Cleaning a muzzleloader
 

question. i just purchased a t/c encore. i shot 6 shots. i wen to clean it a few days later, and i got the barrel cleaned, except..
that lart by the charge and about 5 inches down line from there was really tough to clean with a wire brush. is this normal?
should i run a snake through it after every other shot?
was it becasue i waited to long to clean it?
thanks

Depending on the powder you used... water could clean it, or solvent. Take some solvent on a patch and with a good tight fitting jag, scrub that area. If that fails get some JB Bore Paste and use that to clean the rifle. Next time, don't wait a few days to clean your rifle. Some powders are fussy about that.

Also swabbing between shots is a good thing, but again... depends on the powder you were using.

What kind of cleaner were you using?

hoppies number 9 i think it is? low rent stuff

OregonHunter5

Which powder were you shooting? If you were shooting BH-209, then Hoppes should clean it right up.

If you were shooting T7 - then I would suggest windex to clean - dry the bore - then oil the bore... That is a quick way.

I shoot T7 so I spend time using a lot of just plane soap and water to clean the barrel. If you can find one of the Citrus Cleaners - they are a cleaning soap and degreaser - add to really hot water and mop the barrel - then dry the barrel - make sure it is dry - then oil.

I have a write up some place about this deep cleaning routine but can not put my fingers on it right now.

Cayugad has a very cleaning routing also...

What and where you are describing actually sound something like the 'crud ring' area when shooting T7 and sometimes even the Pyro powders. If that is what it is - then it is best removed with hot water and/or windex... just guessing though..

its triple 7 hodgon..
i heard its decent. is that correct.
im a lifetime centerfire guy and new to this muzzle stuff.
with that being said, i would think a lifetime hunter wouldnt wait days to clean his weapon. my bad..

aint the end of the world...did ya break it all the way down? clean that lil bitty hole the primer goes on? monkey see monkey do type deal...the whole rifle comes apart very simply

OregonHunter5

I figured it was... that is all that I shoot T7 loose powder and I really like it. There is a new powder on the market BH-209 - it will probably be very hard to find locally. but it does not present the 'crud ring' problem

If you continue to shoot T7 make yourself some windex patches and run one of them after each shot and you will have no problem with the build up of the 'crud ring' + you can make up another set of them that are wetter and actually pre-clean the bore.

Here is how I make mine - just make sure these patches - the patches you might use at the range are moist - not wet...



When hunting I just toss 4 or 5 of them into a zip lock and drop them in my pocket. If you are hunting in freezing weather just switch to car windshield washer cleaner.

thanks!!!
so that little bitty hole in the plug. how do you clean that? or do i just make sure its just not plugged so it will fire?

OregonHunter5

Pull the breech plug and drop in some hot soapy water and let it soak. You may need to use a small twist dril to clean the 'flash channel' the fire channel directly under the prime to the flash hole. Turn the drill by hand, if there is a build up of carbon you will feel it as you twist it out.

You can visually inpect the 'flash hole' to see if it is open + plus you could by one of those handi-dandy little tip cleaner tools for welding and one of the tips will fit that small hole if you think it is necessary.

If you are using a 'hot' primer like the Fed 209A it will tend to plug the 'flash channel' after awhile. The burnt t7 residue will soak off with the water...

thanks again.. well my first primers ever purchased are these remington kleanbores? are those good? meaning clean, yet hot enough? thanks jeff