Muzzleloader Cleaning Tips

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WARNING: BE SURE THAT YOUR RIFLE IS UNLOADED PRIOR TO CLEANING. ATTEMPTING TO CLEAN A LOADED OR PRIMED FIREARM CAN CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO THE SHOOTER OR BYSTANDERS.

Thorough cleaning of the bolt assembly, barrel, breech plug, nipple, receiver and trigger assembly are necessary for proper function of your firearm.

WARNING: AN IMPROPERLY CLEANED AND LUBRICATED RIFLE MAY BE DANGEROUS AND COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE AND SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO THE SHOOTER OR BYSTANDERS.

THOROUGH CLEANING

To disassemble the bolt assembly for cleaning:

  1. Remove the assembly from the firearm.
  2. Pull the bolt assembly away from the firing pin assembly by hooking the notch on the firing pin over a metal edge and pulling (See Picture 1). Insert a coin into the slot that will become visible in the side of the firing pin head.
  3. Holding the bolt assembly, unscrew the firing pin assembly and slide it out of the bolt body.
    CAUTION: Clean the firing pin assembly as a unit. No further disassembly is required.
  4. Clean all parts with Remington All-Natural Bore Cleaner and dry with a clean cloth.
  5. Apply a light coating of Rem™ Oil to all parts.
    NOTE: The bolt assembly should be lubricated with Rem™ Oil instead of Remington Wonder Lube paste for black powder. The use of a non-recommended lubricant could cause serious function problems, possibly leading to accidental firing.
drawning of how to disassemble and reassemble a bolt assembly

To assemble the bolt assembly:

  1. Slide the firing pin assembly into the rear of the bolt assembly.
  2. Tighten the firing pin assembly by hand only.
  3. Pull the coin from the slot in the firing pin head.
  4. Align the firing pin head with the small notch in the rear of the bolt assembly. The bolt is now cocked. See Picture 2.
    NOTE: The bolt must be cocked to assemble the bolt assembly in the receiver.
  5. Assemble the bolt assembly in the receiver.
drawning of how to disassemble and reassemble a bolt assembly

To clean the barrel, breech plug, and nipple:

  1. Keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, put the safety to the 'S' position, open the bolt, and be sure there is no percussion cap or percussion cap residue remaining on the nipple.
  2. Use the ramrod to be sure there is no charge in the barrel. WARNING: If there is a charge in the barrel, do not attempt to remove it by shooting it out if you are unsure what the charge is or if you are unsure if the charge is safe. Instead, remove the charge using the instructions in your instruction book.
  3. Remove the bolt assembly.
  4. Remove the nipple.
  5. Remove the breech plug.
  6. Soak the nipple and breech plug in Remington All-Natural Bore Cleaner.
  7. Using a small brush and Remington All-Natural Bore Cleaner, clean the breech plug threads in the rear of the barrel thoroughly. Use a cleaning patch or clean cloth to wipe the breech plug threads clean of all residue.
  8. Insert the bore cleaning tube through the receiver, and thread it into the breech plug threads by hand only. This is required to protect the breech plug threads and trigger assembly from fouling and debris.
    WARNING: Fouling and debris from the bore may fall into the trigger assembly if the bore cleaning guide is not used. This could impair the function of the trigger assembly and may result in serious personal injuries or death to the shooter or bystanders.
  9. Attach the cleaning jag to the ramrod. Assemble the ramrod extension and handle and place a cleaning patch soaked with Remington All-Natural Bore Cleaner evenly over the cleaning jag.
  10. Insert the jag into the bore cleaning tube, and push it firmly into the barrel from the breech. Swab the bore with short strokes for best results. Push the patch through the barrel and remove the cleaning patch at the muzzle.
  11. Using the same method, push a dry patch through the bore.
  12. Repeat steps 9-11 until the dry patch is clean.
  13. Place a cleaning patch with Remington Wonder Lube paste for black powder evenly on the jag and push it into the bore from the breech. Swab the bore with short strokes to uniformly apply the paste.
  14. Repeat step 13 several times to properly condition and preserve the bore.
  15. Thoroughly clean and dry the breech plug and nipple.
  16. Sparingly apply Remington Wonder Lube paste for black powder on the threads of the breech plug and nipple.
    NOTE: Avoid putting Remington Wonder Lube paste for black powder on the front face of the breech plug and nipple and in the flash hole of the nipple. Excess Remington Wonder Lube paste for black powder may foul the powder charge and possibly cause a misfire or hangfire.
  17. Reinstall the breech plug and the nipple.
  18. Wipe the exterior of the barrel and receiver with a cloth treated with Remington Wonder Lube paste for black powder.

To clean the receiver and trigger assembly:

  1. Keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, put the safety in the 'S' position, open the bolt, and be sure there is no percussion cap or percussion cap residue remaining on the nipple.
  2. Use the ramrod to be sure there is no charge in the barrel.
    WARNING: If there is a charge in the barrel, do not attempt to remove it by shooting it out if you are unsure what the charge is or if you are unsure if the charge is safe. Instead, remove the charge using the instructions in your instruction book.
  3. Remove the bolt assembly.
  4. Turn the rifle upside down.
  5. Remove the three screws, and remove the barreled action from the stock. See Picture 3.
  6. Spray the four points of the trigger assembly with Rem™ Oil as shown. See Picture 4. Let stand for 15 minutes. Spray again to wash off the components. Shake off excess lubricant.
    NOTE: Prevent the Rem™ Oil from entering the barrel by installing the breech plug and nipple. The petroleum base lubricant will break down the protective coating of Remington Wonder Lube paste for black powder in the barrel and increase barrel fouling after shooting.
    drawning of where to spray the four points of the trigger assembly
  7. Wipe away powder fouling in the receiver with a cloth containing Remington All-Natural Bore Cleaner.
  8. Wipe down the exterior of the receiver and barrel with a cloth treated with Remington Wonder Lube paste for black powder.
    WARNING: Do not apply Remington Wonder Lube paste for black powder to any part of the trigger assembly. The trigger assembly and the bolt assembly are the only components of your rifle that require cleaning with Rem™ Oil only. The use of a non-recommended lubricant could cause serious function problems, possibly leading to accidental firing.
  9. Replace the barreled action in the stock and reinstall the three screws. See Picture 3.