First, blackpowder residue by itself is quite soluble in just cold water. If you have hot water, save that until the barrels are cleaned and use it to heat them up so any residual evaporates. If you put the muzzle 2 inches in a pan of water and pump a rod with tight patch up and down a bit it will dissolve the crud quite readily.
Most of your problem is related to the petroleum product in the bore when you started shooting. Blackpowder and petroleum products do make the nasty mess you described. And plastic wads/cases will make it semi permanant. Next time use a little alcohol to swab the bore free of petroleum and then dry it well before shooting. Steve's suggestion regarding Ballistol is very good as it is not a petroleum product and does a good job mixed with 1 part Ballistol to 5 parts water as a cleaning solvent for blackpowder. My blackpowder firearms are lubricated with Ballistol unless I am storing them for really long term. Guns so treated clean as fast as guns used with smokeless powders. Isn't a bad practice to wipe the oil from smokeless powder bores before shooting either.
And every blackpowder shooter learns very early you don't clean blackpowder guns in the house! The smell of hydrogen sulfide has been shown to arouse the sweetest of wives to attempt violent emasculation. Women just over react to the smell - I think it reminds them Eve helped us find the road to hell where H2S is reportedly the only fragrance.
Last edited by Jerry V Lape; 12/12/06 01:54 AM.
