Some thought's on Cleaning Agian

[duca]

Hi all, Would like for everyone to respond on there thoughts on gun cleaning. I know we have beaten this topic like a Horse but have been re-thinking it lately. I have not cleaned my gun with water for years now with good results. I would pick the touch hole and pour some Moose milk down the bore and swop the barrel clean. followed with some dry patches and then with Ballistol. About 20min. I read that Bill Large NEVER used water in his gun barrels. Then not to long ago I picked up the cleaning clamp from TOW with the tube you place in a pail of water. I know allot of you guys clean with water and figured why not. I have to say it worked really well! Dried patched then with a little WD-40, then dry patched, then Ballistol. Again about 20min. O and I tried the WWF with Neatfoot oil at the range like Daryl uses and that worked well to. So like I said just would like to know what you guys think. Thanks
                                           Anthony

[SCLoyalist]

I suspect that how well  water, moose milk, flush tube, etc work on any gun may depend on factors such as breech design, level of pitting already present in the bore,  steel used in making the barrel,  load components, etc.

So, my two thoughts on gun cleaning are:
(1) For any gun, find a way of cleaning that works for that gun and stick with it, and don't be concerned if somebody else picks  a different cleaning regimen for all, or some, of their guns.

(2) Having over the years seen many references to a three patch clean-up (usually based on hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, & Murphy's Oil Soap), I've never been able to achieve those results, but if I ever meet somebody who says he does do a three patch cleanup, I intend to touch the hem of his garment as he passes, just to see my results improve.

[hanshi]

So would I, SCL.  I've had a few sub 1 doz cleanups but most take about twice that; some have even taken more.

[Maven]

Exactly, SCLoyalist!  I'd also add that a cleaning and preserving (especially the latter) regimen that works well in areas with low humidity may not work so well when the ambient humidity is higher.

[Dogshirt]

One of the things I've been using is an OVERSIZED mop. I use .54 in a .45 barrel, .58 in a .50 and so on.
A nice tight fit, swab as much as you like. THEN I got to the patches, a couple wet ones, a couple dry ones.
Then I squirt about 2 oz denatured alcohol down, swill it all around in the barrel. I usually recapture the DA and use it
again. After it has evaporated I oil well inside and out.

[Daryl]

Anthony- after flushing in a bucket of water, I dry the bore which usually takes 4 doubled, flannelette patches - VERY tight fit, until the last 2 really 'grab' showing the bore is dry. I liberally spray WD40 down the tube to absolutely flush out any residual moisture.  The WD40 runs out the vent or nipple seat, then a doubled patch down the bore, up and down, which blasts the remaining WD40 out the vent or nipple seat.  That patch is used to wipe down the outside of the barrel before reassembling. If you live in a very humid area, you may need some further rust preventative.  None of my barrels has ever rusted after cleaning, using this method, but our average humidity here is a only 50%.

[Vomitus]

  Just to add to Daryls reply, It sure helps shooting tight combo's as cleanup after shooting is a breeze.It's like cleaning after only shooting once.The lubed tight combo cleans as you load after every shot.
  My question is,what if you are using oiled (neatsfoot) patch,will cold water get out the residue that it does if shooting spit or a water based lube?

[duca]

(2) Having over the years seen many references to a three patch clean-up (usually based on hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, & Murphy's Oil Soap), I've never been able to achieve those results, but if I ever meet somebody who says he does do a three patch cleanup, I intend to touch the hem of his garment as he passes, just to see my results improve.

LOL me to bro.

[duca]

One of the things I've been using is an OVERSIZED mop. I use .54 in a .45 barrel, .58 in a .50 and so on.
A nice tight fit, swab as much as you like.

Intrusting..

[duca]

 Just to add to Daryls reply, It sure helps shooting tight combo's as cleanup after shooting is a breeze.It's like cleaning after only shooting once.The lubed tight combo cleans as you load after every shot.
  My question is,what if you are using oiled (neatsfoot) patch,will cold water get out the residue that it does if shooting spit or a water based lube?

I hear ya, I've been shooting some tight patch and ball combos lately and clean-up is a lot easier. The amount of Neatsfoot oil is very low and diluted in a gallon of WWF. Have to shake it before you put on patches.

[Vomitus]

 Just to add to Daryls reply, It sure helps shooting tight combo's as cleanup after shooting is a breeze.It's like cleaning after only shooting once.The lubed tight combo cleans as you load after every shot.
  My question is,what if you are using oiled (neatsfoot) patch,will cold water get out the residue that it does if shooting spit or a water based lube?

I hear ya, I've been shooting some tight patch and ball combos lately and clean-up is a lot easier. The amount of Neatsfoot oil is very low and diluted in a gallon of WWF. Have to shake it before you put on patches.

 Yes duca, I use the same lube as you for plinking/target shooting.Cleanup is a snap.For a hunting lube and using neatsfoot straight up is where I'd like to experiment. I know Daryl and Taylor have used it straight.I'm curious how and with what they may use for cleaning. I guess I need to ask this question. Does a neatsfoot oil patch leave a different residue then a waterbased lube?...or will cold water clean both types?

[duca]

"I'm curious how and with what they may use for cleaning. I guess I need to ask this question. Does a neatsfoot oil patch leave a different residue then a waterbased lube?...or will cold water clean both types?"


Good Question Leatherbelly. I was thinking of adding a few drops of Organic soap to the water for clean up. Its alkaline base.

[smylee grouch]

I tried olive oil/bear lard for lube in a tight fitting load for one of my 40s and plain water seemed to work fine so far in about a years worth of shooting.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

After using pure neatsfoot oil alone for a patch lube, cleaning is routine, using plain room temp water alone.  I do not think that therre is any of the oil left on the bore after the last shot - just the bp fouling from that shot.  Clean up water after a full day's shooting without cleaning between shots, is simply grey in colour.  Cleaning the lock in the bucket produces more colour by far, than that which was in the bore.
Duca - don't use soap of any kind.  It contains salt and lye, both of which love iron molecules.

[Vomitus]

   Thanks Taylor.

[hanshi]

Regardless of patch lube, my experience is also that a tight combo leaves less to clean.  For my use I use a short starter but it has to be able to be seated with a wood rod.

[duca]

After using pure neatsfoot oil alone for a patch lube, cleaning is routine, using plain room temp water alone.  I do not think that therre is any of the oil left on the bore after the last shot - just the bp fouling from that shot.  Clean up water after a full day's shooting without cleaning between shots, is simply grey in colour.  Cleaning the lock in the bucket produces more colour by far, than that which was in the bore.
Duca - don't use soap of any kind.  It contains salt and lye, both of which love iron molecules.

Thanks Taylor, I swob the barrel and scrap the breech after the last shot at the range,and my water clean up at home is almost clear..

[WadePatton]

Since i've tangled with tow and a tow worm, and pursuant to recent posts here, water.

I see no need for anything else, but am not shooting presently.  i was a patch/jag guy back in the day.  NO more.

tight combo, NFO if lube other than saliva is indicated.  Tow/worm/water.  that's my current thoughts summarized.