cleaning
 

i am getting ready to by a tc encore 209X50. i will be shooting 777 powder. i was wondering if anybody could tell me the best way and products to clean it? thanks.

RE: cleaning
 

This stuff below works real well because it does it all. You never mentioned what kind of bullet alloyyou will be shooting ... ie... copper, lead, plastic, platinums... etc. We are pretty poor guessers here - so I gave you a product for most-all bullets. Scroll down about a quarter of the way until you reach Birchwood-Casey Bore Scrubber 2 In 1 Bore Cleaner.

Always include a bore brush when cleaning MLs. This is only an introduction to this product. You can probably buy it cheaper elsewhere. This is the best "do it all" cleaner I found. Only other options are to buy stronger individual cleaners that specifically solve one problem at-a-time... ie.. something for removing copper -- something for removing plastic... etc.

If all you plan on shooting are lead conicals or roundballs, the regular Bore Scrubber will do nicely. Be sure to include a good breechplug grease like CVA Breechplug & Nipple Anti-Seize Grease. With 777, it's always smarter to crack the plug loose after every 8-10 shots ... then re-snug it. With the Omega, you can use a regular socket & 1/4 inch socket wrench. I think it takes a 7/16's ... not 100% sure without looking.

http://www.gunaccessories.com/BirchwoodCasey/Maintenance.asp

RE: cleaning
 

The best solventforcleaningmuzzleloadersis plain hot water, the hotter the better!

All you need is a cleaning rod with jag, a funnel, a number of clean flannel cleaning patches of the right size, (I use 2.5"X2.5" GI patches) a towel or heavy rag to twist around the barrel for a handle to hold onto when the barrel is hot, and a tea kettle to boil your water in.

I pour two quarts of boiling water through my bores (three quarts for .58-.73 caliber), then patch them out immediately with four or fiveclean, dry patches. Bores are now DRY & CLEAN of any powder fouling of any kind, including 777 or BP!

For sidelocks, pour the water in through the muzzle & let it run out the cleanout screw hole in the nipple drum. For an inline, shove the funnel in the breech after you take out the breechplug, and let the water run out the muzzle.

As soon as the barrel cools so you can hold it in your hand, swab it out with a clean patch saturated with Birchwood-Casey SHEATH. Bores arenow CLEAN & PRESERVEDuntil next shooting session. Use SHEATH on ALL ferrous parts, inside & out after cleaning any powder fouling off them.

I learned this method of cleaning BP arms from an old-time ML gun builder in Indianapolis, who told me that this is how the Mountain Men cleaned their Hawken rifles. Makes sense, since there were no commercial gun-cleaning preparations available in the Rocky Mountain west in 1830!Except the Mountain Men used bear's oil or Sperm-whale oil instead of SHEATH!

It is not necessary to use a bore brush to clean a muzzleloader-you CAN use one, but it is not required. All you need is boiling water , patches, and SHEATH! Sorry! For inlines shot with 777, you do need some breechplug thread grease if you want to remove it again next time!

RE: cleaning
 

i'm probably going to use copper bullets, but i was also wondering what is seasoning the barrel. and how or should you do it.

if you can't tell i am new to muzzleloaders. i have shot them before, but never owned my own. thanks.

RE: cleaning
 

Seasoning the bore is a process of smearing a product such as Thompson Center Natural Lube 1000 a.k.a Bore Butter on a patch through the barrel after cleaning. The wax mixture will coat the inside of the bore, sealing itand it is supposed to protect the rifle from rusting, and also help in loading, and accuracy. I will not get into the arguement of whether or whynot I believe that.

If you ever watched you old grandmother season her cast iron fry pans, it is the same principle. They do not scrub the fry pan clean but instead wipe all the crud out of it, and then as the pan accumulates more and more oils into it, they become almost stick free. I do season my fry pans. I do not season my rifle bores.

With the Encore, there is quality gun oil that will protect the rifle. You will probably be shooting sabots out the rifle so the need to "season" the bore does not really apply. You clean the rifle, and then use a product like Birchwood Casey Sheath on a patch and swab the barrel with the quality gun oil and protect it.

RE: cleaning
 

REALLY HOT water and a lightly oiled patch at the end. Works great on my Hawken and Kodiak.

RE: cleaning
 

so since i will be shooting sabots i don't really have to worry about seasoning the bore. right?

RE: cleaning
 

Seasoning the bore relates to PRB and break away sabots unless you decied to use them big bore sized chuncks of lead with a rainbow trajectory. Lee

RE: cleaning
 

When I used to shoot my enfield I always used either boiling water and dry patches as mentioned above. I also used a solution of equal parts of Hydrogen Peroxide, Murphy's Oil Soap, and Rubbing Alcohol. You can mix them in the peroxide container, they will stay seperated so you have to shake them before using it. The solution will foam up out of the barrel. After you do this, then use HOT water for a second rinse. You only need to solution if the hot water isnt working on its own.

RE: cleaning
 

I use patched round balls, great big ol' pure lead conical bullets,
Power Belts, and sabotted bullets in my various types of muzzleloaders.

I once gave that "seasoning BS" a complete trial, per Ross Seyfried's instructions from RIFLE magazine.

IMO, it does nothing at all for a good rifle bore! Seasoning worksfor frying pans!

Leave it at that!

RE: cleaning
 

How I clean my Encore:
1. Break down the gun so you just have the barrel. You'll be suprised how much blowback you get on the underside of the barrel.
2. I find a breech plug brush essential, for scrubbing crud out of the threads. And a bore brush.
3. Hot water and little bit o' lemon scented Joy:). A plastic bottle full of plain, hot water with a "squirt" top.
4. Throw the breech plug in the soapy water and let soak. Squirt some gun oil of your choice on the face of the action where the firing pin is and let sit to loosen the crud.
5. Squirt some hot water down the barrel. Then, I dip my bore brush in the soapy water and scrub away. Rinse with hot water.
6. Dip the bore brush in the soapy water and work up and down the barrel a few times. Rinse with your squirt bottle of clear water.
7. Wrap a dry patch around the breech plug brush and dry and swab out that area of the rifle. Swab 2-3 dry patches down the bore and follow with one with alcohol patch. Let sit for a few minutes while you wipe down the exterior portions of your gun. I use pipe cleaners to attack that "hole" between the barrel and recoil lug.
8. Fish your breech plug out of the water, rinse and scrub clean the threads, Blow the water out the flash channel and dry. Apply the breech plug grease to both the plug and the threads in the barrel.

That's how I do it. Currently using CLP Breakfree:eek:

RE: cleaning
 

My Encore is one of the only m/l I own that I do not use hot water to clean but instead start with a bp solvent then Hoppes and then a quality oil to protect the bore when done. I will use some water at the range to clean between shots because it does a great job breaking down the Triple Se7en crud ring. (or what I call just plain fouling).

I do not have the blowback problem Doegirl has with mine so I just clean the breech and all with CLP or any quality cleaning product.

RE: cleaning
 

Pittsburgh-I think the amount of blowback I'm getting has to do the kind of primers I'm using. They are Remington STS's and they SUCK. Very dirty primer. CCI's aren't half as filthy[:@]. I just bought some Winchester Triple Se7en primers and see if that helps.

RE: cleaning
 

I use Blue Wonder Gun Cleaner... best cleaner I have found. I have also gotten all of my buddies using it... I guarantee if you try it you will use nothing else. Specific details can be found at: http://www.bluewonder.us/BlueWonderGunCleaner.html

Also, I have moved away from 777 to American pioneer powder (Jim Shocky Gold)... I shoot 100 gr of powder and 300 grain TC shockwave sabots in my TC Encore. I find this combination groups best out to 150 yards.

RE: cleaning
 

It could be the primer Doegirl, the only ones I have ever used in my Encore and I have owned it since the first year they came out is the W209 standard primer from Winchester.

As far as the powder goes I would have a very tough time trying to quit Triple Se7en it shoots so well in many of my rifles and in my revolver as well.

RE: cleaning
 

I think I tried just about every thing even a special breech plug and musket caps still had that awful crud ring and blow by; went to APP and got tighter groups by far the capability of using mag loads and still keeping the tight groups and the capability of a second or third shot with out cleaning and in the group all the time. It may not work the same for every one but that is all that goes into my inlines now; I like real black powderfor my Hawkens.Lee

RE: cleaning
 

Hot water anddry patchs to remove the powder fouling. I also run a patch with Shooter Choice MC#7 and a bore brush to remove any plastic fouling, every so often. Finish off with a patch of Sheath or similar gun oil for protection. I always run a dry patch prior to assembly or loading/firing any firearm to ensure excess oil is removed.

For the breech area I used a brush and 50%alky/50% windsheild washer fluid solution. Give it a few rinse under the tap in hot water, then wipe dry and tumble in a rag with some gun oil. I would let them stand over night before re-assembly. As mentioned use of an anti-seize grease or pink teflon tape on breech threads is required.

RE: cleaning
 

Encore owners should also disassemble and clean the firing pin assembly on occasion. Blowback/residue does get in and around that assembly and will lead to failures eventually.

RE: cleaning
 

has any body tried the primers by remington that are supposed to be the cleanest. are they really, or if they aren't what is?

RE: cleaning
 

http://www.winchester.com/products/newitems/whatsnewcontent.aspx?productid=36

RE: cleaning
 

What TripleSe7en said. Win. 777s are much cleaner than Rem. Kleanbores.

RE: cleaning
 

I use CCI Primers... they are a little cleaner (i.e., around the breach plug) and appear to burn the powder better/evenly leaving less residue in the barrel... ultimately allowing me to shoot a more consistent group.