hosting photoOK, the scraper arrived and went "skritch, skritch, etc." when tried... It came out almost perfectly clean but for a few speckles that looked like pepper.
So I scientifically held the bore vertical as a torpedo level against the range ramrod would indicate, and I dripped maybe a dozen drops of Shooter's Choice Firearms Bore Cleaner ~ which says black powder right on the label... I let it work for a couple hours or so and tried again, producing results as shown. I also made a video of how a toothpick can dig around in the mess. Ugh!
That scraping effort was much easier, the sound much gentler, and the goop was certainly conquered. That was the first real excavation, the black bubbly gunk looked the same but it was becoming flexible and slippery. I repeated the process about six-seven times until the brass 'spade' came out mostly clean, then I wrapped a shooting patch around the end and did more until that also came out almost perfectly clean.
Finished up with dry patches, then lastly with a light coating of Rem oil, and declared ready to store and then shoot.
Yesterday, we went to Jasper-Pulaski to loose some balls.
Unfortunately, my son, grandson and myself arrived about 20 minutes after opening, and there were NO rifle shooting positions open, with people lined up waiting for each one. After 90 minutes, we went to the handgun area and I just made a bunch of noise with my .44 Mag Ruger single action. Back to the rifles, same situation with overcrowding. Gave up and went home.
I hereby suggest my original post/question has run its course.
It also seems the side discussions have also been handled with the finest sense of respect and community I've experienced in many years.
Thank you all!
This gratitude also extends to the moderators who put up with my bumbling attempts to get the fine muzzleloader understood and working again.
If the weather holds, and if anyone is interested, I'll give a shooting report when I'm able...
If not ~ I hope everyone stays healthy and happy.
mike
