Muzzleloader questions (cleaning, loads, etc.)

[Guvnor]

Hey everyone

Im new to black powder and basically clueless. Need advice on how to go about cleaning a traditional hawken precussion rifle.

So far I have a ramrod accessories pack which includes a bronze bore brush, cleaning jag, and cotton bore swab.

I assume I need to get cleaning patches, and some sort of solvent/lube. Anyone have any recommendations?

When running a cleaning patch down the bore, how do you then "pull" it back out without the patch getting it stuck down there? Or does it sorta "stick" to the ramrod?

I realize that I should do a full cleaning once I get home after every session, but should I do anything in-between shots while at the range??

And concerning loads, whats a good starting powder charge for a .50 patch and ball? Want to start with a mild load until I get a feel for it, then work my way up to more powerful loads once im comfortable.

Thanks for the help.

 

[aprayinbear]

Cleaning after shooting.

Dear Guvnor,

The great thing about BP is that for the most part it's easy to clean with warm soapy water...... almost free. The bad thing is that you don't want to wait days or even weeks to clean the rifle. BP is very corrosive and rust will develop quickly. So..... clean after each shooting session. Cut up an old t-shirt to use as cleaning patches. Take a clean patch and dip into the warm soapy water. Place it on the muzzle and press down the barrel with your ramrod. The patch will stick to the rod. Repeat this process until the patch comes back clean. It's a good idea to place several dry patches between the hammer and nipple to catch any water that wants to squeeze out the vent (otherwise you might get a dark streak down your stock.)

You'll also want to take use the patches and soapy water to clean around the lock, breech, etc. Most people remove the lock and barrel after several shooting sessions to get at the innards. I like to do this after every session. Finally, take a good gun oil, soak a patch and run it down the barrel, and all around the lock or other vulnerable spots. I also put a thin coat over the entire outside of the barrel.

One more thing...... you'd be amazed how much oil seeps into the metal (or evaporates)... so it's a good idea to run another oily patch down the barrel after a few days have passed. After that you're in good shape.

Sorry I can't help you with the loads, but I'm certain someone else with more experience can fill you in.

Happy Shooting!

 

[RSVP2RIP]

The old "rule of thumb" is a grain for each caliber of ball size for target, two for hunting. It's just a guide not set in stone. You could try 50 grains and work your way up to 100 in 5 grain increments. Make sure of the guns maximum charge and don't exceed it. As far as in between shot cleanings: I run a spit patch (just like it sounds) after each shot and I quick clean with Moose Milk after ever 5 shots. Just a couple of wet and dry patches alternating and then dry it out with dry patches. More importantly is after you load the ball, run a dry patch down to get the excess lube out to promote accuracy, it is not critical though. The best guides to shooting BP I have read are the Lyman Black Powder Handbook and the Complete Black Powder Handbook. They are both by the same author and one is just as good as the next.

 

[Chawbaccer]

Remove the barrel from the stock, remove the nipple.
Put breech end in a bucket of HOT soapy water, put patch on cleaning jag, pump the ram rod like a bicycle pump. Hot soapy water will be drawn up the bore and then out again, repeat for a couple minutes. The room will develop a nice sulphur smell telling you that you are doing it right. After washing the bore, use soft cotton patches on the jag to dry it. Put your favorite gun oil on a dry patch and oil the bore, wipe outside of barrel dry and with an oily patch. Clean inside of lock and wipe the wood and reassemble.
Fifty grains is a good starting load for your gun, I like to run a brush down the bore between shots if I have the time, other wise run a damp ,not wet, patch every three shots or so. Buy a spare ram rod for range use, put a round wood ball on one end and it will be easier loading and cleaning.

 

[Guvnor]

thanks for the help!

 

[mykeal]

Chawbaccer mentioned the cleaning jag; if it's the right caliber for the gun it will stay on the patch and form a hydraulic seal, so that when you pull it back out of the bore it will draw the hot soapy water up into the barrel, all the way to the muzzle until the patch emerges.

HOT soapy water? Well, maybe. The HOT water heats the metal and the hot metal will dry faster, theoretically keeping rust from forming. HOT water is just as effective as lukewarm water in dissolving bp combustion byproducts, so as far as cleaning is concerned, you don't need the water to be HOT. Using HOT water to rinse the barrel after cleaning may help if you don't get the barrel dried out right away, for the reason mentioned above.

 

[madcratebuilder]

70gr with a patched rb is a good starting load for the T/C 50 cal.
As has been stated, hot, soapy water is great for cleaning. You can add windex, Murphy's oil soap, simple green. Lot of different recipes that folks use.

I use Ballistol after a hot water clean. The Ballistol absorbs any moisture instead of just displacing it.