Preventing corrosion immediately after firing black powder in collector guns

Ardent

Ardent

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I have an antique Colt SAA I look forward to shooting with black powder, however I am very concerned about the corrosive effects following firing until I get it home as I hate the thought of a $4000+ gun getting eaten away in the hours between firing and cleaning.

Will a heavy spray down of oil help in slowing down the effects temporarily if applied immediately after firing, perhaps in concert with a bore and chamber brush?

Any other ideas/methods?

Thanks!
 
Blackpowder residue isn't all that corrosive. The chlorate primers in old ammunition were worse. You could clean the revolver right at the range, if you wanted.
 
Warm Water with a touch of mild soap is the best cleaner you can use to remove BP fouling. I would follow up with lots of moisture displacing lube , like LPS 1 or something like that. Remove the grips if you can prior to cleaning, if wood...
Frank
 
In addition to echoing Tiriaq, I would add that your greatest concern would be powder residues in the mechanism ie above the trigger and around the base of the hammer/hand area. I think the main thing is to keep them well protected with a light grease.
I shoot several original muzzle loaders and have not experienced any major problems.

cheers mooncoon
 
mooncoon said:
In addition to echoing Tiriaq, I would add that your greatest concern would be powder residues in the mechanism ie above the trigger and around the base of the hammer/hand area. I think the main thing is to keep them well protected with a light grease.
I shoot several original muzzle loaders and have not experienced any major problems.

cheers mooncoon
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I appreciate the light grease suggestion, duly noted, I like preventative options. :)
 
Personally, after firing a BP revolver, I do a 100% disassembly and wash all parts in soapy hot water. Then dry in the oven at 150 degrees for 5 minutes. While still hot, I melt crisco onto the parts and re-assemble. Never had any corrosion yet!
 
I do not know how much fouling is going to get into the lockwork of your SAA. But if you are going to be detail stripping the revolver from time to time, it might be a really good idea to get a replacement set of screws. Install the replacements, and eliminate the risk of damaging the originals. Keep them in a safe place. With the more expensive collectibles, condition and value are closely related; no point in doing harm.
 
Claven2 said:
Personally, after firing a BP revolver, I do a 100% disassembly and wash all parts in soapy hot water. Then dry in the oven at 150 degrees for 5 minutes. While still hot, I melt crisco onto the parts and re-assemble. Never had any corrosion yet!
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Add a touch of garlic and some red wine......
 
.what i like best for black powder is Balistoil.Popular in USA but not here in Canada.Because it is water soluble if you do use water it will still protect the metal even if you dont get all the water off.
 
I use ballistol on all my long guns, but I find it un-becessary in revolvers because I detail strip & wash with soap to get the hugroscopic fouling out of the action anyhow.
 
I have a stainless old army, after shooting I remove the grips and put it through the dishwasher, comes out spotless. Dries itself because it is so hot. I then spray down with WD 40 and put her away.
 
210 said:
.what i like best for black powder is Balistoil.Popular in USA but not here in Canada.Because it is water soluble if you do use water it will still protect the metal even if you dont get all the water off.
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Can you buy ballistol in Canada?
 
juanvaldez said:
Can you buy ballistol in Canada?
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Yes, but it's tough to find :(

I actually order all mine from Fall Creek Sutlery in the USA when placing orders for other widgets b/c they ship to Canada and charge a fair price for it.
 
I looked it up and there is also a canadian distributer at ballistol.ca

When my girls are practicing during the summer, they shoot (rifles) about 3 times a week, so cleaning has become automatic. Hot water then add a solution of pinesol and water soluable cutting oil (premixed), after that a wipedown with bore butter. They use real BP not a subsitute.

for longer term storage I use Eezox, one of the best anticorrosive oils.
 
The corrosive of black powder comes from the absorption of water as it sits after shooting. You have *some* time. The water mixes with the sulphur salt residues from burning and forms trace amounts of sulphurous and sulphuric acid. That's why its best to soapy water wash, then dry thoroughly and then coat with a film of bore butter or similar non-petroleum oil.
 
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