How do I clean a muzzleloader and not get a patch stuck in the bore?

Status
Not open for further replies.
TTv2

TTv2

Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2016
Messages
5,011
I guess I should have asked this before shooting, but I finally got a Lyman Plains pistol (percussion) and shot it today. Now I'm sitting here about to swab the bore and I don't have anything that really fits a .54 bore for brushes and I'm concerned that if I use a wet patch and an undersize brush that it'll get stuck way down and I won't be able to get it.

So, what do I need and/or need to know?
 
A 28 gauge wool mop is the best thing to clean the 54 with. Heat a pan of water with a little dish soap. Put the breach end of the barrel in the hot water and work the mop on a cleaning rod back and forth in the bore. This will wash all of the fouling out of the bore and chamber in a couple minutes. When the barrel gets hot, drain and sit back to dry for a few minutes. Then run another mop or patch that has some bore butter or other BP lube through the bore and you are done. Takes longer to heat the water than to clean.
 
OP here, I looked thru my universal cleaning kits and found a slotted jag that allowed me to wrap a piece of cotton around. Sprayed a mix of Ballistol and water down the bore and swabbed it, then rinsed it with straight water.

Now I have another question with the Lyman pistol. I know the barrel is wedged to the stock and I'd like to remove it so I can clean everything easier and possibly put the action into my ultrasonic cleaner. What's the proper way to remove the wedge? Is it like Colt style percussion revolvers?
 
Armored farmer said:
Like these guys above me said....you'll be fine with a patch on your brush too.
Don't worry...you won't do anything that hasn't been done before.

So the real question....how did you like shooting the pistol?
Click to expand...
I gotta say that I think I enjoy shooting a muzzlestuffer more than a revolver simply because I seem to spend an equal amount of time shooting as I do loading, which with the revolvers it's always me spending more time loading than shooting. So, I'm definitely interested in getting more, but I'm pretty much against anything flintlock, I don't like the delay of them from when I pull the trigger to when they fire.

Unfortunately, there's not a lot that I can think of that I'd want that's out there. Maybe a derringer, I've seen .36 caliber double barrels that look cool, if someone would import Great Gun derringers I'd definitely get one in .54. I might consider a target pistol, the grip and balance of the Lyman pistol is... weird. If 209 primers ever got back in stock from this supply shortage I might get the Diablo 12 gauge.
 
Remove the nipple.
Knock the wedge out with a plastic/wood/rawhide hammer
Take the whole barrel out/off and put the rear in a pan/pot of soapy dishwater
Use the swab (or slotted patch) to pump soapy water in and out for a dozen strokes
Flush with hot/clean water & dry patch out inside & out (ditto nipple)
Oi everything immediately and reassemble

Two-three minutes max
(Ultrasonic not needed)
:thumbup:

,
 
Last edited:
fltfr2.jpg
The chances of getting a patch "stuck" is about nil. What would it stick on? With a short pistola barrel you could fish it out with about anything. But better ways of cleaning are posted above.

I love the Plains Pistol.
 
TTv2 said:
I gotta say that I think I enjoy shooting a muzzlestuffer more than a revolver simply because I seem to spend an equal amount of time shooting as I do loading, which with the revolvers it's always me spending more time loading than shooting.
Click to expand...

I've often wondered, if a guy took his unloaded revolver, with 12 rounds, and timed him (or her) self as to how long it took to shoot those 12 rounds, starting with an unloaded pistol/revolver, and then did the same thing with a single shot pistol, I wonder which would be fastest? They would all have to be aimed shots, let's say a paper plate at 25 yards.

I'm thinking the single shot would not do too badly. Before you say: "but the revolver can use combustible cartridges", keep in mind that a single shot can too.
 
Ugly Sauce said:
I've often wondered, if a guy took his unloaded revolver, with 12 rounds, and timed him (or her) self as to how long it took to shoot those 12 rounds, starting with an unloaded pistol/revolver, and then did the same thing with a single shot pistol, I wonder which would be fastest? They would all have to be aimed shots, let's say a paper plate at 25 yards.

I'm thinking the single shot would not do too badly. Before you say: "but the revolver can use combustible cartridges", keep in mind that a single shot can too.
Click to expand...
The way that I shoot the revolvers is with a Remington style I pop the cylinder out and load it off the gun, so it's decently fast, but what slows me down is capping the nipples, I really need to get a capper that holds more than 20 caps. With a Colt style it's just slow and tedious because I'm not bothering to bang the wedge out and load off the gun, don't have one for .36 anyway, so I'll say with a Colt style it's probably slower, a Remington faster.
 
Just have a second cylinder loaded, ready to go.
The " Polish Capers " hold over a hundred caps and are made for the NMA.
As for cleaning the gun, lets say in a walk through match with 12 targets such as " tradegun matches ", or just wanting to clean between shots on the bench, if the patch is large enough to wrap around the end of the jag, and tight enough, it won't normally come off. For years [ since the 70s ] I've shot rifle and smoothbore matches walking through the woods and everyone I knew would wipe between shots. I can't remember patches coming off in the barrel. If one did on occasion, the " screw type " puller or the ones with two piano wires would work equally well. Cut your cleaning patches big enough and you won't have any trouble.
 
I've used the "patch on a brass brush" method for decades and have never lost a patch. In fact, the brushes hold the patches a little too well for my tastes - I've spent a lot of time peeling patches off and making little holes in my fingers.
 
Hmmm....spare cylinders...I wonder if I could carry six spare loaded barrels for my Plains Pistol? Just pop the wedge, and switch barrels? :scrutiny:
 
Worst case scenario pull your nipple and fill it with 4 f powder, re-install nipple and shoot the patch out. But if you have the right jag you should have no troubles.
 
Azshooter1, I have a retired co worker that's in Surprise that just got into single action revolvers, you might maybe look him up and maybe go shoot with him. PM me if interested.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

R
  • Locked
Sidelock cleaning questions
Replies
8
Views
942
Boogyman
B
G
  • Locked
Muzzleloader questions (cleaning, loads, etc.)
Replies
6
Views
588
madcratebuilder
M
Z
  • Locked
Cleaning muzzleloading rifle for long-term storage
Replies
10
Views
1K
4v50 Gary
4v50 Gary
H
  • Locked
How to get rust out of the barrel of a muzzleloader?
Replies
13
Views
10K
Wildfire
W
R
  • Locked
First muzzleloader questions
Replies
18
Views
2K
EljaySL
E
Back
Top