Cleaning your muzzleloader?
12-19-2004, 08:39 AM
#11
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wabash, IN
Posts: 826
RE: Cleaning your muzzleloader?
goody...........
The one thing you're missing is that the residue from black powder (and it's substitutes) does not mix well with petroleum products. Petrol & BP fouling can form an emulsion in the bore that can be very difficult to get out - so cleaning with a water-based solution eliminates that problem. But then you have to deal with the barrel metal. Since Steel & water doesn't mix well you have to make sure ALL water is off the metal before applying a preservative - and alcohol is a great cataylst for getting water to evaporate. And an alcohol patch before firing the next time helps to make sure there is no petroleum residue in the bore left by your choice of preservative.
Plus BP fouling it water soluable while smokeless powder residue isn't (or at least isn't to the extent that BP residue is).
The one thing you're missing is that the residue from black powder (and it's substitutes) does not mix well with petroleum products. Petrol & BP fouling can form an emulsion in the bore that can be very difficult to get out - so cleaning with a water-based solution eliminates that problem. But then you have to deal with the barrel metal. Since Steel & water doesn't mix well you have to make sure ALL water is off the metal before applying a preservative - and alcohol is a great cataylst for getting water to evaporate. And an alcohol patch before firing the next time helps to make sure there is no petroleum residue in the bore left by your choice of preservative.
Plus BP fouling it water soluable while smokeless powder residue isn't (or at least isn't to the extent that BP residue is).
