cheap cleaner for pyrodex?

old fart · 09-15-2009, 06:41 PM

i am on a tight budget and have heard of some cleaners that work to clean a muzzleloader, i was wondering if they work and what others i might use. i have heard that windex will clean a muzzleloader good, as well as boiling lemon peels in water and using the water to clean it. what else can i use?, i have a optima and can clean fairly easy. i have checked in stores and those factory cleaners are more than i can afford right now. my wife won't let me use the bathtub any more she don't like that black mess in the tub. so i need something besides just hot water. i will need something i can use on my back porch to take pyrodex out of the barrel good, thanks for your help.

jerry · 09-15-2009, 06:49 PM

I use a plastic 5 gallon bucket with very hot water & dish soap. I just dump it in the yard when done (twice with the rinse) the heated water dries the barell well, then I oil it. It's a TC Hawken that is about 30-35 yrs old.

tappedandtagged · 09-15-2009, 07:47 PM

I use triple 7 in my blackpowder and do pretty much the same a jerry. I run scalding hot water through it, swab it a few times, then put some cheap gel bore cleaner down it to mainly remove any moisture. The bore gel generally doesn't have anything left to clean out.

rebel727 · 09-16-2009, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerry

i use a plastic 5 gallon bucket with very hot water & dish soap. I just dump it in the yard when done

+1

Pyro01 · 09-16-2009, 02:16 AM

When I used Pyrodex P in my black powder revolver, I originally tried the dish soap and hot water method. However, I found that even after scrubbing the cylinder in the solution, when I dried it with a blow dryer, there was sulfur residue left. So I've decided only to use a muzzleloading solvent, that way I also don't have to worry so much about the nipple threads rusting out. I think I use the formula No. 9 or whatever it's called.

Mooseman684 · 09-16-2009, 02:22 AM

I use Hot water and dish soap in the bathtub when I scrub My Muzzleloaders...Works just great , then I pour boiling water down the barrel so it dries fast , then I oil it !

Rich

SwedeSteve · 09-16-2009, 02:42 PM

^ It's when he gets in the tub with them that starts the trouble, LOL !! Soap and water works quite well.

rebel727 · 09-16-2009, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pyro01

When I used Pyrodex P in my black powder revolver, I originally tried the dish soap and hot water method. However, I found that even after scrubbing the cylinder in the solution, when I dried it with a blow dryer, there was sulfur residue left. So I've decided only to use a muzzleloading solvent, that way I also don't have to worry so much about the nipple threads rusting out. I think I use the formula No. 9 or whatever it's called.

Your water must be too dry.

samuel · 09-16-2009, 11:21 PM

I'm sorry but I'm having visions of Mooseman in a bathtub with a half dozen muzzle loaders saying "get over".I wonder if he uses Irish Spring to tame the smell of sulphur?I wonder how receptive his date is that night?Oh well,whatever,I know he'll do it right! ,,,sam.

toolman · 09-16-2009, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mooseman684

I use Hot water and dish soap in the bathtub when I scrub My Muzzleloaders...Works just great , then I pour boiling water down the barrel so it dries fast , then I oil it !
Rich

Scrubbin' your muzzleloader, is that what they're calling it these days...?

wcassidy · 09-16-2009, 11:36 PM

gotta keep that fouling from building up y'know.... i just pour boiling water down the barrel after i swab it out a couple times with soapy water, cabelas muzzleloader solvent, or 1/3 3%H2O2, 1/3 denatured alcohol, and 1/3 Murphy's oil soap, after that the barrel gets swabbed out with some T/C bore butter patches and it's really clean, while it's still hot from the water i usually melt the bore butter on the outside of the barrel to to protect the steel for the long term

Mooseman684 · 09-17-2009, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toolman

Scrubbin' your muzzleloader, is that what they're calling it these days...?

Yeah...I reckon !
LMAO...Save water , shower with your Muzzleloader !
Rich

samuel · 09-17-2009, 04:25 AM

That's showing "REAL" passion for firearms. ,,,sam.

testhop · 09-17-2009, 09:58 AM

I USE SIMPLE GREEN a household cleaner to clean muzzle loaders. just dip the brush in SIMPLE GREEN brush 10 times. rinse with very hot water then run patchs if not clean enought repeet + finish with boiling water. patch barrel dry greaseor oil with
non petrolum products .
it helps to run a patch down the barrel in a couple days as the lube in the barrel draws out crud from the pores
oh DONT LET THE WIFE FIND OUT HOW GOOD SIMPLE GREEN CLEANS .
I DID NOW SHE ISOFTEN TELLING ME TOM YOU ARE OUT OF GUN CLEANING SOAP.

Iron_Colonel · 09-18-2009, 12:39 AM

Hot soapy water works for me. I'll do that once for a while, then change the water and do it again. Rinse off and then run a couple patches with Hoppes 9 on it, then run it through the soapy water again. Take a few dry patches, then throw the barrel in the oven on the lowest setting for a while, so thats like 175 or so for a little bit to make sure its good and dry. Then while still warm, butter up a patch with some bore butter and swab the barrel. Outside too after it cools a little more.

Kaybe · 09-18-2009, 12:52 AM

I have had Windex work really well and when I used to Cowboy Shoot, someone told me of the same receipe that WCassidy posted. Both worked well. Simple green worked well also. Good luck with that. I hate cleaning black powder stuff up. samuel, visions or nightmares?

Iron_Colonel · 09-18-2009, 01:47 AM

It is a little dirty, but must be done. Gonna have to break out the ML here this weekend maybe, Oct. 3rd is opening day early elk here in WA. Got the first legs of my possibles going too. I'll take some pics and document the process and post some pics when its all said and done!

Sabot · 09-19-2009, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toolman

Scrubbin' your muzzleloader, is that what they're calling it these days...?

I don't know what happened...? I was cleaning it and it just went off.

338RUM · 09-19-2009, 06:38 PM

I found that hydrogen peroxide works really really well, do not use windex b/c ammonia is cheaper and the ammonia in the windex is what cleans bores.

ArkansasHunter · 09-19-2009, 06:49 PM

I just throw mine in the creek and go back a couple days later and fetch it then pour boil'in hog lard on it and lean it in a corner.
I wipe it out good fore I use it again...A.H

09-15-2009, 06:41 PM	#1
old fart Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 29	cheap cleaner for pyrodex? i am on a tight budget and have heard of some cleaners that work to clean a muzzleloader, i was wondering if they work and what others i might use. i have heard that windex will clean a muzzleloader good, as well as boiling lemon peels in water and using the water to clean it. what else can i use?, i have a optima and can clean fairly easy. i have checked in stores and those factory cleaners are more than i can afford right now. my wife won't let me use the bathtub any more she don't like that black mess in the tub. so i need something besides just hot water. i will need something i can use on my back porch to take pyrodex out of the barrel good, thanks for your help. Last edited by old fart; 09-15-2009 at 06:47 PM.

09-16-2009, 02:16 AM	#5
Pyro01 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Midwestern WI Posts: 205 Images: 3	When I used Pyrodex P in my black powder revolver, I originally tried the dish soap and hot water method. However, I found that even after scrubbing the cylinder in the solution, when I dried it with a blow dryer, there was sulfur residue left. So I've decided only to use a muzzleloading solvent, that way I also don't have to worry so much about the nipple threads rusting out. I think I use the formula No. 9 or whatever it's called. __________________ Hahaha, suck railgun wabbit!

09-16-2009, 02:22 AM	#6
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness. Unit 13 Posts: 11,316 Images: 2	I use Hot water and dish soap in the bathtub when I scrub My Muzzleloaders...Works just great , then I pour boiling water down the barrel so it dries fast , then I oil it ! Rich __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

09-16-2009, 02:42 PM	#7
SwedeSteve Suspected Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Anchortown, Alaska Posts: 23,576 Images: 1	^ It's when he gets in the tub with them that starts the trouble, LOL !! Soap and water works quite well. __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

09-17-2009, 09:58 AM	#14
testhop Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 196	I USE SIMPLE GREEN a household cleaner to clean muzzle loaders. just dip the brush in SIMPLE GREEN brush 10 times. rinse with very hot water then run patchs if not clean enought repeet + finish with boiling water. patch barrel dry greaseor oil with non petrolum products . it helps to run a patch down the barrel in a couple days as the lube in the barrel draws out crud from the pores oh DONT LET THE WIFE FIND OUT HOW GOOD SIMPLE GREEN CLEANS . I DID NOW SHE ISOFTEN TELLING ME TOM YOU ARE OUT OF GUN CLEANING SOAP. __________________ A LOADED GUN IN THE HAND IS BETTER THAN A COP ON THE PHONE HOW DO YOU LIKE THE GREAT CHANGE?

09-15-2009, 06:49 PM	#2
jerry Short Time Shirt Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 13,229 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 1	I use a plastic 5 gallon bucket with very hot water & dish soap. I just dump it in the yard when done (twice with the rinse) the heated water dries the barell well, then I oil it. It's a TC Hawken that is about 30-35 yrs old.

09-15-2009, 07:47 PM	#3
tappedandtagged Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Southwest Arkansas Posts: 840 Blog Entries: 1	I use triple 7 in my blackpowder and do pretty much the same a jerry. I run scalding hot water through it, swab it a few times, then put some cheap gel bore cleaner down it to mainly remove any moisture. The bore gel generally doesn't have anything left to clean out.

09-16-2009, 11:21 PM	#9
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 10,915	I'm sorry but I'm having visions of Mooseman in a bathtub with a half dozen muzzle loaders saying "get over".I wonder if he uses Irish Spring to tame the smell of sulphur?I wonder how receptive his date is that night?Oh well,whatever,I know he'll do it right! ,,,sam.

09-16-2009, 11:36 PM	#11
wcassidy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 285	gotta keep that fouling from building up y'know.... i just pour boiling water down the barrel after i swab it out a couple times with soapy water, cabelas muzzleloader solvent, or 1/3 3%H2O2, 1/3 denatured alcohol, and 1/3 Murphy's oil soap, after that the barrel gets swabbed out with some T/C bore butter patches and it's really clean, while it's still hot from the water i usually melt the bore butter on the outside of the barrel to to protect the steel for the long term

09-17-2009, 04:25 AM	#13
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 10,915	That's showing "REAL" passion for firearms. ,,,sam.

09-18-2009, 12:39 AM	#15
Iron_Colonel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Washington St. Posts: 3,282	Hot soapy water works for me. I'll do that once for a while, then change the water and do it again. Rinse off and then run a couple patches with Hoppes 9 on it, then run it through the soapy water again. Take a few dry patches, then throw the barrel in the oven on the lowest setting for a while, so thats like 175 or so for a little bit to make sure its good and dry. Then while still warm, butter up a patch with some bore butter and swab the barrel. Outside too after it cools a little more. __________________ Mosin Nagant evangelist on a mission to convert YOU!

09-18-2009, 12:52 AM	#16
Kaybe Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Northcentral Ohio Posts: 641	I have had Windex work really well and when I used to Cowboy Shoot, someone told me of the same receipe that WCassidy posted. Both worked well. Simple green worked well also. Good luck with that. I hate cleaning black powder stuff up. samuel, visions or nightmares? __________________ Some people are alive simply because it is illegal to kill them.

09-18-2009, 01:47 AM	#17
Iron_Colonel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Washington St. Posts: 3,282	It is a little dirty, but must be done. Gonna have to break out the ML here this weekend maybe, Oct. 3rd is opening day early elk here in WA. Got the first legs of my possibles going too. I'll take some pics and document the process and post some pics when its all said and done! __________________ Mosin Nagant evangelist on a mission to convert YOU!

09-19-2009, 06:38 PM	#19
338RUM Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Lonaconing, MD Posts: 1,025	I found that hydrogen peroxide works really really well, do not use windex b/c ammonia is cheaper and the ammonia in the windex is what cleans bores. __________________ diaper fetishist, gay ,neo Nazi ,slaves give me hope for the versatility of the human race. -Billy

09-19-2009, 06:49 PM	#20
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas. Posts: 17,217	I just throw mine in the creek and go back a couple days later and fetch it then pour boil'in hog lard on it and lean it in a corner. I wipe it out good fore I use it again...A.H __________________ IN GOD WE TRUST NRA MEMBER