I just got my first muzzleloader. It's an Austin & Halleck 420 (blued/wood) inline that I'll be loading with Triple 7 pellets, sabots and 209 primers. There is no shortage of info to be found on cleaning ML's in terms of procedures and solvents both during and after shooting for black powder/traditional, inline/bp substitutes, and so on. There's so much info I'm pretty confused. 
Here's what I'm thinking of doing; please correct me where I'm wrong and offer some advice to help me along:
-Before shooting, swab the bore with an alcohol soaked patch to get any oil out and then run a dry patch.
-Fire off a couple primers before loading and shooting.
-Every 3 shots run a patch down the bore with rubbing alcohol or windex or T/C pre-soaked cleaning patches to keep the fouling down. Also, loosen the breech plug every few shots.
-After a shooting session, run a few patches down the bore with one of the above solutions to clean the fouling out and/or
-...use hot, soapy water and a bronze brush. 6-12 passes should do it.
-If necessary, use a solvent to get the plastic fouling out. What's a good solvent for this?
-For storage, use a regular gun oil or a T/C pre-soaked patch.
-Scrub the threads on the breech plug with a solvent and then lube the threads.
That's about all I can think of at the moment. Am I making it too complicated or am I missing something? I just want a basic approach to cleaning properly so I can enjoy my new smokepole...this is supposed to be fun afterall! Thanks!
Here's what I'm thinking of doing; please correct me where I'm wrong and offer some advice to help me along:
-Before shooting, swab the bore with an alcohol soaked patch to get any oil out and then run a dry patch.
-Fire off a couple primers before loading and shooting.
-Every 3 shots run a patch down the bore with rubbing alcohol or windex or T/C pre-soaked cleaning patches to keep the fouling down. Also, loosen the breech plug every few shots.
-After a shooting session, run a few patches down the bore with one of the above solutions to clean the fouling out and/or
-...use hot, soapy water and a bronze brush. 6-12 passes should do it.
-If necessary, use a solvent to get the plastic fouling out. What's a good solvent for this?
-For storage, use a regular gun oil or a T/C pre-soaked patch.
-Scrub the threads on the breech plug with a solvent and then lube the threads.
That's about all I can think of at the moment. Am I making it too complicated or am I missing something? I just want a basic approach to cleaning properly so I can enjoy my new smokepole...this is supposed to be fun afterall!
Thanks!
