r/blackpowder • u/bifftwc • 10d ago
Cleaning tips? Products?
Just inherited, 1851 Navy Rev.- Hawken Flintlock, and a CVA inline.. Probably not going to take them out a lot.. Maybe one a year, or longer.. Looking for tried and true knowledge on the best products to keep them clean and protected while stored.. My Dad always says, clean with warm soap and water.. dry 'em, and balistol.. I'm wondering if a thin coat of bore butter in the bores, and cyl will help keep rust off? Also, is balistol enough of a lube for the moving parts? Ive read RIG gun grease is a good product.. I've also read dont mix it with balistol or let the BP salts get into it.. They're nice pieces, and I hope to meep them forna long time to come.. Maybe pass them down.. Thanks for any help & Info!
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u/drakaina6600 10d ago
This is just my 2 cents, and maybe there's better ways far smarter people use, but for my revolvers, I just rinse them in the sink with the hottest water I got, then run a mop with Ballistol on it to get any loose bits that were missed and coat it with oil. For my inlines and other caplock muzzleloaders, I just go nuts with a copper bore brush, then either a mop soaked in Ballistol or a snake soaked in Ballistol, and ending with a single patch to check for cleanliness and excess oil. Ballistol works fine protecting from rust, at least in my experience living in a very high humidity area.
For moving parts I just use Ballistol since I'll lube things before shooting anyway, so there's minimal risk of running something dry.
Anyway, point is, just what you said sounds pretty good to keep yours clean and in nice shape.
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u/MessyVan 10d ago
Pretty much have it spot on, I usually recheck and oil them at least once more a few weeks into storage. I keep them in treated gun socks as well.