Muzzleloader cleaning technique and tips

[bowhunterforever]

So I just got a new knight muzzleloader and looking for new techniques and tips how to clean properly? With my old one all I did was clean with hot soapy water and then just spray in the barrel with wd40. So how do you guys clean your muzzy and what solvents and oils should I use? Thanks

[bowhunterforever]

I also seen where someone was saying swab the barrel between shots at the range for better accuracy, what do you swab with at the range a dry patch or what?

[buglebuster]

Bore snake and I got some powder solvent from walmart that works great. I carry the bore snake with me in the field and th range and like to run it through after every shot, but I know where my gunshoots with a dirty bore also because you cant always clean Iit in a hunting situation.

[buglebuster]

I also wipe the gun down with rem oil

[Duffer]

What I do for between shots at the range is I have a lil glass jar with patches that have been soaked in window cleaner and then squeezed almost dry. (the blue stuff) I do a wipe with the damp patch followed by a wipe with a dry patch. Next shot I'll flip them over and wipe with the clean sides. (saves patches)

For afterwards: I first pull my breach plug & bolt (I have a Knight Extreme) and soak them. I use a torch tip cleaner to run thru the nipple and a drill bit (by hand!) to clean the plug's inside passage. Depending on the powder you chose, the hot soapy water method works just fine for the barrel (and the plug). Just be sure then to patch until totally dry and follow with a good oil. Not WD-40. That stuff evaporates away leaving the metal eventually bare.

If you shoot a powder that creates crud or gums up then a barrel solvent is fine too. Just always oil.

I leave mine disassembled then until the next usage. The trigger assembly can get gunked up too. Does not need to be disassembled but can be removed and sprayed out with like brake cleaner and then oiled up again. I've been ignoring mine a bit. Word is it may eventually not cock right or may get bump sensitive.

I bought some highly recommended spray-on storage oil stuff at Cabelas but at the moment I can't remember what it is! Danged old age!  I also wiped everything else down with oil. I kinda like my guns well oiled. Probably over-oiled.

[buglebuster]

Parts cleaner works very well to dry out your barrel after washing it with hot soapy water.

[trophyhunt]

All good things to do, I also stick all the metal parts in the oven on warm to complete dry out. I also run bore lube in excess down the barrel when put in storage for a while.

[bowhunterforever]

Thanks for the info so far guys

[barracuda163]

Windex with ammonia d works well for me. Soak nipple and breech plug as I clean barrel. I've got some cool assorted size pipe cleaners I use inside my nipple and breech plug. Run patches until no fouling, dry, then run one oiled patch down the bore, reassemble, and fire a primer. Good to go. It is a knight bighorn. And I burn pyrodex pellets.

[sabot92]

I run hot water through the barrel and soak the breach plug and nipple in solvent for a little while until I feel its cleaned up then wipe the plug and nipple down with a clean cloth. After I've ran hot water through the barrel I run clean patches through it until they come out clean. I know guys that fire a couple caps to make sure everything is dry. I also always run a patch or two of Bore Butter down the barrel to keep it "seasoned" until I use it next. Bore Butter is amazing stuff and works great! I also use a small amount of breach and nipple grease on the threads before tightening them back on.