Black Powder Solvents

[Dick Dastardly]

I started mixing Moosemilk with One part Ballistol to Seven parts water.  Then, I got curious and ran an experiment and found that 1:10 worked just as well and my Ballistol went farther.

DD-DLoS

[The General]

There is a great deal of sound advice here for sure.  Ballistol is definitely the product to use & I believe I have enough choices here to experiment on a few of my BP arms to see what works best.  It's all about keeping them clean, safe & performing up to specs.  I do thank everyone for their individual ideas & experiences and I look forward to new cleaning adventures.

Enjoy the smoke gentleman & good shooting.

[Col. Cornelius Gilliam]

Howdy,

I've shot only black powder for the last six years or so, average of 2 matches a month.

Black powder is so much easier to clean than smokeless (but I do admit it's more "messy") that I don't shoot smokess in my main match guns cause I don't want all the carbon build up, leading, etc.  Black powder fouling just wipes off once it has some moose milk squirted on it.

Because of discussions with my wife, I clean my guns at the range after the match/practice session.  It only takes 15 to 20 minutes and it keeps the sulfer smell out of the house, so my homelife is more tranquill.

I use a spray bottle with 1:10 ballistol/water mix to spray the guns down.
I let them sit a little bit then just wipe off all the surfaces with paper towels.
Then, a bore snake is pulled through all barrels and cylinders.
To finish, I dry all surfaces with a cloth and oil everything with BreakFree CLP.
I use a needle oiler to put a drop or two down into the actions.

I don't take my guns apart (screwdriver) for cleaning - ever.  They only come apart for gunsmithing.

It took longer to type this than it would to clean my guns after a match.

[Advertising]

[The General]

Colonel,  thank you for sharing your insight on this thread.  It is greatly appreciated.  That is the second time I have heard of this BreakFree CLP & I think I need to check into that product as well.

I truly do appreciate all the input from you gentleman, thank you.

TG

[Charlie Bowdre]

Hi folks , I have been reading with interest all the comments .

Although new to this type of shooting I have been shooting old front stuffers loaded with Goex for over 15 years.

Several years ago I got acquainted with Ballistol . At that time ya pretty well had to smuggle it across the border in to Canada ... it is now so much easier to obtain. In my opinion it is great for clean up .

I use plain old Goex 2 ff in my RM Navy Colt conversions .
Like others I am a bit nervous of using it with water , however I have done so and as I always wipe with full strength afterwards I have never noticed any problems.
Usually I mix my B.Oil 1:10 with as close to 100% alcohol as I can find . which just about eliminates most of the water as a carrier ..and 
 NO Arcey ya can't drink it . Yul go blind , get the squirter's and likely die

It doesn't mix as well and ya need to give er a good shake prior to use  but that's my mix anyway.

With help from a lot of folks here including Arcey and Dick D. I have enjoyed myself no end .
A bum ticker and six or seven shots of insulin a day have just about ruined my eyes for any fine shooting but I want to say that CAS has been a salvation for me .
Now I will never beat any clock but my own , however Holy Black , BIG targets and Ballistol are my answer.

Nothing more then my comments . And I'm proud to be part of a Forum where ya can say that just about as many times as ya want .
dutchie

[Noz]

I started mixing Moosemilk with One part Ballistol to Seven parts water.  Then, I got curious and ran an experiment and found that 1:10 worked just as well and my Ballistol went farther.

DD-DLoS

I went to the 1/8 because I would occasionally see a bit of flash rust in the barrels of my pistols with the 1/10. 1/8 no problem.

[Deadeye Dick]

Thank you all for your input. Guess I'll try 1 part ballistol to 8 parts water to see how it works since Oregon gets a lot of rain in the winter. I can always go more if I see some flash rusting.. Does anyone know if the aerosol ballistol is straight or mixed with water? Might make a difference how I use it. It seems a little runnier than pure ballistol.
The snow is starting to melt off here and I'm getting ready to make some smoke. Glad to see the rain come back. I think Dick Dastardly hexed me with snow and cold.
Deadeye Dick

[Montana Slim]

I've been cleaning C&B pistols for many years with the following technique:

2 cleaning rods. One with a wool bore mop, the other with jag for dry or oil patch.
Tooth brush (one that your not planning to clean your teeth with  
Water displacing oil of your choice...I use WD-40.
Dry patches (home-cut flannel is my choice)
Baby wipe(s).. yes these are handy.
Water (hot, warm or cold, as available) plus a squirt or two of dishsoap. Put it in a washtub.
Remove cylinder(s). Place in water (water should cover).
Remove barrel from Colt-type revolvers.
Use baby-wipe to clean hammer, frame, cylinder pin, etc.
Dry and follow with oil.
Dip bore mop into solution (whist cylinders are soakin') and run through the barrel. rinse mop, repeat as needed.
Run dry patch.
Run oil patch.
Run dry patch to remove excess water displacer (oil), if needed / desired.
Use bore mop to clean chambers while submerged. This cleans the nipples at the same time.
Clean nipples with tooth-brush.
Remove from water, drain/dry (outdoors?..place in direct sun). Dry-patch chambers.
Apply oil generously and dry/drain/remove excess (I use an air compressor when available).
Grease cylinder pin.
Reassemble.

Cut patches to clean/dry/oil the cylider of a generous size (3"-4"diameter). This is a great aid.
Perform same operations to each pistol component back-to-back to minimize changing equipment and lost motion.
This is a science, right?...sorry I'm an engineer.

Also, for those mixing ballistol and water....might want to remember that water-soluable oils may not displace water as well as a true water displacing lube. Military CLP is a good lube/protectant.

Cleaning two revolvers of the same caliber requires less time than typing the procedure.
I use the same system when cleaning cartridge revolvers as well, but they are easier to dry the chambers.

I carry everything to clean/maintain all my firearms using two, small, nested wash-tubs. The "top' one carries all the gear, the bottom one is used for the magic cleaning solution.

Another handy item is a roll of toilet paper. It is the most efficient method for cleaning the BP shotgun I've tried.

Enjoy!
Slim

[The General]

Very informative indeed.  Thank you for sharing Slim.

[Cuts Crooked]

Deadeye,

I have a can of the airisol Ballistol that I have used sparingly (expensive ain't it?) and I think it's straight Ballistol. When water is added to ballistol it turns cloudy/white/ The spray stuff ain't that color.

[Arcey]

Feels 'n looks like the straight stuff. As things have evolved I’ve taken it out of the cart. Rarely use it. Moosemilk in a spray bottle ‘n a 4 oz. refillable plastic bottle of straight stuff.

Went ‘n bought all a shop in Carolina had a couple years ago. Glad I did. The way everythings gone up I don’t even wanna know what it’s goin’ for now.

Dutchie, we got an ole boy shoots with us that swears up ‘n down it’s an excellent laxative. Tolt ‘im I’d try it AFTER he did. Best I know he ain’t yet. He’s a touch touched but he ain’t stupid.

[Black Powder]

Well my, my.  Seems this thread cleaned up pretty nice too.   Quite a road.  Some rough spots and a nice perspective from Dutchie along the way.  Musta been Cuts' Ballistol.  Nice work, group.

BP

[Ransom Gaer]

I typically clean my BP guns with HOT soapy water and thoroughly dry afterwards.  Outside of guns I lube with Ballistol and then lube the barrels with Bore Butter.  Have no problems with flash rust.

In January I started experimenting with that fad smokeyless stuff.  Cleaned the rifle in the usual way (Hoppes #9) and dried and then lubed with Ballistol.  My K98 Mauser sure seems to like Ballistol.  Almost like Ballistol was designed for it.  Then again maybe it was.

Ransom Gaer

[The General]

Well my, my.  Seems this thread cleaned up pretty nice too.   Quite a road.  Some rough spots and a nice perspective from Dutchie along the way.  Musta been Cuts' Ballistol.  Nice work, group.

BP

BP, indeed it has cleaned up a bit my friend.  I never expected so much insight & the great folks here at CAS City have made me feel quite welcome.  It's almost like coming home again.

[fatelvis]

I found it interesting that at the time of it's introduction (1904), Ballistol was to be used to maintain the German Army's metallic surfaces of thier rifles, the wood, the leather, and also for the soldier himself (on small wounds, scratches, etc.). Wow, that is what I call versatile!

[The General]

Now that's interesting information.  Thank you for sharing that.

[Dick Dastardly]

I  no longer put it on my pancakes, but it makes a fine after shave cologne.

DD-DLoS

[Charlie Bowdre]

but it makes a fine after shave cologne.

if ya like to smell like old Army socks...

dutchie

[Dick Dastardly]

I also use Listerine as mosquito dope. . .

DD-DLoS

[The General]

It appears as though Fall Creek Sutlery carries the Ballistol & I need to order a few items from there anyway so, I'll be getting my Ballistol from there.

This sure has been a most informative thread & I do appreciate all the insight provided.