It's a question about cleaning

Flintlock Whiskey said:

The obvious idea of using a jag went right by my addled head, thanks.
Yeah, the magic creek water never lives up to the hype.

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The jag is a perfect fit with a patch and it wipes all that crud right out

I tried magic creek water to clean a musket once , since I didn't have anything else at the range and it didn't do anything noteworthy

Stantheman86 said:

I took 4 to the range once and it was a little boring after the 3rd one, like ok good this is the last one

I enjoy cleaning guns , but 2 days ago I fired my Ruger "unmentionable " and it was nice to just leave it in my range bag until I feel like cleaning it

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For every purpose and mood there is a gun. That's why you need lots of 'em!

Coolhand said:

I use it every time, have had it for 2 years now and it has not effected the finish at all. The longest run time is 4 minutes. I have used a water and balistal mix in it as well.

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Does it just soften up the fouling or does it come out as scales/chunks?

i use Windex. starts dissolving the crud on contact. spray it, let it sit while my steam cleaner (wall paper remover) gets up a head of steam.
steam it clean and oil while hot.

Flintlock Whiskey said:

Does it just soften up the fouling or does it come out as scales/chunks?

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I would like to know too. I have been eyeing one at HF but not sure how well it works on these pistols. My idea is to use the ultrasonic on the barrel, cylinder and nipples while I wipe the frame clean.How well does it clean the gunk off the nipples?

It dissolves it. The solution will be black when it is done. I have put fresh solution in and done a second cleaning before and the solution looks clean when it’s done.

This is where I saw it. Had to give it a try for myself.

Cowboy shooters have been using them for decades.

Soapy water here and a good oiling afterwards but seeing some comments on Windex so I might try that next time.

There are as many ways to clean guns as there are shooters getting guns dirty. Personally I firmly believe that what ever else you use water whether it is hot, warm, soapy, or water with a soluble oil the water is necessary to dissolve and flush away the corrosive salts present in the fouling.
That is my method, it works for me,and I am staying with it. It may not be the best way, it may not be the easiest way it is just my way.
That is what I have used it on Gunpowder guns for about 70 years.
Grumpy Curmudgeon
Bunk

Coolhand said:

This is where I saw it. Had to give it a try for myself.

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I was looking at the 6 qt ultrasonic at HF, which are not cheap. The one he is using is only $90 and I have a 25% off no restriction coupon. I'm outta here.

I got this one from Harbor Freight. I’m sure it is more now than when I got mine.

Bunk said:

If your fouling is that hard and crusty use a lubricated wad under the ball.
The lube makes the fouling softer. I use a cotton mop to clean the chambers about 5 pumps (nipples removed) per chamber and that is done.
Dip Wonder Wads in lard and paraffin wax mixed one ounce lard to 4 ounces of canning wax. It does not bleed oil and does a good job of keeping fouling soft and easy to clean.

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I've been reading this thread and wondering what everyone is doing that fouls their cylinders up that badly. I've never dealt with one that was so dirty it took more than a few swipes in soapy water to clean out - but, like Bunk in the post above, I've always shot with a lubed felt patch over Goex, under the ball.
I used to use Bore Butter, now I use a bees wax/avocado oil blend.

Coolhand said:

I got this one from Harbor Freight. I’m sure it is more now than when I got mine.
View attachment 214093

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Still the same price. Have you tried to fit a 1858 into it?

I have not yet. My 58 is a sheriff model though.

Coolhand said:

I have not yet. My 58 is a sheriff model though.

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Yeah, I got the 8". As long as I can wedge the barrel into it.

Reading through this led me to wonder if anyone has tried cleaning with ammonia? It has been my go to for some nasty cleaning jobs, although the odor can be tough to deal with.
Bought a small hand held steam cleaner. Ineffective waste of money.

SOLANCO said:

Reading through this led me to wonder if anyone has tried cleaning with ammonia? It has been my go to for some nasty cleaning jobs, although the odor can be tough to deal with.
Bought a small hand held steam cleaner. Ineffective waste of money.

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I'd be worried about metal etching

It just seems unnecessary to use harsh chemicals

Sudsy said:

I've been reading this thread and wondering what everyone is doing that fouls their cylinders up that badly. I've never dealt with one that was so dirty it took more than a few swipes in soapy water to clean out - but, like Bunk in the post above, I've always shot with a lubed felt patch over Goex, under the ball.
I used to use Bore Butter, now I use a bees wax/avocado oil blend.

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Even when I shoot "dry" with real BP , the bore is caked and the chambers are fouled but I've never had anything that patches and baby wipes couldn't clean, even after 100 rounds

Today I shot and cleaned the '51 iNavy n both formats.
More firing cone trouble but did get off two cylinders full. Since using a heavily lubed 1/4" felt OP wad it was a four patch cleaning job. The cylinder soaked at the same time every thing else was cleaned.
The cylinder cleaned quickly using a cotton mop with the firing cones out.
More on the cones in another post as soon as I calm down.
The gun was fired 15 times as an unmentionable. Those bullets carry no lube at all. The reason I am mention an unmentionable is cleaning was long and difficult with crusty hard fouling even using soaking wet patches on the cleaning rod.
The percussion gun had only 5 less shots and was much easier to clean.
I suspect that hard crusty fouling was caused by not enough lube
Usually I use a 1/8' wad saturated with the Eras Gone (Mark Hubbs) recipe of
1 oz. unsalted lard and 4 oz Gulf Wax canning wax, These wads used the same formula. No oil never bleeds out.

Forget the formula that uses kumquat oil expressed from the fruit's rind picked by a 40 year old blond blue eyed virgin wearing a red thong bikini with a D cup top in the dark of the moon or some such concoction.
WATER simple water and soap or Ballistol.
Easy peasy
lemon squeezy
MAKE SMOKE
Grumpy Curmudgeon
Bunk