Winter Storage

[mack2255]

Ok...now that Ive pissed the wife off for cleaning my barrel in the bath tube.What should I use for winter storeage, as in the barrel?

[JimmyHoffa]

I just use Bore Butter and apply a lot more of it.  I've heard some guys use Crisco and some will use Vaseline, not sure about how well either of those work, but the TC Bore Butter has been working fine for me.

[kerrdog]

My winter plan is to shoot it regularly!  We're gonna take a bunch of milk jugs filled with water (easy cleanup) up to the woods and set up some target ranges!  We're gonna scatter them up, down, close, far, left, and right.  I'm bummed on the one dimensional nature of a shooting range.  And my opinion about accuracy is that it's relative to the shooting situation.  Who cares how tight your groups are when you're sitting in a chair, under a cover, propped on sandbags, shooting at a paper target?  That just shows how accurate the rifle is!  How about an unsupported standing shot where someone hits a buzzer and you have two seconds to shoot!  And I'll bet that almost any decent rifle, right out of the box, is more accurate than me in any real shooting situation.

[bobcat]

Use the same gun oil that you use for your modern firearms. Why use primitive stuff when there are much better options?

[Crisptrigr]

At the end of the season I clean my barrel with breech plug removed using very hot soapy water. Then rinse the bore with clean hot water and while the barrel is still hot I swab it with bore butter. The bore butter will fill the pores of the steel and give a sufficient deterent to moisture, plus the rifle is ready to reload when neccessary.
There's nothing wrong with using gun oil in your barrel for storage, just remember to clean it out before reloading prior to shooting/hunting.

[mack2255]

I dont shoot from a rest because thats not how it happens in the woods. I do plan to start shootin the boom stick earlier this upcoming year.I like the idea of the water bottle to shoot. i think I'm going to try that.
thanks

[Whitelightning]

Use the same gun oil that you use for your modern firearms. Why use primitive stuff when there are much better options?

I am with bobcat on this one. Bore Butter is not a oil or rust preventative. It was intended as a bullet lube. Back in the day of more porous metals it served a purpose any new or newer M/L has a good quality barrel and should be treated as such. I use Hoppes oil or Rem Oil in all my M/L, I have seen bores rust severely with the use of bore butter alone. 

[Crisptrigr]

If you store your ML inside your house where its warm and dry, where's the rust going to come from? I've yet to have any firearm rust when stored inside my house.
Hunting situation is a different story. This thread is about storage.
Technically if you will use a product that prevents moisture from coming in contact with the steel of your firearm you will effectively prevent rust from forming. Just as important make sure the space where your ML is stored is warm and dry.

[teanawayslayer]

I just clean it and bore butter the piss out of it and stick it in the safe

[rasbo]

I clean and dry  it then put a light coat of break free,,,

[carpsniperg2]

Hoppes products all the way for me. Just make sure its good and clean. 

[bobcat]

This thread reminds me that I need to get some oil in mine and get it put back together and in the safe. Right now it's still in pieces since I took it apart on Thanksgiving day and cleaned it, after I filled my deer tag. I have never used bore butter, in 25 years of shooting muzzleloaders. I don't know what the fascination is that some people have with that stuff. I'll be using some CLP on the bore of my muzzleloader before it gets stored in the safe.

[carpsniperg2]

I had to stop and think about it as well. I have used bore butter, and to me its a lubricant. Its not like oil to prevent rust. I also know people that love the stuff, and use it between every shot. To help lube the bullet to get it down the bore. But i know they still use oil to store there guns.

[kerrdog]

It seems like I can alway find some gunk on this thing, no matter how many times I've cleaned it.  Like a drill sergeant!  Constant Cleaning. Then I shoot it again, and it's filthy!

[Skillet]

I like the knight's oil.  Probably the same as the Hoppe's, but it's what I started using for my M/L after I put the new barrel on it and it works fine.

Speaking of rust, one trick I have to keep the nipples in good shape in the safe or in the field - I have one of those old plastic speed loaders that are snap caps on both ends (one shallow chamber for bullet and one large for powder).  In the shallow end, I have a couple of cleaning patches damp with that Knight's oil, and I put my extra nipples in there.  The patch keeps them oiled and quiet when you're walking around.  My nipple wrench goes in the big end where the powder would go (I "fixed" it so the T handle is removeable) and wrap them in some pillow ticking to keep them from rattling.  Quiet, rust-proof and handy.

[ML_Hunter]

I use FP-10 oil or Butches Gun Oil in my guns.  Works well for me .  I do attempt to take my rifle out and shoot at least once a month.

[elkboy]

I clean the heck out of my muzzleloader, first with patches and muzzleloader solvent, and then with hot soapy water in the tub.  I remove the breech plug and nipple and clean both thoroughly.  The breech threads should be cleaned with the type of brush sold for that purpose.  I reassemble the rifle (hand tightness on the breech plug and nipple!), using T/C thread compound.  I then put several drops of household 3-in-1 oil on a patch, and run it a number of times up and down the bore with the ramrod.  I follow that up with a dry patch or two to remove excess oil.  I then lightly oil all exposed metal on the gun, and put it away in a clean, dry case.  I usually shoot again in a few months, just because I can't keep away from shooting my old Knight Bighorn!  (And I do shoot a few times from the bench check zero periodically, but I try to shoot as much as possible from field positions like seated, kneeling, from shooting sticks, etc.)  Happy winter to all! 

[ML_Hunter]

Just a tip.  I found that with my Muzzle loader (I have a Black Diamond) the toughest part to clean was the breach plug threads and the area where the bolt goes.  I found that a 12 gauge brush works perfectly to clean the thread and that a 12 gauge swab works to clean the bolt area.  just my  for what its worth and it has worked great for me.