Easiest Muzzleloader to breakdown and clean?

[vonb]

I have been using a Knight MK-85 for years and am looking to replace it. I like my Knight but hate the breakdown process to clean it. It looks like the TC break-action muzzleloaders have taken over and the use of a hand removed breech plug is the way to go. With that said, what is the easiest muzzleloader to clean? I'm thinking something along this line and using BH209.

If there is a cheap smokeless alternative (i.e. HR Handi Rifle) with a custom breech plug, I'm open to that route.

 

[ClearCutHunter]

I just went the no cleaning route.. This is my 12th season with my Savage Smokeless and have brushed it out 3 or 4 times. Had a Knight 10 year or so before that and old Thompson Centers and CVAs before the inlines came about.. Don't miss the cleaning at all and by the gun staying so clean itself the consistency and accuracy is unbelievable!

 

[GMB54]

The actions in my Extreme based Knights stays as clean as either of my Savages. The newer Lehigh bare primer system for Extreme based Knights is awesome. They still require cleaning. Anything but a sml needs regular cleaning. A toolless breach plug doesn't mean much to me and ive never seen one that supports smokeless. Using Blackhorn209 i cant think of a single time ive needed to thoroughly clean until ive gotten home. Never had a plug stick using Blackhorn209 either.

Its a very tiny selling point to me and one i would likely never need.

The CVA Apex 45/70 conversion would be my pick if you wanted to go that route. Any of the conversions will shoot Blackhorn209 without a problem. Ive shot tons of sabotless loads in my 45s with Blackhorn209. There are roughly 3 plug choices. 2 for 209s, one seals at the rear. There also the Hankins LRMP conversion that uses brass modules and a bushing plug. IIRC its around $275 installed. A conversion with a standard Savage plug is around $150 installed. Bushing and/or rear sealing versions cost a little more.

CVA also sells a 45/70 Scout rifle in SS if you really want cheaper.

You can also do a Encore build with a Bergara full contour blued barrel. The barrel alone is around $220 and they seem to be good shooters.

 

[lung-buster]

I have a cva optima with the speed breech and it's a lot easier to clean than my old knight.

 

[wsm]

To me ,my cva opitma v2 is the easiest to clean.

 

[thetoolman]

I have a TC Omega, a 7/16 socket and ratchet, breech plug is out. Cleans up super easy. Some of the Hand Removable breech plugs may be a lil easier, haven't ever had one. But I really enjoy my Omega.

 

[smalljawbasser]

I hate cleaning break open muzzleloaders. To me, a knight with a bolt and BH209 is as easy as it gets.

 

[PillsburyDoughboy]

I hate cleaning break open muzzleloaders. To me, a knight with a bolt and BH209 is as easy as it gets.

Your kidding right? I think anyone that has ever owned a Knight and bought a Break Open would disagree with you.

The no tools design of the break open lends itself to quick clean ups. BH209 is by far the superior substitute powder. Simply run a dry patch down the tube then a wet patch of your favourite smokeless powder solvent and your done done done.

At the end of the season you do a bit more detailed cleaning of the firing pin and such but that is no biggie.

 

[slinger]

I shoot a CVA accura with Blackhorn 209. Three wet patches and three dry ones and the barrel is done. The breach plug can be cleaned in less than a minute with q tips and hoppes.

 

[GMB54]

I hate cleaning break open muzzleloaders. To me, a knight with a bolt and BH209 is as easy as it gets.

Your kidding right? I think anyone that has ever owned a Knight and bought a Break Open would disagree with you.

The no tools design of the break open lends itself to quick clean ups. BH209 is by far the superior substitute powder. Simply run a dry patch down the tube then a wet patch of your favourite smokeless powder solvent and your done done done.

At the end of the season you do a bit more detailed cleaning of the firing pin and such but that is no biggie.

So you only clean your bore is what you are saying. A Knight bare primer rifle requires 2 tools to take apart including the bolt and trigger. I can clean my bolt and trigger in under 5min. No tool needed for the firing pin/bolt assembly.

The same allen wrench for the stock fits the trigger.

And yes ive owned an Accura. I did not find it the least bit easier to clean thoroughly.

The breach on my Knights looks like this after 40 shots

My bolt looks like this

Pretty hard to imagine any break action being easier to clean when the fouling in the breach is virtually nill. My Accura would leave fouling all the way down into the hinge pin area.

 

[Jcalder]

I hate cleaning break open muzzleloaders. To me, a knight with a bolt and BH209 is as easy as it gets.

Your kidding right? I think anyone that has ever owned a Knight and bought a Break Open would disagree with you.

The no tools design of the break open lends itself to quick clean ups. BH209 is by far the superior substitute powder. Simply run a dry patch down the tube then a wet patch of your favourite smokeless powder solvent and your done done done.

At the end of the season you do a bit more detailed cleaning of the firing pin and such but that is no biggie.

So you only clean your bore is what you are saying. A Knight bare primer rifle requires 2 tools to take apart including the bolt and trigger. I can clean my bolt and trigger in under 5min. No tool needed for the firing pin/bolt assembly.

The same allen wrench for the stock fits the trigger.

And yes ive owned an Accura. I did not find it the least bit easier to clean thoroughly.

The breach on my Knights looks like this after 40 shots

My bolt looks like this

Pretty hard to imagine any break action being easier to clean when the fouling in the breach is virtually nill. My Accura would leave fouling all the way down into the hinge pin area.

my knight never looked that good and I would scrub and soak. I currently own an optima v2 and can have it broke down in less time than it took to gather my Allen wrench and get the bolt and breach plug out.


That being said. I shoot bh209 and use a lot more than 10 patches. Everyone I've heard talks about how easy and quick it takes them and I'm wondering why it's not like that for me


Big or small, kill em all

 

[PillsburyDoughboy]

Yep just clean the barrel inbetween hunts. I have virtually zero blowback with Win209 primers. Just wipe what I can get to . Almost zero residue. I clean the FP by removing the forearm and the FP with two .screw drivers at the end of the season. Not seen enough blowback in that area to be concerned about really. But I do it out of abundance of caution,


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[PillsburyDoughboy]

I hate cleaning break open muzzleloaders. To me, a knight with a bolt and BH209 is as easy as it gets.

Your kidding right? I think anyone that has ever owned a Knight and bought a Break Open would disagree with you.

The no tools design of the break open lends itself to quick clean ups. BH209 is by far the superior substitute powder. Simply run a dry patch down the tube then a wet patch of your favourite smokeless powder solvent and your done done done.

At the end of the season you do a bit more detailed cleaning of the firing pin and such but that is no biggie.

So you only clean your bore is what you are saying. A Knight bare primer rifle requires 2 tools to take apart including the bolt and trigger. I can clean my bolt and trigger in under 5min. No tool needed for the firing pin/bolt assembly.

The same allen wrench for the stock fits the trigger.

And yes ive owned an Accura. I did not find it the least bit easier to clean thoroughly.

The breach on my Knights looks like this after 40 shots

My bolt looks like this

Pretty hard to imagine any break action being easier to clean when the fouling in the breach is virtually nill. My Accura would leave fouling all the way down into the hinge pin area.

my knight never looked that good and I would scrub and soak. I currently own an optima v2 and can have it broke down in less time than it took to gather my Allen wrench and get the bolt and breach plug out.


That being said. I shoot bh209 and use a lot more than 10 patches. Everyone I've heard talks about how easy and quick it takes them and I'm wondering why it's not like that for me


Big or small, kill em all

You need to use a dry patch first to get the soot out. If you use a wet patch first you just create a soupy mess with BH209 once you get the soot out you run a wet patch of your favorite powder solvent . I like Butches Bore shine. Let it sit for about two min, turn the patch over and run it again. Run several dry patches till clean,


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[Jcalder]

I hate cleaning break open muzzleloaders. To me, a knight with a bolt and BH209 is as easy as it gets.

Your kidding right? I think anyone that has ever owned a Knight and bought a Break Open would disagree with you.

The no tools design of the break open lends itself to quick clean ups. BH209 is by far the superior substitute powder. Simply run a dry patch down the tube then a wet patch of your favourite smokeless powder solvent and your done done done.

At the end of the season you do a bit more detailed cleaning of the firing pin and such but that is no biggie.

So you only clean your bore is what you are saying. A Knight bare primer rifle requires 2 tools to take apart including the bolt and trigger. I can clean my bolt and trigger in under 5min. No tool needed for the firing pin/bolt assembly.

The same allen wrench for the stock fits the trigger.

And yes ive owned an Accura. I did not find it the least bit easier to clean thoroughly.

The breach on my Knights looks like this after 40 shots

My bolt looks like this

Pretty hard to imagine any break action being easier to clean when the fouling in the breach is virtually nill. My Accura would leave fouling all the way down into the hinge pin area.

my knight never looked that good and I would scrub and soak. I currently own an optima v2 and can have it broke down in less time than it took to gather my Allen wrench and get the bolt and breach plug out.


That being said. I shoot bh209 and use a lot more than 10 patches. Everyone I've heard talks about how easy and quick it takes them and I'm wondering why it's not like that for me


Big or small, kill em all

You need to use a dry patch first to get the soot out. If you use a wet patch first you just create a soupy mess with BH209 once you get the soot out you run a wet patch of your favorite powder solvent . I like Butches Bore shine. Let it sit for about two min, turn the patch over and run it again. Run several dry patches till clean,


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I've tried it both ways but will try the dry patch first again. Thanks.


Big or small, kill em all

 

[FrontierGander]

CVA/Traditions break actions can be shimmed or o ringed for 100% blowby free fit.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#9262k611/=rgsfbp

This Accura V2 ran a shimmed out firing pin bushing that put a .003" crush fit on the primer.

 

[PillsburyDoughboy]

DRy patch always first with BH209. Soot or cake like film is the best way to describe how BH209 is on the inside of the barrel after firing a sustained set of shots.

If you push down a wet mop first all that SOOT or CAKE like film gets all clumped up and gooey for lack of a better word to put it and it makes it very difficult to clean. Much like you stated it takes 8 to 20 patches to get clean after that. Its just a mess.

A dry patch (or two) will get the bulk of the soot out. Then a wet soaked patch of Hoppes , Butches or other powder solvent attached to either a brush of proper size or a jag of proper size and run it down the bore. I will let it sit for a couple of min to soak in and soften anything that is down the bore. Then I will reverse the patch to maximize the use of the powder solvent and not waste the patch or the solvent then repeat. Then I will run 1 or two dry patches or till clean. On excessively dirty bores I have had to repeat the process. If I am going to store the MZ for extended periods of time I will run a patch of Frog Lube down the bore. Its become my favorite Lube. If I plan to hunt with it I will run a dry patch down the bore,, snap a primer on the patch and jag and inspect to see if the patch has a hole burned in it. If I have proper ignition I will load it up and get ready to hunt.

 

[TNReb]

I have a cva optima with the speed breech and it's a lot easier to clean than my old knight.

I switched to a CVA his year also and it's about as easy as I gets... other than not cleaning it.

 

[Grill-n-man]

Easiest to clean or take apart? Have owned/own (with removable breech plugs) Knights. an Encore, and several CVAs. With the common powder being pyrodex ( pellet and loose ). For comparison of time lets just say all the breech plugs had an anti seize or lube applied so therefore the plug wasn't stuck and had say 4 shots fired at the range. And considering that I don't clean nor plan on ever cleaning one while in the woods and if that needs arises then im heading back to the house so lets start. Either of Knight's disk extreme that me or my wife currently shoot probably take about 30 seconds longer to remove the breech plug than say some of the tool less ones. So the time a "tool less" breech plug saves means absolutely jack to me or my wallet. As far as actually cleaning one time is roughly the same. How when a knight has a bolt? Well the time it takes to clean the bolt is actually less than the time it takes the clean the receiver where the action locks on break opens. Don't clean that part of them say some, well might want to rethink that cause they is several things in there like trigger, hammer, firing pin parts that are getting black powder residue and just waiting to lock up. Seen an Encore, that shots BH209 only, the other day that did just that. But in reality "cleaning time" is all up to the cleaner. Know some that simply squirt a foaming bore cleaner in and swab and done. Others are more particular. My self it takes about 30-40 minutes to clean after sighting in. and up to an hour to clean one after season. Some say I take to long but mine go boom and are not covered in rust.

 

[FrontierGander]

nothing to clean on the inside of the frame on my break actions. If you have blow by, its easily fixed on a cva or traditions with the methods above.

 

[Timber Ghost]

To me ,my cva opitma v2 is the easiest to clean.

Absolutely