When you can't clean a fired BP gun...

[tacotime]

Has happened a few times, fired 6 or 12 shots in the BP revolver, out of time, unable to give a full and proper cleaning, nor the next day or even several days after that. What is the best thing to do to stop any corrosion until you can get back to clean it fully?

And is WD-40 a bad thing?

[waksupi]

If you don't hit the fouling with some water or BP solvent, steel is going to start deteriorating. Best thing to do if you aren't going to have time to clean it, is to shoot a cartridge gun that day.

[bruce drake]

Carry a bottle of Windex cleaner with you to the range and before you put it away after shooting it, spray the literal dogsnot out of the entire pistol inside and out to the point the crud is dripping off the pistol and clean it within the next day.

But I also second Waksupi's comment. If you are going to shoot the BP pistol, care for it so you can shoot it another day.

Bruce

[gnoahhh]

It takes all of 5-10 minutes to clean a C&B revolver. I don't get "not having enough time" unless you dropped everything to rush to the emergency room or something like that.

Pop the cylinder out, brush/swab under the hot water spigot. Do the same with the barrel. Wipe down. Spray liberally with WD-40 if you have to run out, and finish cleaning when you get home.

[Smoke4320]

wd 40 like mad and clean that evening

[Fly]

I too use windex also.I even use it after a good soap & water cleaning.

Fly

[tacotime]

[QUOTE=gnoahhh;2225609]It takes all of 5-10 minutes to clean a C&B revolver. I don't get "not having enough time" unless you dropped everything to rush to the emergency room or something like that.

Married.

[pietro]

.


FWIW, I'm married w/3 kids, and have never missed cleaning a BP arm after firing - I take a plastic bottle of Moose Milk (T/C #13 cleaner) with me & flush the entire gun, until I can get to it later for a more thorough cleaning.


.

[starmac]

Been there and done that once, if fired they will get cleaned forever more, unless some life or death emergency comes up. Now I will leave one loaded for a week while in camp.

[Hellgate]

Taco Time,
When I knew I couldn't get to the cleaning (now married 36 years) I would hose the barrel, cylinder chambers, frame etc with WD-40 and get to it a few days later. No problem with rust. I've only had to do that a couple of times. I'd be leery of using a water based solvent if I was unable to completely dry the gun before I left it uncleaned. Generally, the rotten egg smell acts as a nice wife & kids repellent so I could enjoy the "afterglow" of a nice days shooting while I cleaned the guns.

[Dryball]

fill up the sink with hot soapy water and throw the gun in to soak...or spray it with moose milk and let it sit.

[Baron von Trollwhack]

It takes all of 5-10 minutes to clean a C&B revolver. I don't get "not having enough time" unless you dropped everything to rush to the emergency room or something like that.

Pop the cylinder out, brush/swab under the hot water spigot. Do the same with the barrel. Wipe down. Spray liberally with WD-40 if you have to run out, and finish cleaning when you get home.

# 1 answer. BvT

[Lead Fred]

those that use oil with BP will get sludge to clean out.
Bring a 1 gallon paint can full of soapy water, and drop the whole thing into it.
clean it when you get home

[Sensai]

Just curious, but do you guys that drop the whole thing into soapy water remove the grips before you do that? I've never just dunked the whole gun, I always clean the disassembeled parts. It just seems to me that you would get trapped water.

[tacotime]

Right on Hellgate, with the repellent and the afterglow.

Sensai, I would Remove the wood grips if you want to still have useable wood grips later on.

[gnoahhh]

For a thorough cleaning I remove the grips and have at it. I have been known to put the whole works in an oven at the lowest temperature for just long enough to dry it, then oil and re-assemble. (Don't jack up the heat in an effort to speed things along- you may well get into the realm of temperatures that will take the temper out of springs.)

[Sensai]

That's what I was thinking. When folks said that they just plunked the gun in soapy water, I could just see the grips still on. Had to check.

[59sharps]

Try use g96.

[rodwha]

My stainless Old Army seems to take 30-45 mins (not including drying) or so to clean and reassemble. I use a bronze brush in warm soapy water followed by dry patches. Then I place it in the dishwasher on the dry cycle. Not a quick ordeal, but not too lengthy.

It seems to take well over an hour, and sometimes more than two for me to clean my blued percussion Deerstalker. I've only used the crappy Pyrodex my father gave me with the pistol as I'm still just breaking it in. I use a bronze brush first with soapy warm water followed by dry patches, and it seems the **** just keep coming and coming! I'm perplexed by those that claim cleaning these guns is quick.

[Hanshi]

On a few occasions when I didn't have time I'd wipe the bore and lock with WD40 and clean the next day. Always cleaned up easy and quick. It generally takes me longer than most to clean a gun but it's simply because I'm "turtle slow".

Hey, Sensai! Are you ME?:kidding:

[tacotime]

Ok, allright then, I'll clean it sooner.

The WD-40 emergency coating did seem to work okay though.

But I will say, on the Old Army, I think those who said they rarely ever or never fully break down the frame for internal cleaning, are cruising for a rusting.

[grampa243]

i clean my bp guns with this mix. never water.

1 part Rubbing alcohol, 1 part hydrogen peroxide, and 1 part murphy's oil soap.

if i can't clean right away i'll soak it down with this and come back later.

[waksupi]

i clean my bp guns with this mix. never water.

1 part Rubbing alcohol, 1 part hydrogen peroxide, and 1 part murphy's oil soap.

if i can't clean right away i'll soak it down with this and come back later.

I am still 100% against using an aggressive oxidizer in any firearm. If you use that mix, pull your breech plug occasionally and check for corrosion.

[grampa243]

I am still 100% against using an aggressive oxidizer in any firearm. If you use that mix, pull your breech plug occasionally and check for corrosion.

i pull my plug and nipples every cleaning.

[bigted]

My stainless Old Army seems to take 30-45 mins (not including drying) or so to clean and reassemble. I use a bronze brush in warm soapy water followed by dry patches. Then I place it in the dishwasher on the dry cycle. Not a quick ordeal, but not too lengthy.

It seems to take well over an hour, and sometimes more than two for me to clean my blued percussion Deerstalker. I've only used the crappy Pyrodex my father gave me with the pistol as I'm still just breaking it in. I use a bronze brush first with soapy warm water followed by dry patches, and it seems the **** just keep coming and coming! I'm perplexed by those that claim cleaning these guns is quick.

I don't think I've ever taken 1/2 hour or even close to that cleaning any firearm I own. my most lengthy operation is with my ruger vaquero and it does not take a fraction of this time. takes longer to tell of the deed then to wash er up and put er away.

I take the grips off ,,, cylinder out ,,, then into a bath of warm water with dawn dish soap dissolved in it. I scrub the bore of the barrel and all cylinders with a bottle brush and scrub the entire revolver with a tooth brush in the soapy water. then out of the sink and run hot water from the tap thru all crevices and cranny's. I do this till im sure the soap is all washed away. then I drip dry for around 3 minutes as I rub it down with a towel...after this and while it is still warm I shoot Remington gun oil thru all ports and action parts with the small straw they provide and continue till the whole revolver is dripping with the oil. then I drip dry it and wipe all exterior oil off as much as I can and re install the grips and walla...done.

if I used the aftermarket black replacement I would re-visit it and wipe the whole thing down inside and out to ensure no nasty is left behind but with real blackpowder I never have any problem with cleaning completely in warm soapy water. if in doubt then squirt it down with a ballistol water mix to soak for a bit before dunking it in the warm bath.

as for not having time... I don't know what to say to that ... golly if you have an amount invested in guns then ... if it were me...[and it is] ... I would never allow regular life to interfere in the love and tender embraces I have with my firearms after we have had fun together. the old adage comes to play here...take care of them and they will take care of you when the opportunity arrives.

[Battis]

I completely strip and clean every part of the BP guns after shooting. I use hot soapy water, toothbrush, pipe cleaner and whatever else it takes to get the internals clean. I coat the internals of the repros with Bore Butter, and the originals with RemOil (unless I plan on shooting the originals soon).
I've taken apart too many guns that weren't properly cleaned - stuck screws, stuck nipples, spent caps jamming the works, rust...
Clean them thoroughly, and soon. They'll last longer and work better.
Here's an extreme example of a BP revolver that was not cleaned and put away dirty.
(Warner .28)

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m217/pohill/DSCF3907-1.jpg (http://s105.photobucket.com/user/pohill/media/DSCF3907-1.jpg.html)

This is what it should look like:
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m217/pohill/DSCF3919-1.jpg (http://s105.photobucket.com/user/pohill/media/DSCF3919-1.jpg.html)
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m217/pohill/DSCF3899.jpg (http://s105.photobucket.com/user/pohill/media/DSCF3899.jpg.html)

[mousegun]

9:1 water-Ballistol (homemade moosemilk) in a small spritzer bottle. Wet down the whole gun and wipe off with a moosemilk dampened rag. Clean later. Been doing this for almost ten years. No rust, no deterioration. Cheap. Works. Smells odd.

[NickSS]

I have waited up to three days to clean a c & B revolver or rifle and never had any trouble and I live in a damp area. But if I was concerned I would spay it inside and out with WD 40 and clean it when I had a chance. One way that I have used to clean them without too much trouble is to take the grips off remove the cylinder and put the gun and parts in the dish washer and run it through a complete cycle. The gun ends up spotless and only needs a light oiling.

[Fly]

I have been shooting bp guns for over 30 year & still have some I bought back then.
I have been watching this thread, & think many of you are making more out of this
then needs be.

I don't tear my guns all the way down.I think you do more harm by wearing out
the threads by unscrewing everything each time you shoot.I do pull the nipples &
grips.After cleaning the barrel & cyilinder I put the gun in a bucket of hot soapy
water & rinse with hot water, blow dry & oil.

I do use antiseeze on the nipple threads.My guns look great after all those years.
Fly

[59sharps]

[QUOTE=gnoahhh;2225609]It takes all of 5-10 minutes to clean a C&B revolver. I don't get "not having enough time" unless you dropped everything to rush to the emergency room or something like that.

Married.

your married. So I guess you have to get permission to go shooting. then permission to clean the gun after. I would suggest 2 things. First get a divorced. then pick days when you have time to clean after shooting.
OH yea g96 works great if you have to let it sit.

[country gent]

Normally after 40 rds thru my Sharps with Black Powder 3 patches with Ballistol/water 7-1 mix the patches are clean leat soak damp while I deal with the cases. Another wet patch with the ballistol water mix the dry patches. I soak the Lock work action with a light amounnt from a spary bottle and let set while I again agaitate the cases. Spray out with canned air or air compressor. Rinse cases and set them out to dry. Lubricate rifle with break free / oil and light grease on the slides cams. I keep a diaper rag in a plastic bag treated with break free to wipe my firearms down after cleaning.
When my wife was alive she was more upset if I went shooting with out her LOL. She helped with loading case prep and cleaning. She was becoming a true competitor.

[Driver man]

Ive had the odd occasion when ive had to delay stripping and cleaning my 1858 model Remington and have liberally sprayed it with CRC556. Ive cleaned it some days later with no problems. Ive done this several times but as i shoot it every week It doesnt get neglected for long. About 2 monthly I will strip to component level and clean absolutely every nook and cranny. I use standard dishwashing detergent and boiling water. Car polish on the metal and wood keep it looking like new and a bit of oil on a pull through down the barrel keeps that clean. After about 5000 balls through the barrel it shoots very well and still looks like new.

[Kitika]

I don't think I've ever taken 1/2 hour or even close to that cleaning any firearm I own. my most lengthy operation is with my ruger vaquero and it does not take a fraction of this time. takes longer to tell of the deed then to wash er up and put er away.

I take the grips off ,,, cylinder out ,,, then into a bath of warm water with dawn dish soap dissolved in it. I scrub the bore of the barrel and all cylinders with a bottle brush and scrub the entire revolver with a tooth brush in the soapy water. then out of the sink and run hot water from the tap thru all crevices and cranny's. I do this till im sure the soap is all washed away. then I drip dry for around 3 minutes as I rub it down with a towel...after this and while it is still warm I shoot Remington gun oil thru all ports and action parts with the small straw they provide and continue till the whole revolver is dripping with the oil. then I drip dry it and wipe all exterior oil off as much as I can and re install the grips and walla...done.

if I used the aftermarket black replacement I would re-visit it and wipe the whole thing down inside and out to ensure no nasty is left behind but with real blackpowder I never have any problem with cleaning completely in warm soapy water. if in doubt then squirt it down with a ballistol water mix to soak for a bit before dunking it in the warm bath.

as for not having time... I don't know what to say to that ... golly if you have an amount invested in guns then ... if it were me...[and it is] ... I would never allow regular life to interfere in the love and tender embraces I have with my firearms after we have had fun together. the old adage comes to play here...take care of them and they will take care of you when the opportunity arrives.

Exactly what I do. But I use an air compressor to blow out any left over water before spraying with oil. I've left mine for 4 days before cleaning but I was shooting every day and it all cleaned up just as easy as If i'd put a few shots down the barrel.

[mooman76]

I can't imagine not having time to clean it right away unless of coarse if an emergency did come up. If I knew ahead of time that I won't have time, I'll shoot a non BP gun instead. I mean it really doesn't take that long or that much longer than cleaning a regular gun.

[Tatume]

fill up the sink with hot soapy water and throw the gun in to soak...or spray it with moose milk and let it sit.

Some dishwashing detergents will remove bluing if allowed to soak.

Take care, Tom

[mdevlin53]

Just a note about spraying down a gun with WD-40 as an emergency coating. Make sure that it is placed so that any excess runs down and away from the wood. If you leave it set so the black oil can run back to the stock or grips you may never ever get the black streaks out. Don't ask me how i know.