Musket cleaning
I try to clean my skirmish guns on Monday after a shoot. However, that plan didn't work out this spring. I cleaned my Smith carbine (repo) this past Sunday, but didn't clean my Parker-Hale 1858 until yesterday.
First, I used the breach plug scraper and dumped out some carbon. I then brushed the bore and dumped a bit more carbon. I followed that with a wet brush soaked with Ballistol (cut 50/50 with water). One wet patch and two dry patches and the bore was clean. I remove the nipple and let it soak. After cleaning the nipple, the fire channel and the outside, I was basically done. I lube the bore with Bore Butter and put a little on the nipple threads as well. It goes into the safe, muzzle down.
There was no rust in or on the musket, even after 10 days, being stored in my workshop. A number of years back, I went a month without cleaning and still had no rust. I DON'T recommend that at all!
I'm sure other shooters will totally disagree with my cleaning methods and my use of the above solvents and preservatives.
This works for me.
Gil Davis Tercenio
# 3020V
34th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry
Great, great grandson of Cpl Elijah S Davis, Co I, 6th Alabama Inf CSA
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