Flintlock Maintenance Questions/poll

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A1H Skyraider
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2009/01/03 21:25:29 (permalink)

Flintlock Maintenance Questions/poll

Im 36 now and began flintlock hunting with my dad at the age of 14.  My dad taught me that if you shot it today you clean it today, expecially when it comes to the flintlock.  I have many friends that neglect their flintlocks and many times I take them in myself and clean them just because It pains me to see any sort of rust come out of a gun barrel.  this is how i clean a flintlock, I want to see how it compares to what everyone else is doin.
 
Break the gun down remove the touch hole from the barrel, get a bucket of "hot" soapy water, place the touchhole end of the barrel in the water, wet a patch and plung it in and out drawing the hot water up the barrel, I do this several times with several patches then change the water to clean water and repeat to rinse it out.  generally I try and get the barrel so hot that I need a rag to hold onto it.  I pull the barrel out of the water and quickly dry the outside and run several patches down the barrel to dry the barrel.  all the moisture immediately dries from the barrel becasue it is so hot.  while the barrel is hot, I will run a patch of borebutter down the barrel while it is hot as well to give a rust preventative coating and lube I also use that patch to wipe the outside of the barrel.
 
I clean the other components the same way in hot water.
 
How many of you believe in the "Season" your bore thing from wonderlube or T/C bore butter?
 
Im not saying what I do is right, but this is what I do.  What do you do?

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6 Replies Related Threads
    treesparrow
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    RE: Flintlock Maintenance Questions/poll 2009/01/03 23:31:08 (permalink)
      Sounds like the same way I clean the barrel. Although I never dumped the water and used fresh water again. Good thinking! I use bore butter, and think it is great. You may do this also, but here goes. I take all other parts off and soak them in hot water too. Then because the lock meckanism has parts that can trap water I put them in the oven at ~225 for ~15 minutes then I know they are dry. I put a touch of Triflow that is good lube to -60F on the turning points of the lock. I do not strip the lock when cleaning it just scrub it in hot water. I put some bore butter on some of it, but not the flash pan or frizzen. Those parts I keep dry. Also never put bore butter on any pivet points. It takes me almost an hour to clean my muzzle loader, especialy after season when putting it away.
      Your dad taught you well, and your guns will most likely last a lifetime. I buy and trade quite a few guns and can spot a gun not taken care of almost instantly.I never buy one not taken care of. I can always apriciate a firearm that is well used and well taken care of. I allways think, now that gun could sure tell a story.
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    bingsbaits
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    RE: Flintlock Maintenance Questions/poll 2009/01/04 07:32:07 (permalink)
    Not being a ML hunter I know nothing about cleaning one...Why do you clean them in water?? I always assumed water was a guns worst enemy..

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    S-10
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    RE: Flintlock Maintenance Questions/poll 2009/01/04 08:43:23 (permalink)
    The theory is hot water softens the residue and soapy water works the same way as washing dishes by loosening the crud. It's also cheap although it is not really the best method and is quite messy. I did it for years. With the newer cleaning products on the market It no longer makes much sense. Hot soapy water removes the seasoning from the bore and that is the one thing you don't want to do. With a well seasoned bore(seasoning is compared to the way bacon grease or fat is absorbed into a cast iron skillet puting a non stick coating not unlike tefflon on the pan)  you will not have the fouling problems and with just a bit of cleaning between shots you can fire many before a complete teardown is necessary. My grandpappy, Danny Booner never had hot soapy water and he did just fine.
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    A1H Skyraider
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    RE: Flintlock Maintenance Questions/poll 2009/01/04 10:05:23 (permalink)
    Also, Oil is a Blackpowder shooters worst enemy, it make a real mess and increases fouling 300% never, ever, oil the bore of your muzzleloader unless your going to store it for a while, but then be sure to clean it out well before use.

    "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the
    gospel of envy. Its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." - Winston Churchill
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    A1H Skyraider
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    RE: Flintlock Maintenance Questions/poll 2009/01/04 10:07:11 (permalink)
    ORIGINAL: treesparrow

      Sounds like the same way I clean the barrel. Although I never dumped the water and used fresh water again. Good thinking! I use bore butter, and think it is great. You may do this also, but here goes. I take all other parts off and soak them in hot water too. Then because the lock meckanism has parts that can trap water I put them in the oven at ~225 for ~15 minutes then I know they are dry. I put a touch of Triflow that is good lube to -60F on the turning points of the lock. I do not strip the lock when cleaning it just scrub it in hot water. I put some bore butter on some of it, but not the flash pan or frizzen. Those parts I keep dry. Also never put bore butter on any pivet points. It takes me almost an hour to clean my muzzle loader, especialy after season when putting it away.
    Your dad taught you well, and your guns will most likely last a lifetime. I buy and trade quite a few guns and can spot a gun not taken care of almost instantly.I never buy one not taken care of. I can always apriciate a firearm that is well used and well taken care of. I allways think, now that gun could sure tell a story.

     
    Parts in the oven, thats a great Idea S-10,  I alwasy just tried to get them as hot as I could with the water, that ot to really dry them good. Thanks

    "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the
    gospel of envy. Its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." - Winston Churchill
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    S-10
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    RE: Flintlock Maintenance Questions/poll 2009/01/04 10:12:13 (permalink)
    The only time I use oil is if I was lazy and was going to wait a few days to clean it (and was not going to shoot it before cleaning) I would squirt some wd-40 in and on the metal parts.
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