Just got a Brown Bess - Questions

[minuteman1970]

I recently became interested in collecting period blackpowder guns, and just picked up a Pedersoli Brown Bess. I got it for a decent price, but it's clearly been neglected and has lots of rust throughout. I took the entire gun apart, and removed the barrel from the stock. I am soaking the lock and all of the small pins and screws in Evaporust solution ($30/gallon at Harbor Freight). The bore looks to be a sewer pipe, and I can see rust as well as grime. I would like to give the bore a good cleaning, but have a few questions:

Is the breech plug removable? If so, how?
What's the best way to clean the bore?
Can I use standard smokeless/modern gun bore solvent and a 12 Ga. Shotgun brush?

I mostly shoot .22LR and don't have much in the way of blackpowder-specific cleaning gear, and truthfully am not really looking to get into BP shooting at this time. This will be more of a wall-hanger for the time being, until I can find some time in my busy schedule.

Thanks in advance.

 

[mykeal]

Is the breech plug removable? If so, how?

Yes, but it's very difficult to reassemble correctly. I've never done it on a Pedersoli so I can't be any help on technique. And besides, it's not necessary.

What's the best way to clean the bore?

If you mean after shooting with black powder, the best way is to use plain water and a .75 cal cleaning jag (or a 12 ga button jag) on a ramrod. Just remove the barrel and submerge the breech in water; use a cleaning patch on the jag to pump water into and out of the barrel.

If you mean the best way to get rust out, I use a good rust remover (lots of products on the market) and steel wool on a .75 cal cleaning jag. And lots of elbow grease.

Can I use standard smokeless/modern gun bore solvent and a 12 Ga. Shotgun brush?

Yes, but it (the smokeless/modern solvent) must, repeat, MUST be thoroughly cleaned out before shooting with black powder. I'd use alcohol to accomplish that. Black powder combustion is at too low a temperature to completely burn the smokeless solvent, which is a low distillate petroleum product. The end result is a tar-like substance that's difficult to remove.

Also, be careful with brush. There's another thread on this forum about a brush that broke off inside the bore of a muzzleloader. Very difficult to remove. I'd avoid the brush and go with the cleaning jag wrapped in steel wool for rust removal, or wrapped in a cleaning patch with water for regular cleaning. You don't need a brush for black powder fouling - the water will dissolve it and clean it all out.

 

[PRM]

If you mean after shooting with black powder, the best way is to use plain water and a .75 cal cleaning jag (or a 12 ga button jag) on a ramrod. Just remove the barrel and submerge the breech in water; use a cleaning patch on the jag to pump water into and out of the barrel.

If you mean the best way to get rust out, I use a good rust remover (lots of products on the market) and steel wool on a .75 cal cleaning jag. And lots of elbow grease.

Yep +1 ~ I prefer Gibbs

Yes, but it (the smokeless/modern solvent) must, repeat, MUST be thoroughly cleaned out before shooting with black powder. I'd use alcohol to accomplish that. Black powder combustion is at too low a temperature to completely burn the smokeless solvent, which is a low distillate petroleum product. The end result is a tar-like substance that's difficult to remove.

Worth repeating

 

[Hocka Louis]

A breach scraper of a decent enough size to get into the corners is highly advised.

Don't need a brush? Well, I'd try brushing it for the heck of it anyway and see what else comes out. Carrot pieces, corn kernels, peanuts, caked on/baked in hardened residue. And you're talking to a guy who has an electric tea kettle just to boil water for his blackpowder cleaning...

A useful and very effective mop is a 12 ga. brush with a 12/10 ga. cleaning patch wrapped around it swamped in blackpowder solvent.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

If you mean the best way to get rust out, I use a good rust remover (lots of products on the market) and steel wool on a .75 cal cleaning jag. And lots of elbow grease.

I "rescued" a Pedersoli Bess a few years back. To remove the breech plug you need a "barrel vice", and If you're not a gunsmith, you probably don't have one. A regular vice will only screw up your barrel in the vast majority of cases.

First I cleaned the barrel with water and nylon black-powder brush..., 10 gauge...,

(The above quote is quite correct...,) .. what I did next was a sort of variation... I used a 20 gauge bore brush, and wrapped steel wool around it..., I used an aluminum shotgun rod, and a couple of extra pieces (most shotgun rods are not intended for a 42" barrel). Then instead of using the T handle, I placed the back end of the rod into my power drill. I clamped the barrel into a vice fitted with wooden "pads" so as not to damage the steel, then inserted the cleaning rod/brush-steel wool assembly into the muzzle, and started the drill, and started scrubbing the bore..., and removed and replaced the steel wool a couple of times. I used 000 steel wool first, and 0000 steel wool to finish. It polished up "ok", but alas there was enough of a pit near the breech that I told the owner "blanks only". He was only interested in blanks, so he was happy.

The bore brush does a better job of holding onto the wool than a jag (imho) when rotating by hand or by power drill.

LD

 

[minuteman1970]

All,
Thanks for the great info and suggestions. I've been soaking the parts and lock in Evaporust, and they are coming out great. I am also planning to clean up the brass trigger guard other brass areas with Brasso.

As for the bore, I'll give it a good hot soapy water cleaning both inside and on the exterior. I am going to pick up a 1.5" PVC pipe, and cap one end. Then, I'll fill the tube up with Evaporust and let the entire barrel sit for a few days and we'll see how it comes out. I may not need to smooth out the bore with scrubbing, but I'll keep that as a backup plan. I'll throw the ramrod in as well, while I'm at it.