Getting muzzleloaders clean

[Gil Martin]

I shoot mostly flintlocks, blackpowder and patched balls. The cleaning process I prefer is pleanty of hot soapy water, hot water, dry patches and oil patches. That is a good way to go, but I suspect it does not get the bore as clean as I would like it to be.

I use a snug fitting brush after the hot water cleaning process and Shooters Choice patches. The stuff that comes out of the bore of my muzzleloaders is a caution. At first I thought it was coming from a dirty brush. Not so. I used a new brush and it soon became black with crud. I went the next step and put a piece of lead wiping cloth on a brush, it too came out black. I am confident the bores are now cleaner than ever. All the best...
Gil