a dry patch.

Then a natural lubed patch followed by a dry patch. Now you are ready to go shooting.

I've always shot 40-60 conical through the bore at a moderate load of say
70-80 grains 2FG or 50-70 grains 3FG. Or with pellets, one or two777 50 grain pellet.

Just shoot and forget about accuracy.

About every 7-10 shots, Itypically run a damp (not wet) Butch's Bore Shine patchdown and upseveral strokes followed by a damp (not wet) 50/50 alcohol/windex patch, then a dry patch.

When done shooting for the day, back to the brush and patcheswith Bore Shine for about 10 strokes eachto remove any leading in the bore. Then dry patches and then lube with a quality lube for storage.

To ready from storage, then a damp 50/50 alcohol/windex patch or two followed by a dry patch or two. Then a natural lubed patch followed by a dry patch. The purpose of the natural lubed patch followed by a dry patch is to control flash rust.

I find that this process first removes all packing lubes and residues from the bore. Second, smooths the rifling. Third, get's you shooting your rifle and getting the hang of loading and procedures without trying to be accurate or fooling with heavy loads or hard loading projectiles.

After this routine, you will have had about 1/2 a pound or so of powder's worth of shooting under your belt and will be more than ready to begin working up various loads.

As far as seasoning, the only thing I will say is season your cast iron skillets with sausage grease or olive oil in the oven at 350 degrees for an hour or on the stove top until the grease or oil begins to smoke. Then remove from the heat and wipe in the excess with paper towels. Set the skillet or other cast iron cookware aside to cool.

Or, you can "season" your rifle if youplan on usingit for cooking or roasting.

M2C.

Regards,

Tahquamenon