Thinking about trying out your home state's "Primitive/Muzzleloader Season" but are unsure about that nasty stuff called black powder?-- Relax, black powder hunting is just as fun and adventurous now as it was in earlier days. However, just as it was for the pioneers, the corrosive effects from black powder can ravage the bore of your muzzleloader. Pull up a chair and follow along as we go step-by-step on how to clean a muzzleloader.

Getting Started:

First, we need a few simple items and an outside cleaning location. Once you start cleaning the barrel, there will be no doubt in your mind that black powder contains sulfur! We like to use:

• An average size bucket filled halfway with hot water
• Dishwashing soap
• Cleaning patches and patch jag for cleaning rod
• Rags
• Gun oil or muzzleloader lube
• Old toothbrush
• Straight screwdriver 
• Black powder cleaning solvent (optional)                                                                    

 Begin by disassembling the gun. Our Hawken style flintlock was as easy as removing the cleaning rod, pushing out the barrel wedge and removing the barrel. Check your owners' manual if you have any questions on barrel removal.

We then remove the flash hole nipple with a screwdriver and submerge the hooked end of the barrel into the hot, soapy water. The patch-cleaning jag is threaded onto the cleaning rod and a patch is placed over the top opening of the barrel. For a very dirty gun, black powder cleaning solvent can also be placed on the patch, but it's not necessary.

The cleaning rod with jag is now used to "pump" the water through the barrel via an up and down pumping action, cleaning out all the powder deposits. Do this procedure several times, continually changing patches until they come out clean. Follow this up by running a few dry patches through until the bore is clean and dry. Clean the nipple, hammer and frizzen area with the toothbrush and some water making sure all cracks and crevices are rid of the corrosive deposits. Dry everything with rags.