Range cleaning

So, I hadn't shot a black powder gun in like 30 or 35 years. I had a Hawken style .50 cal I made from a kit but had never fired until today. When I last shot, I used a liquid lube that was also a "cleaner" that I can't remember the name of. I was using some pre lubed patches.
The gun shot great and several of the shots were in the same hole a 25 yards. I was using some 30+_ year old powder and caps. I did notice that it started to build up fouling around the end of the barrel and down about 8 inches or so making it a little more difficult to load.
I was wondering what you guys use to keep this fouling down and or how you cleaned the barrel at the range or in the field? Thanks for your help.

depending on the rifle i swab out every couple of shots with denatuared alcohol .

Thanks, does the alcohol dissolve the fouling or just wipe it out?

It loosens it and removes it like water does . but dries quickly.

I generally shoot a match once a month, and have for quite a few years. I use my general mix of Murphy's and Windex sprayed on patches as I load at the range as they not only are good for lubrication, but clear some of the fouling from the barrel as I load each ball. I don't swab between shots as there is no need, and when I am through shooting the match, I swab the barrel with the same mix until the patches are pretty clean and then head home to do a more comprehensive cleaning of the entire weapon. Some folks are a lot more complicated than I am in these procedures, but this has served me well for a long time.

Stony Broke said:

I generally shoot a match once a month, and have for quite a few years. I use my general mix of Murphy's and Windex sprayed on patches as I load at the range as they not only are good for lubrication, but clear some of the fouling from the barrel as I load each ball. I don't swab between shots as there is no need, and when I am through shooting the match, I swab the barrel with the same mix until the patches are pretty clean and then head home to do a more comprehensive cleaning of the entire weapon. Some folks are a lot more complicated than I am in these procedures, but this has served me well for a long time.

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That sounds like what I was doing when I shot years ago. It was a combination of cleaner and lube that I bought in a bottle. So you use Murphy's oil and Windex? What is the proportions? 50/50?

I've always just taken a bottle of Windex and added a cup or a little more of Murphy's to it. One batch of this stuff can last a guy for a long time as a patch lube. I have some small spray bottles I have salvaged from things like eyeglass cleaner, etc.. and use them to spray a patch just before loading it.

Steaming hot black coffee got me out of a "tight spot" (pun intended) Saturday at the range.
Ran out of my usual swab lube and eerk, patched jag got stuck on the out stroke soon after.
Poured in some of my lifers juice, let stand 2 minutes, jag pulled right out w/an amazing wad of crud.
Cleaned normally at home after using coffee the remainder of the day.....and all is well !!

I just swab every shot, my rifle requires it to stay accurate. I run one damp patch of Hoppes BP solvent down and back. I bought a couple of bottles several years ago and want to use them up, then will probably switch to windex or just alcohol. Usually I won't bother with another dry patch unless it is raining and the fouling is staying really soft. If your jag and cleaning patch combo is too tight you will fight with pushing fouling down the barrel and blocking the flame channel. Turning the jag down a bit really helps to eliminate this problem.

Redstick Lee said:

Steaming hot black coffee got me out of a "tight spot" (pun intended) Saturday at the range.
Ran out of my usual swab lube and eerk, patched jag got stuck on the out stroke soon after.
Poured in some of my lifers juice, let stand 2 minutes, jag pulled right out w/an amazing wad of crud.
Cleaned normally at home after using coffee the remainder of the day.....and all is well !!

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Amazing !!...and especially after I've heard Starbucks is anti-gun !

This is great info. I have a brass jag for the .45 call rifles so I guess I need to find one for the .50. It's been so long since I shot these thing, that my split leather bag is disintegrating at the seams. I did find the small plastic bottle I used with a twist open nozzle for lube but it's a little brittle. I "borrowed" a bottle of Windex and Murphy's from under the sink so I'm off to the races.

For swabbing the bore between shots, your 45 cal jag with a 2.25 square patch will do a great job on your 50 caliber gun. As mentioned in a previous post, an undersized patched jag will pull out the fouling instead of pushing the fouling into the breech fire channel.

Thanks I'll give it a try.

Do they make a cleaning jag that's shrinks when you push it into the barrel, but flares when you pull it out, so you're not shoving fowling deeper into the barrel?

rrebuck said:

Do they make a cleaning jag that's shrinks when you push it into the barrel, but flares when you pull it out, so you're not shoving fowling deeper into the barrel?

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I've not seen one, but that's kind of what the undersized jag/large patch combo does. On the way down the barrel, the small jag lets the patch slide by the fowling. On the way out, the cloth bunches up (flares out if you will) and pulls the crud out of the barrel. It takes some experimenting to figure out just how far to turn down the jag, but it works well once you have it.

Stony Broke said:

Amazing !!...and especially after I've heard Starbucks is anti-gun !

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oh LORD no !!.....8 O'Clock French Roast......
wouldn't want my Trade Gun to start propositioning other Trade Guns of its' own gender now.......as i've heard Starbucks might cause one to do.

Redstick Lee said:

Steaming hot black coffee got me out of a "tight spot" (pun intended) Saturday at the range.
Ran out of my usual swab lube and eerk, patched jag got stuck on the out stroke soon after.
Poured in some of my lifers juice, let stand 2 minutes, jag pulled right out w/an amazing wad of crud.
Cleaned normally at home after using coffee the remainder of the day.....and all is well !!

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Now this opens up another line of thinking and questioning. Decaf or high test? Black or with cream n sugar? Instant or brewed? Folgers or Sanka? Type of roast?

Inquiring minds want to know

“Steaming hot black coffee” answers some of those. From this simple phrase I would venture caffeinated would be most likely. The rest... well...
Walk

flinter1977 said:

depending on the rifle i swab out every couple of shots with denatuared alcohol .

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Yes I too like to wipe between shots, and I use inexpensive isopropyl alcohol. I've often used plain water too. 70% Alcohol is 30% water, so...

One might also be aware of the lube that is used. I will rub the lube into one side of the patching material and it's not a lot of my beeswax and olive oil mixture.

I don't swab after my shot when hunting deer, but I do need to when using a small bore .40 or under, and going for squirrels. I simply have no choice.

Also one may find that a good pricking of the touch hole, especially for the small bores, after swabbing is important.

LD