Breech plug tips

lbothell · Nov 8, 2017

Never had this problem before, and usually can get my Breech plug clean but yesterday after hunting I had to come home and get some stuff done so the gun had to wait till the morning to be cleaned. Done it before and never had a problem, but this time I can’t get some black off my Breech plug. I shot it a couple times and when I came home had to pull and dump remaining powder then cleaned everything. But this time there is some black crud that won’t come off from soaking, brushiing or anything. I have a Breech plug brush so I know I can get to the targeted area. Anyone else ever run into this issue?

Loyalist Dave · Nov 8, 2017

Have you considered using one of these Breech Plug Scrapers to get the crud off? Maybe combined with some of the Soft Scrub that's used to soften carbon on ceramic stovetops?

LD

coloradoclyde · Nov 8, 2017

I'd question what oil was in the barrel before you started cleaning and what you use to clean with, both before you load the first time and when you're done for the day.
I assume you're using real BP......

M.A.P. solution (murphy's oil soap, peroxide, alcohol) does wonders for crud removal...I've never had a problem with crud except when using fake powders.

lbothell · Nov 8, 2017

I do use real black powder so no issues there and as for the cleaner that’s the same exact mixture I use ha

Eric Krewson · Nov 8, 2017

I had the same problem yesterday. I decided to unload my .40 by pulling the ball and dumping the powder.

I swabbed out the bore and kept getting a black smear on my patch that was obviously coming from the breech plug.

I always clean my guns up very well before I put them up and usually use a breech plug scraper.

I put my bore camera down the bore and saw all kinds of black crud on the breechplug as well as some in the rifling at the breech. This is after multiple cleaning patches.

I put a toothpick in my touch hole and filled the area with water, used a bore brush, breech plug scraper and a breechplug scraper with a patch.

The next check revealed a clean breech plug but some crud still left in the rifling near the plug that almost looks like pitting. Hard to figure as I really dry out my guns with WD40 after I clean them.

The rest of the rifling looks like mirror to the crown.

I will probably pull the breech plug and give this questionable area a good scrub with a scotch bright pad and some softscrub

nwtradegun · Nov 8, 2017

use a breech plug brush. onlys for me.

lbothell · Nov 8, 2017

That is exactly what has happened to me, I have that black crud but am getting clean patches. I wonder if it’s from the unburied powder that got wet while cleaning?

ohio ramrod · Nov 8, 2017

Any petrolium based oil in the breech area will cause a very hard fouling if not cleaned out before firing. The old stand by 1x1x1 cleaning mixture will loosen it if let set a few minutes. :idunno: :idunno:

lbothell · Nov 8, 2017

Well Iv scotch bright padded it, steel wooled it, tried bore cleaner, and let it soak with the mixture and no go so not sure what it is but thanks for the help all!

coloradoclyde · Nov 8, 2017

If your patches are clean then your barrel is clean....if you are looking down the barrel and see what "looks" like black crud...It is your imagination.
The face of a breech plug is different than the sides of a barrel.
I once thought my breech plug was crudy...so I unbreached it and discovered the truth....it was spotless....
You guys all worry too much.

csitas · Nov 8, 2017

Amen.

lbothell · Nov 8, 2017

Hahahah! You are absolutely right definitely worring to much about this bc my patches are coming out clean.

smoothshooter · Nov 8, 2017

I have offen wondered why barrel makers even rifle the bottom 3/4" or so of the barrel. Those rifling grooves down there just trap fouling, and contribute nothing to the accuracy of the ball.

smoothshooter · Nov 8, 2017

Before you get a brechplug scraper, try to determine what the face of the plug is actually shaped like.
They come in a variety of shapes ( flat and full bore diameter, slightly concave/ deeply concave, reduced inside diameter stepped recess, etc. ).
This matching up is a must. You may have to do a little filing on the scraper to get a good match.

A good one to start with is one sold by Track of the Wolf, I think, that is a small copper-wired end brush that screws into the end of your rod, and works well on most breechplugs except for the recessed-chambered ones, sometimes known as " Patent Breeches ".

Eterry · Nov 9, 2017

Eric Krewson said:
I had the same problem yesterday. I decided to unload my .40 by pulling the ball and dumping the powder.

I swabbed out the bore and kept getting a black smear on my patch that was obviously coming from the breech plug.

I always clean my guns up very well before I put them up and usually use a breech plug scraper.

I put my bore camera down the bore and saw all kinds of black crud on the breechplug as well as some in the rifling at the breech. This is after multiple cleaning patches.

I put a toothpick in my touch hole and filled the area with water, used a bore brush, breech plug scraper and a breechplug scraper with a patch.

The next check revealed a clean breech plug but some crud still left in the rifling near the plug that almost looks like pitting. Hard to figure as I really dry out my guns with WD40 after I clean them.

The rest of the rifling looks like mirror to the crown.

I will probably pull the breech plug and give this questionable area a good scrub with a scotch bright pad and some softscrub

Hello Eric, my gunsmith friend won't let a can of wd-40 in his shop or near his guns... though he says it's great for business.

He declares it will evaporate and leave a film that turns to varnish.

My dad thought a gun wasn't clean unless you hosed it down with wd-40.
Who's right? It's 6-5 and pick em!

Britsmoothy · Nov 9, 2017

No substance from a can goes near any of my muzzleloaders!

Just boiling water and home made animal/veg oils and fats.

For many years and no rust.

I do think most folks fuss and fret to much to the extent of over complicating things.

B.

Wes/Tex · Nov 9, 2017

Gotta go with you there Brit...if basics didn't work there'd not be a single antique gun in any sort of decent shape! :wink: :haha:

M. De Land · Nov 9, 2017

It's probably carbon fouling which is one of the toughest foulings to remove. Try some break cleaner and then Gunzilla and let it soak for a day or two.

coloradoclyde · Nov 9, 2017

M.D. said:
It's probably carbon fouling which is one of the toughest foulings to remove. Try some break cleaner and then Gunzilla and let it soak for a day or two.

Or, what you are seeing is Magnetite...An inert passivized state of rust...And..........Removing it will cause your barrel to start rusting again...Active rust, which be difficult to stop.

csitas · Nov 9, 2017

I will be forced to agree with Clyde once more. Case in point is all the overhead towers for the electrical systems across the the whole country. Have you ever seen any painted towers as of late.That can kinda prove not all rust is evil. This might even enter towards a "seasoned piece" here. I know it's a weird comparision but , it still exists, and it doesn't fill me with fear either.

Breech plug tips

Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:

36 Cal.

Cannon

Cannon

36 Cal.

54 Cal.

50 Cal.

36 Cal.

75 Cal.

36 Cal.

Cannon

36 Cal.

36 Cal.

50 Cal.

50 Cal.

70 Cal.

70 Cal.

Cannon

75 Cal.

Cannon

36 Cal.

Similar threads

Join the conversation!

Join today and get all the highlights of this community direct to your inbox. It's FREE!