Trigger Mechanism

[Nonvianuk]

There has been countless posts on cleaning the barrel, pulling pins, not pulling pins (I am not a pin puller).  I keep my flintlocks very clean and shoot often,  however to pull the trigger mechanism involves pulling pins.  How often do you guys pull the trigger mechanisms and give them a good cleaning?  Thank You.

[Stoner creek]

I never remove the triggers unless there’s a problem with the triggers. I will spritz the trigger bar ( while still in the gun) occasionally. I don’t remove the barrel to clean it either.
W

[Pukka Bundook]

What Stoner says, Nonv uk.

[Hatchet-Jack]

Same as Stoner Creek said. No need to remove it for cleaning only for malfunctions which are rare.

[Daryl]

We, in the North, ALWAYS pull the barrel for cleaning. Yes, it's easier with "captured" wedges than with 3 or 4 pins, but no big deal.
I've never had to remove the trigger/triggers for any reason.
Cleaning a rifle after all the shooting is done, is about a 10 minute job, maybe 15 at the extreme. That's barrel removal, cleaning in a bucket of water, drying, oiling, same with lock and replacing
the parts - done & ready for storage until next time.
It takes me a LOT longer to properly clean the barrel of a modern rifle after a range session.

[Pukka Bundook]

Daryl,
Its true you are a few hours north of me, but I never pull a Long rifle barrel to clean.
I did the barrel channel and barrel with deer tallow and she stays put!

All best,
R.

[Darkhorse]

I almost always pull both the lock and barrel to clean. Never yet the trigger.
I don't think everybody should pull the barrel but I built my rifles and if I can build it I can take it apart. One of mine is over 20 years  old and removing the pins has yet to cause a problem.
I just feel I'm getting a better clean with the barrel off.

[Daryl]

Me too, Darkhorse.  I've been shooting my .69 since 1986 when it was born, maybe over 5or 6,000 times and always have removed the barrel for cleaning.
It does have a patent breech that could not be properly (in my opinion) cleaned by any other method.  I have cleaned my .32 at rendezvous by plugging the vent
and filling the bore with water, then flushing that out, forcefully, repeated a few times, but only when using it the next day as well.  Once at rendezvous and cleaning
it on the gun, I had an awful time getting it to go off the next day.  Guess I didn't get it as clean as I thought. This has NEVER happened when cleaning it off the gun
and stuffed into a bucket of water and flushing it over and over again at home.

[reddogge]

The only gun I remove the barrel to flush is an Ithaca Hawken with wedges and hooked breech. All the other flintlocks with long stocks don't get removed. I do remove the locks to clean though.

[Steeltrap]

Wedge pins are easy to do so when I have that type to clean I will pull the keys. I always remove the lock, clean and oil. For a pinned barrel I never remove it. No need to.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I very rarely remove a set trigger from its bed in the stock.  On the occasions when I've thought it necessary, on my own rifles, I have found the triggers to be in perfect condition without any rust, but I cannot say the same for some clients who bring theirs in to the shop for maintenance.  I find dried up oil and dirt, rust, bits of leaves and twigs, etc.  Refurbishing them is easy though...I find some locks in poor repair too when they come to me.  On percussion rifles, I often find a build up of fouling caked on the underside of the neck of the hammer, and in the cup, and I can almost guarantee that the bore is not pristine on those rifles.  If the shooter can't clean away fouling they can see, what chance is there that they get the fouling they cannot see.
Like Daryl, I remove my barrels to clean as well.  I use finishing nails that measure .072" in diameter, and I face the ends and drill a tiny indent in the centre on the lath with a  1/16" centre drill.  Then a punch with a corresponding tit on the tip fits the pin perfectly and is undersized, so it pushed the pin out enough to pull with pliers without damaging the surrounding wood in any way.
I also fill the pin's holes where they are recessed beneath the surface with darkened beeswax...keeps water out and I don't like seeing shiny pin ends along the side of the rifle.  Just personal phobias.