MtMan-List: patch lube and cleaner

["yellow rose/pendleton" <yrrw@cyberramp.net>]

Folks,
Now some of you are going to label me a purist, but here's my two cents
worth on the cleaning of  blackpowder guns. Peroxide is very corrosive ! It
is used in some industries to etch metal on purpose. So why in the world
would want to put it down the bore of your prize rifle or smoothbore. There
are many very effective commercial blackpowder solvents, and I have tried
most of them
at one time or another. The Murphy's Oil Soap reciepes the 409 stuff the
windshield washer fluid I've tried it all. Then it occured to me that our
forefathers didn't carry around a bar of lye soap to clean their guns. They
used just plain water, and that is all I have used for the last six years
with very good results.They washed or wiped their guns out with water dried
them well then greased or oiled the bore, and reloaded. The key to any
cleaning method is thoroughly drying the bore after cleaing then using a
good lube to prevent rust from forming. To backtrack for a moment, stop and
think about it would you use peroxide to clean your best castiron skillet ?
If you treat your gun bore the same as you would you best skillet you won't
go wrong.
 To the fellow with the Lyman rifle that continued to rust. All gun barrels
are not the same. That is to say some metals are more porous than others.
That is not a knock on Lyman guns. Lyman makes a fine rifle that is
probably one of the best out of the box guns around, but their barrels are
a bit more porous than some others and therefore require a little more
maintence. The bottom line is you have to learn what works best in your
gun. Another tip is two or three days after you have cleaned your gun and
put it away run a patch down the bore just to check it to make sure
everything is up to snuff.In high humidity areas like ours this is a very
good idea. I can't emphasize enough, you have to dry the bore completely  !
Now I fully expect to hear from a whole flock of folks who have used their
favorite concoction for gun cleaning for years and wouldn't change no
matter what, and that is fine I'm not trying to condemn or change anyone's
methods. In my experience when we get away from the ways of our forefathers
we are usually messing up. That's my two cents worth.

Pendleton