Cleaning muzzleloader.

[yamaha200]

I cleaned my muzzleloader this past Friday, and loaded it. I took my son hunting Saturday morning. He killed a deer with it.I reloaded it, and about an hour later I killed a deer with it. His fell where he shot it, mine ran out of sight, but not far, so I reloaded it when we went to track it. Would you recommend, unloading it, and cleaning it good before my next hunt, which will be this Friday, or Saturday, or do you think it will be good to go. I have shot it several times before, just target practicing, and never had a problem.

 

[BigD_625]

I shot 4 times yesterday and won't hunt again until Saturday. I cleaned mine today, just so it would be a little easier to clean the primer pocket. Just from yesterday, it was caked on pretty good. Also, if I don't shoot again next weekend (got three yesterday), I can just push out the round and not have to fully clean it again.

 

[shopson]

If it were mine I would hunt with it as is.

 

[old buck 171]

I was taught if you shoot a ML you don't go to bed that night before you clean it.That is what rule I follow religously.

 

[Treestand Troubadour]

I was taught if you shoot a ML you don't go to bed that night before you clean it.That is what rule I follow religously.

x2

 

[cecil30-30]

If it was shot,i'd clean it,chances are it is already rusting/corrodeing up...

 

[Wobblyshot1]

Clean it!

 

[Crosshairy]

Depends on the powder type. If it wasn't especially prone to fouling, I truthfully would probably skip it one more time.

The gun I'm using now, on the other hand, needs to be cleaned after looking in its general direction for more than 30 seconds.

 

[hitek7]

Clean it. The little time it takes could save you from loosing a monster. May not even make a difference, but will it hurt to clean it? Nope.

 

[TRIGGER]

I would clean it if it were mine

 

[TN Larry]

I have a stainless gun, however, I still clean it the day of the shot as said above. There is no way that I would have even let it sit until now without cleaning it or filling it full of oil. The only time that I have not cleaned mine on the day of the shot is when I didn't have time and filled it full of oil.

 

[Lawrence]

I was taught if you shoot a ML you don't go to bed that night before you clean it.That is what rule I follow religously.

x3

you take care of the muzzy
and it will take care of you
that goes for all my guns

 

[BMan]

I wouldn't clean it, particularly if you're using BH209 (noncorrosive - another reason to use it).

 

[ratsnakeboogy]

I wouldn't clean it, particularly if you're using BH209 (noncorrosive - another reason to use it).

I love BH209 and shoot a ton of it in my Knights, but the residue it leaves is corrosive. I clean mine at least the next day. Cleaning up after BH209 is much easier than other sub powders (another reason I like it), but it will rust a barrel.

 

[BMan]

I wouldn't clean it, particularly if you're using BH209 (noncorrosive - another reason to use it).

I love BH209 and shoot a ton of it in my Knights, but the residue it leaves is corrosive. I clean mine at least the next day. Cleaning up after BH209 is much easier than other sub powders (another reason I like it), but it will rust a barrel.

BH209 advertises as noncorrosive - which is different than rusting. You still need to run an oil patch through.

 

[RKenney]

Why wouldn't you clean it? It might be ok, but again, why wouldn't you clean it?

 

[bowriter]

I clean mine everytime I shoot it. If I don't shoot and I am going to put it up, I clean it anyway using hot soap and water and bore cleaner. I have not had a hang or slow fire in more years than I can remember.

When hunting in extreme cold, I leave the gun outside at night to avoid condensation. Never had a problem.

Last year, when I got it out for the season, I discovered it was loaded. It then came to me, when the illness hit me three years ago, I never touched the gun again. I could think of no reason it would not shoot. The doe was 65-yards and the gun fired perfectly.

So, who knows?

 

[gator-n-buck]

Here's something I discovered with my new MZ T/C Prohunter. It shoots better when it's not perfectly cleaned. I have notice that it shoots better after a few rounds with little cleaning, compared to the first couple shots with a clean barrel.

I know a guy that would shoot a 22 cal. gun for competition and he would never cleaned the barrel because the bullets would rifle better with fouling in the barrel.

Also keep in mnd you do want to keep a MZ clean due to black powder...

 

[dr]

I put my muzzleloader up still loaded every year, and test fire it the next season with no problem. After shooting it though, I clean it that day.

 

[ratsnakeboogy]

I wouldn't clean it, particularly if you're using BH209 (noncorrosive - another reason to use it).

I love BH209 and shoot a ton of it in my Knights, but the residue it leaves is corrosive. I clean mine at least the next day. Cleaning up after BH209 is much easier than other sub powders (another reason I like it), but it will rust a barrel.

BH209 advertises as noncorrosive - which is different than rusting. You still need to run an oil patch through.

BH209 in its' unfired form is noncorrosive, the residue left after firing is corrosive. This is brought about by a chemical change upon combustion. Read the disclaimer on the newer BH209 bottles. Maybe my chemistry is lacking, but any corrosion in regards to steel would be rust?

 

[yamaha200]

I got it all cleaned up. Did the traditional hot water and soap, bore cleaner deal. All ready to go for this weekend !