BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

chechatonga · Joined: 15 Nov 2002 Posts: 146

Hey guys I am new and was just asking about these things, thanks for the info, first thing on my list to buy and try -- Windex, as when I hunt water is what you carry in and scarce, unless it is snowing. Anyway thanks, good info.

chechatonga · Joined: 15 Nov 2002 Posts: 146

Well I tried that Windex, and guess what, it works good, as good or better than the expensive stuff a person can buy to clean a muzzle loader, thanks to whoever for that one.

rkensparc · Joined: 22 Apr 2003 Posts: 19

Kgoody,
You wrote "Hodgdon's triple 7, ... a nitrocellulose base, same as smokeless, therefore, conventional powder solvents will disolve the residue"

Triple 7 is NOT nitrocellulose based to quote Hodgdon:
"There is no nitrocellulose or nitroglycerin in Triple Seven. It is a Pyrotechnic mixture just like black powder or Pyrodex."

I emailed Hodgdon specifically because of what you wrote. While it is true that Triple 7 is much less corrosive than Pyrodex and BP, and traditional smokeless solvents can be use for clean up, the Nitrocellulose based statement is cause for concern for two big reasons:
1- Many states specifically prohibat Nitrocellulose based powders from being used for muzzleloader hunting. You are doing Hodgdon a major disservice if you tell people that T7 is nitrocellulose based.
2-Because smokeless powder is nitrocellulose based, I would hate to think someone would read your post, and assume that you can use nitrocellulose-based powders in a muzzleloader, and end up blowing up their gun and hurting themselves.

So to clarify:
Triple 7 does NOT contain nitrocellulose, and NEVER use nitrocellulose based (smokeless) powders in a Muzzleloader.

old snow · Joined: 23 Jul 2003 Posts: 2

I learned along time ago that just plain Isopropyl alcohol works fine to clean your rifle. It evaporates quickley, it is good to clean between shots with. Windex has Ammonia in it and will rust your gun. Old Snow

graewulph · Joined: 26 Jul 2003 Posts: 3

I do hate to sound stupid but i guess its the only way i can learn. I guess, due to the black powder composition a residue builds up. Is this in the pan or inside the barrel or both? Are people recomending that you take alcohol or windex or something along in the field when you go deer-hunting?
Kenny

Darkhorse · Joined: 13 Aug 2003 Posts: 29 Location: Georgia

This is my first post on this forum and what better place to start than with blackpowder. This section definitely needs some more action.
I do not own an inline. I own a .54 caplock and a .54 flintlock. I took my first muzzleloader deer with the caplock and roundball back in 1976. I have shot pyrodex in the past but now I only shoot the real thing; Blackpowder. I shoot either 2fg or 3fg in the caplock. I have tested both in the flinter but I pretty much stick to 3fg. I use mainly 4fg for priming, but if it is exptremely humid and I am sweating a lot then I will use 3fg.
I only shoot a patched roundball.
If I need a bullet of some sort with longer range, then I leave the smokepole at home and take my .300 Win mag or 7mm Rem. or one of the other modern scoped guns in my case.

I clean only with water of some sort, or spit. On the range I will wet a patch from a canteen for a quick clean. If a canteen is not available then I chew a patch until it is wet and use that. When I get home I clean with Hot, Soapy water. I have found nothing that cleans blackpowder residue better than plain old water.
I use alcohol on only a couple of occasions. I will use it before a hunt to clean both my pan and frizzen, and also the edge of my flint. The alcohol will take all human oil off those surfaces and help give a better spark. I will also run a dry patch through the bore followed by an alcohol patch. This is done to remove any trace of oil before final loading.

The round ball in .54 has proven to be very effective on whitetailed deer. The largest animal I have ever taken with the roundball was a boar of about 350 pounds.
I am curious to hear of anyone hunting Elk with the roundball and how it performs.

captchee · Joined: 20 Sep 2003 Posts: 138 Location: Idaho

I have hunted elk with a round ball and I am a die-hard flintier as well.
At close range 50 to 75 yard with my 54, a round ball dose nice work on big mule and smaller cows and spikes. At the out limits you don’t get complete penetration but they do leave a good hole. I just wasn’t real comfortable about it though so I started molding my own maxis a couple years back and have since went to those for elk but have stayed with the RB for deer.
I to clean much as you stated .
i use 3F in barrel and 4F in the pan and black powder only

Big Bore 54 · Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2003 11:11 pm Post subject:

If your always in a hurry to get somewhere or do something go modern and forget the smoke pole. But if you want the best hunt of your life and the challenges that go with it, stick to the blackpowder way and you will be a better hunter. Cleaning is part of the process that gets you there. Learn to slow down and enjoy it. Don't pass over the TC, it's a good quality weapon.

rollingb · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2003 2:27 pm Post subject:

Like a few others here, I am a "Tradionalist". Water or "spit" cuts blackpowder foul'n very easy, and is the only thing I use to clean my rifles. After "clean'n", I follow with a "bear-oil" patch down the rifle bore and also wipe the outside of my rifle with the same patch.

If I cain't kill it with a roundball and blackpowder,.... it don't need "kilt"!!

Bighoof · Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 7

T-7 or CLeanshot powder is the best, cleans up with 2-3 patches.