Muzzle loading Qs

[Dahitman44]

I forgot to clean my muzzle -- i know very stupid. It took me 1.5 hours but I think I got it.

Do you guys think it will be ok or is there rust I am not getting?

Silly -- I cleaned my handguns and deer rifle, and shotgun but forgot about the muzzle.

Hard to understand.

[lawdog]

The first place I'd worry about is the breach. Make sure your firing hole stays open. The rest you should be able to see. I've had corrosion close a firing hole over an off season and I thought I had that ML cleaned well when I put it away...

[Dahitman44]

LD --

Dumb question but what do you mean by the firing hole staying open?

[HuskerBen]

The nipple (where the cap goes) needs to be clear. Otherwise, you'll hear a small pop, but no roaring boom. And that isn't fun when you have a deer broadside at 20 yards.

[Dahitman44]

Gotcha --

So if that is cleaned up I should be good to go -- will be interesting when I start to sight in the gun this fall.

[HuskerBen]

Well, you should be okay as far as the powder igniting, but a rusty, pitted, or otherwise corroded barrel could cause some accuracy problems. Run some cleaning patches through it until the patches come out of the barrel clean. Then run a few more patches.

If at all possible, clean the gun immediately after shooting.

I can be a bit obsessive when it comes to cleaning my .54, but I think it's worth it.

Ben

[Dahitman44]

That is what I did -- might clean it again.

thanks