muzzleloaders

[Leeroy151]

yesterday was beautiful here in Central Oregon. 60 degrees, blue skies and a slight breeze. i gave the kid a good, used Lyman Deerstalker 50 cal ML with a Lyman peep site. he understands the value of a new to him, good used anything. we shot his ML and it is fun. groups well as does the TC Hawken 50 and the Traditions Deerhunter 50. the Lyman is a very good hunting ML. it is well made and looks good. the TC hawken barrel is longer, about 28", to the Lyman's 24". the Traditions is lighter, handy but the sites are primitive and feels kinda rinky dink...but it shoots straight and i can't complain. i have been able to find caps, pyrodex, patches and round ball quite readily.
it is a fun departure from centerfire shooting if anyone was interested but hasn't tried ML shooting, yet.

 

[gregintenn]

It's all good but the cleanup.

 

[Bat Guano]

My wife and I used to do quite a bit of it, still have a total of five percussion revolvers between us. In the day I used a T-C Hawken and she a T-C Seneca. We eventually sold off the rifles which was probably not sensible. They weren't exact replicas of anything but very fine, reliable, and accurate rifles. I still miss that Hawken--one of the best guns I ever owned.

And the cleanup isn't half bad compared to a revolver. THAT is work.

 

[Leeroy151]

hot soapy water and let 'em dry in the sun and then Barricade and check 'em in a day or so and Barricade 'em again if necessary...nice thing about a dry climate.
i use a flex tube on the nipple with a big syringe to contain the water.

 

[Muley Gil]

I've been shooting black powder guns since 1969 and finally hit on the right combo a few years ago.

First, get it clean, totally clean. Once you are down to bare metal, DON'T USE OIL!! Use a natural lube like Bore Butter. What you are trying to do is season the barrel, much like seasoning a cast iron skillet.

I use Ballistol diluted with water to clean. It usually takes two wet patches to get the barrel totally clean. Then use dry patches, followed with a light Bore Butter patch to protect. Use a damp Ballistol patch on the outside and a Bore Butter patch to keep rust off.

Takes about ten minutes to clean and you're through.

 

[gregintenn]

I clean mine in the kitchen sink with hot, soapy water. It works better than any solvent I've tried.

 

[gregintenn]

And the cleanup isn't half bad compared to a revolver. THAT is work.

+1 on cleaning a BP revolver. It can't be much harder to build a cap and ball revolver than it is to clean one and keep the rust at bay. I don't know how the cowboys in the old west did it.

 

[Beaver]

Hey Leeroy151: don't forget your ol' buddy Wien who has to work this weekend. Let's go get a Chuck or three.

 

[trapper704]

I've shot muzzleloaders since the 60's. I started going to the rendezvous in the 80's and hunt with them today. The best cleaning method I have found is 409 in the spray bottle, with brush and patch, then dry patches then bore butter.

 

[29aholic]

I was just tellin a buddy the other day I need to get the front stuffers out again.

I have two T/C Hawkens in 50cal and have Green Mtn drop in barrels in both 32 and 40 cal which are a blast to shoot.

 

[Leeroy151]

can you drop/swap the green mountain barrel into the TC (50) hawken and shoot 32 cal round ball?