Flash, no bang

I had issues with my front stuffers for years because I cleaned them, then oiled then and stood them in the corner, etc. Even when I remembered to swab it out with dry patch before shooting it still might hang or fail to fire the first time.
Now after I clean I lightly oil and stand it muzzle DOWN. It makes a lot of difference in my humble opion.

I've had good luck swabing with Ballistol mixed with water at at about 1 to 10. I use it between shots and for clean up at the range. Bill

I haven't had the chance to get back to shooting. Too much to do - had to prepare and plant my garden and do other chores around the land. I have to believe that the problem was with my cleaning. I have used Hoppes black powder cleaner and I still get a bit of flash rust no matter how I dry it out or swab. The last time I tried a light swab of M-Pro 7 which I use on my other firearms. I can only assume that the residue settled in the bottom of my barrel and somehow obscured the touch hole. We'll see when next I go shooting.
Anyone have a suggestion on what is good to leave in the barrel to prevent flash-rust?

I use Barricade as the final treatment before storing my muzzleloaders muzzle down.

Does anybody know if I could use either TOW mink oil or Stumpy's moose snot after cleaning the rifle as a last light swab before storing? I have both and was wondering if either would present problems when next I go shooting. Next time may be a while until I can get into JoAnn's fabrics to mike some material to use for patching material. I'm out of .008" material.

Grenadier1758 said:

I use Barricade as the final treatment before storing my muzzleloaders muzzle down.

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Since I have no Barricade, I rolled up a patch and wedged it into the muzzle and stored it upside down as you suggested.

Give the Barricade a try, bet you’ll never go back.

I’ve stored guns up too 8 years without any rusting issues, I use it inside and out.
It dries quickly, so I don’t store mine muzzle down, unless I need too squeeze another gun into the safe.

Bugman said:

Does anybody know if I could use either TOW mink oil or Stumpy's moose snot after cleaning the rifle as a last light swab before storing? I have both and was wondering if either would present problems when next I go shooting. Next time may be a while until I can get into JoAnn's fabrics to mike some material to use for patching material. I'm out of .008" material.

Since I have no Barricade, I rolled up a patch and wedged it into the muzzle and stored it upside down as you suggested.

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Thought I told you already....melt some bees wax and olive oil together. No rust in my barrel's.
And while I'm here....why do so many of you panic over "flash rust"? It's nothing!

Britsmoothy said:

I have heard of this ember thing....has anyone here actually witnessed it. I have not but have only been muzzleloading for thirty years.

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Yes, I've seen it happen twice.
The conditions have to be just right, and I doubt the vast majority of muzzleloader shooters would ever encounter those conditions.
There used to be a "Governor's Firelock Match" at Fort Frederick State Park each year, and one of the events was a five man, speed volley competition.
Winner was the number of rounds fired plus the number of hits, in a timed event.
Both times just as the time limit was ending a man cooked-off his powder when pouring it down the bore. Burned fingers were the only injuries.

LD

I swab with cooking oil every 4-5 shots in my smoothbore and every 2-3 shots with my rifles. Only small amounts are needed and it doesn’t compromise the powder charge.

One of the main reasons I swab between shots is the amount of residue in the barrel after the shot. It's a lot, and I don't want to shove it to the bottom of the barrel with the next ball.

Bugman said:

One of the main reasons I swab between shots is the amount of residue in the barrel after the shot. It's a lot, and I don't want to shove it to the bottom of the barrel with the next ball.

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Most of what you shove down comes out on the next shot.

I always start my shooting session by swabbing with alcohol. If I swab between shots, and I hardly never ever do, I use alcohol. I never put oil down my barrel while shooting. after the shooting session and then cleaning with WD40 I do not use water, I wipe dry then I put a very light coat of rem oil in the bore. my guns go off every time unless the flint has an issue,,,,,,,,,,,,