RE: Pre-shot preperation and How to clean muzzle loader????
You should clean it before you shoot it the first time. It'll give you a good idea how to clean it after shooting.
Solvent patch then bore brush then solvent patchs till they come out clean. then dry patch till try.
Use a 12 or 20 gauge brush to clean out the breech threads. I use solvent patches on the brush. Use a toothbrush on the breechplug. I use a drill bit to get the carbon out of the hole. I use a 1/8" bit. Just turn it in your fingers. You can also use pipe cleaners but they don't do as good a job IMO. They're good after you drill it though.
Wipe off the trigger and dissasemble the bolt/striker. Clean that off well. Then oil everything. Take a oil patch and wipe the exterior of the barrel.
For hunting don't pull the stock and clean the best you can. If you use a good oil you shouldn't have any problems. I don't fully break a gun down from after my final check session till after I'm done hunting.
Now at the range I snap 3 caps, run 3solvent patches down the barrel, then 3 dry patches then load. Between shots I run a solvent patchthen a dry patch.