Black powder pistols, how do you clean yours?

[tacfoley]

I am new to this but wondered what people's view's were of steam cleaners rather than soap & water. Here are a couple of hand held ones I found, do you think they would be a good idea?

http://www.lakeland.co.uk/24013/Bissell-Steam-Shot-Steam-Cleaner-2635?src=gfeed&s_kwcid=AL!49!3!{creative!e!{placem ent!o!{adwords_producttargetid!&ef_id=VzyvGAAABfX5 iZaY:20161024132247:s

https://www.groupon.co.uk/deals/pifc...4-005056946dac

nope. Nothing beats a good old toothbrush for getting into the nooks and crannies, plus, the nipples need removing, wire brushing, lightly greasing and replacing. I don't think that a steam cleaner can do that, or go up the barrel or into the chambers.

tac

[airgunnut]

I only use a steam cleaner to blast inside the trigger and hammer crevices, then just to get the pistol hot so it dries out fast.

[discotwo]

Tac

Thanks, was only asking as my RFD has an expensive steam cleaner that he uses/recommends and when I saw those cheap hand held ones thought they may be worth considering.

[tacfoley]

Tac Thanks, was only asking as my RFD has an expensive steam cleaner that he uses/recommends and when I saw those cheap hand held ones thought they may be worth considering.

If you look inside the case for any Colt revolving pistol, there is no mention on the instructions for any kind of steam cleaner. Just hot water and a scrubber of some kind, followed up, in the original, by whale oil, or even fine lamp oil.

Of course, you may use whatever give you pleasure, but why complicate things that were designed to be easy enough to do around a camp fire with no running water except what was in the nearby stream, and no means of heating it except a fire?

tac

[TonyB55]

I only use 777. Very hot soapy water, bore snake with a little cooking oil and then a little drop of oil in the moving parts. The gun is like new and shoots fine. Takes about 15 mins.

[Sussexboy]

Most of us in our club use screen wash. I was told by the guy that ran the BP course that it is what he always recommends. It works very well, but having only used that I have nothing to compare it against. I half fill a small margarine tub, put in the cylinder and detached nipples, and by the time I have cleaned the barrel and frame the cylinder and nipples are clean. I then swab it all out with dry patches and spray with oil.

[loiner1965]

Tac

Thanks, was only asking as my RFD has an expensive steam cleaner that he uses/recommends and when I saw those cheap hand held ones thought they may be worth considering.

I don't use one for my pistols but I do for my martinis....

[norseman]

Hi folks, this is my first post - actually the second but my reply to Jock's thread (Lemat & R&S) seems to have gone awol.

I use Muzzle-Magic to give the bore a clean between details & before slipping the gun, but its' expensive so I use concentrated screen wash (popular with the Yanks) & a small headed toothbrush when I get home. Follow this with a hot water rinse - wipe over then a light spray with Brunox, & a drop of gun oil on some moving parts completes the job. I remove nipples (unless I'm using the same gun again within a week) but rarely strip it down & when that becomes necessary there's not much in the way of gunk in the moving parts.

[coburn]

I only use the clubs BP revolver, that way someone else has to do the dirty stuff

[tacfoley]

Hi folks, this is my first post - actually the second but my reply to Jock's thread (Lemat & R&S) seems to have gone awol.

I use Muzzle-Magic to give the bore a clean between details & before slipping the gun, but its' expensive so I use concentrated screen wash (popular with the Yanks) & a small headed toothbrush when I get home. Follow this with a hot water rinse - wipe over then a light spray with Brunox, & a drop of gun oil on some moving parts completes the job. I remove nipples (unless I'm using the same gun again within a week) but rarely strip it down & when that becomes necessary there's not much in the way of gunk in the moving parts.

Sounds just fine to me, 'slong as you remember to grease the arbor. Me, I run a rod through the bore every now and then with a jag and baby-wipe. It's cheap, and leaves it smelling nice and fresh, too.

BTW, Welcome to the forum!!!!

tac

[TA6319]

baby wipes make life so much easier when you shoot BP firearms

[sclg]

Another vote for hot water, washing-up liquid, and assorted toothbrushes.
Admittedly, with a stainless ROA and Triple 7, life is easier
Steve