Guys,
With all the smarts available here, What is the best method to Season a new 50cal?
Just got my T/C Omega inline stainless with thumbhole stock, Had a Nikon BDL scope mounted on it.
I have just heard so many break in methods, Is there any accepted way that this Braintrust can agree on?
Any information would be sincerely appreciated....

Welcome aboard torasperry!! I just clean the bejeebers out of mine and take em out to shoot.

Welcome to the site!

After 25 years of shooting frontstuffers I personally dont believe in the "seasoning" as people generally refer to it. I like vint, give a good scrubbing using patches soaked with windex and drying. After that I run a patch with a very slight coating of Thompson's Borebutter.

With the exception of a quick reloaded followup-shot, I always swab my barrel between shots with a patch damp with windex. I've found the best accuracy that way.


-DallanC

Torasperry, when I shot black powder and lead I just cleaned it good using hydrogen pyroxide followed by water and gave the bore a light coat of T/C Bore Butter, as Dallan said. With sabots or PowerBelts I've been using Hodgdon 777, keeping a clean bore with just water and patches and shoot with a dry bore. When I get ready to store the gun I use the Bore Butter again to protect it.

Yes, a good lube is absolutely essential for any firearm!! I use Bore Butter on my bp weapons.

I've heard of Windex being used for a lot of things, but never to clean a rifle barrel. What is it about this product that makes it so useful?

Cheers, Vince

Vince wrote:

I've heard of Windex being used for a lot of things, but never to clean a rifle barrel. :lol: What is it about this product that makes it so useful? Cheers, Vince

A) It disolves black powder fouling and oils really fast making for speedy and cleaner cleaning.
B) it evaporates extremely fast, faster than water. This results in less chance of a fouled shot due to moisture immediately after cleaning (think being at the range, shooting & cleaning alot), and less chance of rust internally.
C) Doesnt stink, your wife will let you clean your guns on the kitchen table without pitching a fit LOL!

I learned this trick 10 years ago and love it. I carry a tiny travel size shampoo bottle filled with windex in my possibles bag when I hunt. I also keep 10 or so patches slightly damp with windex in a ziplock in my bag as well for fast in the field swabs.


-DallanC

DallanC

I've always used one of the commercially available bore cleaners, and had a misfire once 'cause I didn't get it all outta the bore before I reloaded.

My question is:

Is it "Windex" specifically, or will any of the window cleaners work?

We use "Ed's Red" to clean and lube/protect the bore of our muzzle loaders. It seems to work very well and doesn't have ammonia init like Windex.

THANKS GENTS,

I will clean the new 50cal with Clenzoil, Just got some and will let you know about it after the cleaning and shooting.

Have to do some sighting work, but this T/C shure looks awesome, Hope it shoots that way too!
Have heard nothing but good reports about Omega and BDC as a combo,
will try it out and report back.

Thanks Again and This is a great place to get information from your peers.

Good Hunting

Best of luck,torasperry, and good shooting!!!!!!

hunterjoe21 wrote:

Is it "Windex" specifically, or will any of the window cleaners work?

As long as it actually has ammonia any will do.

Dimitri

I agree that we can season frying pans, but probably should not season the bores of muzzleloaders. Windex and other concoctions work because they are water-based. The U.S. Army Field Manual specified how to properly clean and protect muzzleloaders for over a century. The specified method was to use hot soapy water to swab the bore, followed by hot water, then dry patches and finally oil patches. Been using that method for decades and it works, costs next to nothing and protects the bore. Take care...
Joe

Seasoning only happens when you DONT use Petrolium products to clean a BP rifle after shooting. And only then when shooting Black powder. Use the 1000+ Bore butter or shortening.
YES seasoning the bore helps them. My old TC Penn. Hunter can shoot 100 shots befor i need to swab crap out because the bore has been conditioned and never see's petrolium based cleaning agents in the bore.
The best way to season a BP ML is to shoot the crap out of it and swab every shot with spit patch then one saturated with 1000+ bore butter, keep doing this and eventually your bore will be seasoned.