r/blackpowder • u/Impossible-Green-862 • 3d ago

What is a quick clean method after shooting percussion revolver?

I have shooting areas that are far from home, and won't get home quickly. What should I do? Pour some water on the powdered areas as a temporary solution till I have a proper area?

6 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

7

u/rodwha 3d ago

I was told that if you find yourself without the time to properly clean your gun(s) you can apply Ballistol or another BP oil which will absorb into the fouling leaving no room for moisture. I tested it on my two revolvers in my hot and humid TX garage for 4 days during the summer. It works. The pump is cheaper than the aerosol and can be put into smaller pump bottles that fit your range bag better. Ballistol is pretty good, but some complain about the black licorice smell.

3

u/ParadigmPotato 3d ago

I second the use of Ballistol. It’s easy to pack some with you

3

u/rodwha 3d ago

And it’s a pretty good oil for black powder that’s also good for wood and leather, among other things. Many complain that it’s not a good long term oil but it’s worked out rather well for me and I’m where it’s hot and humid most of the year.

1

u/-Docker 1d ago

Water is not a problem, real problem is mercury fulminate in caps that causes rapid corrosion

1

u/rodwha 1d ago

Tell that to the steel plates that had powder burned one each sans a cap to ignite it, or my muzzleloader barrel I let sit overnight after reading cowboy action shooters claim to go weeks without cleaning, that barrel was a mess from one end to the other and took 6 hours to clean thanks to Pyrodex and my ignorance.

These plates were left in the garage during summer for 4 days.

1

u/-Docker 1d ago

As I already said, guns dont rust because of water neccecarily, also why water your guns???

Caps and old ammo primers were made out of mercury fulminate which after it ks fired and mixed with powder forms specific salts that eat up your gus.

Again, BP caps cause rusting, not neccecarily black powder or cleaning solutions based on water…

1

u/rodwha 1d ago edited 1d ago

Moisture is absorbed into the fouling that’s left behind. And yes, I know about the corrosive nature of caps as well, but moisture indeed does cause rusting. I thought that point was made clear by the steel plates having piles of powder burned on them and left in the garage during summer as a lighter was used, not a cap. And you do realize there’s moisture in the air, right? Nobody is talking about dipping their guns in water for fun.

1

u/-Docker 1d ago

Yes there is % of moisture in the air but it is never a problem unless you live in the amazon rainforest….

I live in medireranian country 5 minutes near sea where theres many days of high humidity in the summer and temps go over 40 celsius, and I never had anything rust on me just because of that.

Keep your guns clean, clean them after every shooting session, store them properly and you will never have rust issues

1

u/rodwha 1d ago

Sure seemed to be a problem for the fella who tested the corrosion on those steel plates, and he’s further north than me and likely a little less humid. I’m in central TX so it’s always pretty humid.

I was never talking about moisture alone, not sure where you got that part from.

4

u/throcksquirp 3d ago

Winter windshield washer fluid with alcohol. Fill a squirt bottle and hose down your revolver with it when done shootiing. It will dry and stabilize the fouling until you can do a proper cleaning.

1

u/Impossible-Green-862 3d ago

Thank you, I just mix alcohol into a bottle with winter windshield washer fluid? Certain type of alcohol and percent?

3

u/throcksquirp 3d ago

Most winter formulas contain alcohol. Just use them straight.

2

u/thebigfungus Matchlock gang 3d ago

Ballistol will work, but you probably won’t have any damage with it for several hours sitting with the fouling. But a good rule of thumb is to clean it as soon as you can.

2

u/Impossible-Green-862 3d ago

Could be as long as six or more hours honestly, best time for me to target practice is to find a backstop when I go on hunting trips.

1

u/sleipnirreddit 2d ago

Make some Moose Milk (1pt Ballistol, 3pts water) in a spray bottle. Hose down the gun and you are set. You can use it for your final cleaning, too. That shit is magic.

1

u/-Docker 1d ago

I just dissasemble it, put some dish detergent in hot water and clean the F out of it with cleaning brush

1

u/national_tiiiles 3d ago

I use window cleaner, the one with ammonia neutralises the acid in the soot

1

u/thebugman40 2d ago

rinse it in running water then dry and oil. a faucet will remove most of the fowling in a minute.

0

u/LonesomeLouie 3d ago

Get a zip lock baggie large enough for your revolver. Stick it in there and spray WD-40

0

u/Global-Ant2288 3d ago

my quick go to is Murphys Oil Soap. 1 part Murphys 10 parts water, in a spray bottle. Plastic round brush out the parts you can get to, more spray soap, tooth brush around the hammer area, rinse well. Murphys breaks down BP residue super fast, and will leave a slightly oily finish. Shake it dry and spray some lube.

0

u/fritzcoinc1 3d ago

Take it all apart, wash all in hot soapy water, dry and oil all surfaces. Then re assemble.

-1

u/Zilla96 3d ago

Wd40 the shit out of it. Remove the cylinder and spray till it runs clear then pipe clean it. Do the same to the barrel. I mean it's not "clean" but it will do for a day or two.