Muzzleloader Maintenance ???
 

I have been muzzleloader hunting for about 5-10 years and have listened to people on how to do certain things. One problem I seem to come across lately is rusty/fouling stuff on my nipple and hammer area when I let my gun set for a couple months. I have a T/C SCOUT with a synthetic stock and a blue barrel. What is the best way to clean and store this type of gun before ,during, and after the hunting season? ANY AND ALL HELP would be GREATLY appreciated!!!!!

RE: Muzzleloader Maintenance ???
 

I've never cleaned a T/C Scout, but I would use Q-tips and with a good black powder solvent and scrub every part of that rifles metal hard to reach parts. Pull the nipple and clean it well. If you're going to store the rifle for an extended period of time spray the nipple with a quality gun oil. Then when you want to shoot it next time a simple soak in some isopropyl alcohol will clean it right up. Same holds true for the hammer area, scrub that with a good solvent and some Q-tips. Those cheap Q-tips can get into areas my over sized fingers only dream of getting into, then spray the area with some Birchwood Casey Sheath. That will keep the area from rusting.

RE: Muzzleloader Maintenance ???
 

Pipe cleaners, toothbrushand Q-tips dipped in solvent. Finish it off with these 3 items I mentioned above -gun oil-dipping them for all the little nooks & crannies to avoid rust. Put a little anti-sieze grease or auto wheel bearing/ball joint grease on the nipple threads. Just do not cover either side firing hole with grease. All the bore cleaning should be done with a brass or black nylon bore brush.

Use solvents that remove a host of items like copper, lead & plastic. I do not recommend any "weak" solvents intended for blackpowder rifles or Bore Butter/Wonderlube 1000 barrel seasoners.

RE: Muzzleloader Maintenance ???
 

If I could not clean the gun right away I would atleast drown it in a quality gun oil. I still wouldn't let her sit more than a couple days like this though.