Barrel swabbing between shots? How and what?
 

Just curious after reading the "crud ring" post. Cayugad uses 50/50 alcohol and windshied washer fluid. Is that the regular alcohol from the pharmacy? Sounds like a cheap way to go. Cayugad,....If you read this post, "How does it work"?

What do you guys use and do you run a wet patch and then follow up with a dry,...or is the dry patch not necessary.

Also I read Cayugad's comment about the breech seizing up. Can someone explain that? How do you keep it from happening? Until I get that Omega in my hand I may not understand what the Breech plug is. I own a TC .54cal Renegade right now.

Thanks guys!

RE: Barrel swabbing between shots? How and what?
 

Go to a pharmacy or a Wal Mart and get the 91% isopropyl alcohol. I mix it 50/50 with car windshield washer fluid. Wet (not dripping wet) a patch and starting at the muzzle work downward in short strokes all the way to the breech of the rifle. Never put the patch in and push it straight down to the breech. It is a good way to get the patch stuck. Also if you make sure the bolt is open, or the striker is back so that air can pass through the breech plug you will find less of a chance of getting the patch stuck. Once you reach the breech pull the patch back up on the jag. You can turn it over or put a second wet patch on the jag and work that .. what ever you like. After that I like to run about one or two dry patchs, again in short strokes from the muzzle to the breech just to make sure the bore is dry. This will help you load the next sabot in many cases...

The breech plug seizing up is a big thing to watch. On the breech of the new inlines the back end comes out, unlike the Renegade you now own. The breech plug has a series of threads you screw into the breech of the rifle barrel. Be sure and coat the threads with an anti seize compound. Even with all this, on some rifles, do to the blow back experiences from shooting and the heat of the igniton, the plug can lock it self into the barrel and become almost impossible to remove at times.

To make sure this does not happen, never screw the breech plug TIGHT into the breech of the rifle barrel Just finger tight is plenty and back it off just a slight amount so you know it is loose. After you have shot the rifle about 10 times, take your breech plug wrench and just give the plug a turn back and fourth. That will break up any fowling that might be collecting in the threads of the breech plug and causing it to seize....

RE: Barrel swabbing between shots? How and what?
 

Here is an e-mail text I received from Knight, concerning in part, the same subject. I think, as has been said many times, what works for you, works for you and maybe not the next guy! I have always used pellets but will now try loose 777.

MICHAEL, I USE OUR KNIGHT RED HOT (BARNES EXPANDER) BULLETS 250 GRS. TO 285 GRS. TO 300 GRS.... I ALSO USE A SPIT-PATCH BETWEEN SHOTS (NOT ANY CLEANERS),... SLIGHTLY FOULED BARRELS SHOOT BEST.. 100 TO 150 GR. CHARGES (PELLETS) ..LOOSE POWDER USUALLY ACHIEVES EVEN TIGHTER GROUPS !!!!! 777 POWDER WORKS GREAT !!!. OTHER BULLET DO NOT ALWAYS SHOOT LIKE OUR RED HOT BULLETS...COPPER BULLETS ARE LONGER AND HAVE A BETTER BALLISTIC COEFFICIENT....

RE: Barrel swabbing between shots? How and what?
 

make sure this does not happen, never screw the breech plug TIGHT into the breech of the rifle barrel Just finger tight is plenty and back it off just a slight amount so you know it is loose. After you have shot the rifle about 10 times, take your breech plug wrench and just give the plug a turn back and fourth. That will break up any fowling that might be collecting in the threads of the breech plug and causing it to seize....
[/quote]

All of the above is good information; however, I disagree with leaving your breechplug loose. I am a believer in using teflon tape and makeing sure the front face is covered with the tape and the breechplug is tight enough that there is not a path for the gas and fouling to get into the threads. I set my plug snug (not real tight just enough to seal the end) and I do not back it off until I am done shooting and at that time I back the plug out about one turn while the rifle is hot and then it removes without a problem when I get time to clean. I also do not shoot 777 anymore as it is the biggest contributor to stuck breechplugs due to the relatively violent initial shock it creats due to sharp pressure rise at ignition. Other powders will give the same velocity or exceed what 777 can develop without the sharp slap and resultant high recoil. My choice is Black Mag'3 and my second choice is American Pioneer Powder, I suspect the new Goex Pinacle will fit right in there as it is likely the same as American Pioneer as it was a joint effort with Goex and APP from all the info I have been able to get. These powders will not creat the same crud ring that 777 makes either.

RE: Barrel swabbing between shots? How and what?
 

What timing. My car was beeping at me that my windsheild wiper fluid was low for about a month so I picked a big bottle up yesterday ($.94 at Wally World) and I've already got a bottle of that alcohol here. I'll mix some up before I head off to the range, we don't have water there and it'd be nice to have something to swab the barrel with. Thanks Cayugad!

RE: Barrel swabbing between shots? How and what?
 

There are a few reasons I swab between shots. One is I want the gun to show me how it shoots on a clean bore cause thats what I will be hunting with. At least a bore that has been shot thru and then cleaned. Also I stay away from alcohol and windshield stuff. I find its not needed for 777 or pyrodex. It has ammonia which can be hydroscopic. Good ole spit or No 13 cleaner from T/C does the trick. Never needed anything more.

RE: Barrel swabbing between shots? How and what?
 

In a pinch, plain Windex works good too. The fine mist spray puts it on the patch lightly & evenly. Use both sides of a dry patch afterwards. I buy a small spray bottle of auto scent spray & spill the scent, rinse & fill with alky/Windex 50-50.

With tape, snugging the plug works best.... with anti-seize grease.... just turn it until it stops... then crack it loose & re-hand tighten every several shots to bust the crust that 777 brings to the plug. CVA Breechplug & Nipple Grease is the best I've used. Put on liberally... all threads covered.

RE: Barrel swabbing between shots? How and what?
 

If you get the isopropyl alcohol, and put a little Dawn dishwashing detergent in it, that will work. The reason for the alcohol is that whatever residue is left in the barrel will evaporat a lot faster than it would take the water type to dry. Use a wet patch, then a dry patch. If you do this after every shot, the dry patch shouldn't be too cruded up. Use it for the wet patch after the next shot. I can't help being cheap.

RE: Barrel swabbing between shots? How and what?
 

For sabot shooting: Bone dry and clean barrel is where you will find the best accuracy and consistancy.

Damp/spit/moist patch,
then a 99% Isopropyl Alcohol Patch,
then a dry patch or two in-between each shot.

For hunting after I have loaded the powder and sabot, I'll run a natural lube patch followed by a dry patch to control any flash rust.

Right on with what was mentioend about loosening/snugging up the breech plug after 7-10 shots.

RE: Barrel swabbing between shots? How and what?
 

I have used T/C gorilla greese for my breech plugs ever since I first owned my Scout carbine. I make sure that I tighten up the breech plug too.

Not real tight just snug enough to prevent any blow back into the threads. I also only shoot 20-30 rounds at a time through any given ml so I have not experienced any problems with the plug getting stuck. On the other hand my son's MDM will be pretty tough to remove after only ten shots so backing his off a little may help. We will try that next time we go out.

RE: Barrel swabbing between shots? How and what?
 

Pittsburghunter

Instead of leaving the breech plug loose in your son's MDM just take a wrench and every ten shots or so twist is forward and back to make sure it is staying free and not seizing. If you feel it not wanting to move, that is the time to pull it and clean it, then re-apply anti sieze and put it back in.

That's not all that bad an idea with any inline. It gives you a chance after say 20-25 shots to field break the gun down, and give the barrel a better then swabbing cleaning. (and to cool down in many cases) I do this even when changing projectiles for shooting if I have fired a lot of shots through the rifle. That way I know I am starting very clean again.

The trouble with leaving the breech plug real loose is you're just asking for blow back through the breech which will only produce more fowling. I never really tighten the plug down, but I don't leave it loose. I don't know how else to explain it....

RE: Barrel swabbing between shots? How and what?
 

The problem I would have with my Encore is I would have to remove the barrel to take out the breech plug the primer ejector is in the way and I would have to remove that. T/C has a new fold-away ejector that you can fold over then remove the plug w/o removing the barrel. I have yet to see one at my local shops yet and I hate buying stuff over the phone w/o checking them out first.

On another note I really like that ejector the thing works great and the MDM doesn't have one and sometimes those primmers get stuck real good. When that happens we end up using a pair of diagonal pliers to gently get the things off. The gunshop we bought the MDM at recomended Cheddite primers but the Winchester ones seem to work better and are easier to get unstuck.

We end up cleaning the primmer pocket every third or fourth shots. I started cleaning the Encore pocket every few as well I figure it can't hurt.

RE: Barrel swabbing between shots? How and what?
 

209 decapper

This is what I use to pull the 209 primers out of the breech plugs. I made some out of some steel I had around the house and they work excellent.

I never knew that the barrel had to be pulled on an Encore to remove the breech plug. Interesting. Even on my Black Diamond, you remove the striker and you can reach right in there and take it right out...

I guess all rifles have their quirks. I also take some Q-tips to the range with me and when the breech plug gets too fowled, I just spray it with some alcohol and wipe out the entire area of the 209 primer. They then fit better again and go in and out easier.....

RE: Barrel swabbing between shots? How and what?
 

Hey 'Pittsburghunter'......TC offers a neat aftermarket extractor that can be swiveled out of the path of the breech plug. You can then remove the breech plug without removing the whole barrel. Called "E-Z Tip" extractor and cost anywere from $15 - $20. BassPro and Cabelas have them in stock as do most gun shops that carry TC products. I put one on my Encore and it works as advertised! I asked TC why they don't install them at the factory but I didn't get much of an answer. Guess it's a great little money maker for them!


No.7211 "E-Z Tip" Extractor

RE: Barrel swabbing between shots? How and what?
 

I know read my post about that.

The main reason I have not bought it is it would give me an excuse not to take the gun apart and clean the whole thing.

That isn't good an Encore should be taken down at least a few times a year if not more I shoot gobs of lead out of mine. I have three barrels for it and use them all.

RE: Barrel swabbing between shots? How and what?
 

I have had a 50 and 45 cal.encore for years the first thing I did was take the extactor out and put in a drawer on my reloading table incase I ever wanted to sell it.Have never yet had a primer to stick in it,just turn it over sideways and the primer falls out.But the way it shoots (50 cal) it will never be for sale.
After shooting 4 lbs of 777 year before last I found a remedy for stuck breech plug,crud ring.Went back to pyro-select.
Barrel heat is a culpert for all muzzleloaders shooting sabots wether using smokeless or black subs.I use a spit patch between shots with reg muzzleloader and a dry patch between shots with a smokless muzzleloader.And let the barrel cool before shooting the next load.