Traditional Muzzleloading Association

Shooting Traditional Firearms and Weapons => General Interest => Topic started by: Thunderhawk1828 on August 12, 2009, 08:46:11 PM

Title: Lock Cleaning?
Post by: Thunderhawk1828 on August 12, 2009, 08:46:11 PM

Hey all:

I haven't shot flintlocks all that much. Had one before and not had this problem.

Have a Traditions Rifle and after a shooting session (rifle is a good shooter) I need to take the lock plate off and clean out a filthy inlet area as the smoke / powder residue gets behind the lock. A 50 cal with 60 gr of FFF Powder.

Question is - is this normal? I don't think it is and maybe a poor fit of lock plate, but again I don't have the experience to know. Can't believe you need to clean behind the lock every time?


Thanks for the help.

Thunderhawk

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Post by: Three Hawks on August 12, 2009, 09:07:58 PM

In a little book called, as I remember it, "A Soldier-Like Way" describing the daily lives of Colonial era English soldiers, the protocol for cleaning the musket we know as Brown Bess mandated that the soldier  dismount and clean the lock every time the arm had been fired.

We are so accustomed to clean burning smokeless powder and non corrosive priming that we have either forgotten or never learned the lessons of the past when not thouroughly cleaning one's firelock was a prelude to catastrophe.

In a word, yes, it's normal to dismount and clean your lock and the lock mortice.  Forego the pleasure for a few months and you will learn why.

Three Hawks

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Post by: Craig Tx on August 12, 2009, 09:14:04 PM

I clean the lock and lock mortice every time.

Just part of the routine...



Craig

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Post by: vermontfreedom on August 12, 2009, 09:49:01 PM

Quote from: "Craig Tx"

I clean the lock and lock mortice every time.
Just part of the routine...Craig

ditto

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Post by: david32cal on August 12, 2009, 10:27:28 PM

same here

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Post by: Bruce Bogart on August 12, 2009, 10:36:27 PM

Me Too

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Post by: Captchee on August 12, 2009, 11:05:04 PM

well . if the rifle is built  tight , there should be little to clean .
. now as a rifle gets more use  and the lock is taken out and put back in , things wear and  it can  need to be cleaned more often . as i sit here writing this,,, im trying to think , but in all honesty i dont think i take my lock out but maybe  once every couple months .  simpley becouse there is  really nothing there to clean , just a wipe down  to get out any  dust  or matter thats gottin back there  but I never find powder or fouling ?

 if you are getting  un burnt powder , your lock isnt fitting tight to the barrel .
 if your getting fouling , then eather your lock isnt fit tight ,  the lock doesnt fit tight to the wood behind the cock or back edge of the pan OR you have a leaking breech plug .
 now dust and things will work up  through the triggers .
 but if its indeed  alot of fouling and un burnt powder then you have an issue that you need to address .

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Post by: Sir Michael on August 12, 2009, 11:29:51 PM

Like Cap said, if the lock and barrel are tightly fitted there will be little intrusion of smoke and powder behind the lock.  However, having said that, I have to recommend that after each shooting session the lock be removed and checked.  Most of the time it will need nothing other than a little oil here and there but occasionally it will require cleaning and tightening of the odd screw.  At least one a year the entire lock should be completely disassembled and inspected.  After if you follow the guidance of "THOSE THAT KNOW" :shake  :hey-hey  

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Post by: butterchurn on August 12, 2009, 11:45:21 PM

I clean my lock inards every time

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Post by: Old Salt on August 13, 2009, 07:48:59 AM

I don't think it is normal/correct to have residue buildup behind the lock plate.  That shouldn't happen but I know it does on some rifles.  

But even if it doesn't happen I still remove and usually disassemble parts of the lock to make sure it is clean and lubricated.

salt

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Post by: Wyoming Mike on August 13, 2009, 07:58:15 AM

I pull the lock when I clean just because it is easier to clean the exterior with it out of the rifle.  You should not be getting any crud inside the lock from firing.  That shows the rifle does not have a good barrel to lock bolster fit.  I have one rifle with this condition and have to clean the inside with a few swipes of a cleaning patch.  I always put a drop of oil on the moving parts of the lock when I clean.

All my flintlocks get taken apart for a good cleaning and lube job about once a year.

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Post by: sse on August 13, 2009, 09:50:29 AM

I've never pulled the lock on my capper.  I asked here how to do it once, but then forgot about it.  I suppose I should try it some time.

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Post by: Old Salt on August 13, 2009, 10:04:16 AM

Over the weekend while at a state ML shoot I overheard one explaination for keeping your locks clean and lubricated.  

The simple reason is to be certain of best lock speed/function.  

The idea being more important to flintlock shooters with the hopes of eliminating any variation in lock speed/function but reasonable for percussion too.

Salt

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Post by: Captchee on August 13, 2009, 10:39:24 AM

again . if your getting so much grud behind your lockplate then you have an issue . it sould not build up like that .
 now thats not saying there is anything wrong with taking your lock out and cleaning it every time you clean your rifle .
 nope ,  nothing wrong with that at all . but as i said  if your getting enough crud back there to enterfear with the working and speed of the lock  then one should be looking for the WHY of it .

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Post by: MikeC on August 13, 2009, 11:35:55 AM

Always, repeat always, remove the flintlock and clean it with an old soft tooth brush in warm soapy water, then rinse off, wipe dry, spray down with WD-40, wipe down, spray with a little gun oil and reinstall.  takes about 10 minutes.  Don't overtighten the lock screws when you reinstall it, just make them snug.

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Post by: butterchurn on August 13, 2009, 12:29:42 PM

Yup, no crud should be getting behind lock plate.  Check your bolster barrel fit.  If needed do a little inletting touch-up.

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Post by: Mitch on August 13, 2009, 04:10:13 PM

I shoot about 3-4 times a week(varmints)-my flinters stay loaded...I pull the locks about once a month or so...never had a problem..your mileage may vary...

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Post by: Thunderhawk1828 on August 13, 2009, 07:21:14 PM

Thanks to all responses. Don't mind the tear down and cleaning / oil on moving parts, etc about 1/mo. But I am getting residue (not powder) but smoke residue behind the lock. I think its a "not a good fit thing" so it may need some type of "fill in" around the lock opening - but that's not me so I'll need to take it someone for that work.

Another thing - the trigger pull seems to be heavy. Any idea how to reduce the pull on a Traditions single trigger Kentucky?  I know - manufacturer liab etc. Don't want a hair trigger but definitely less then what it is now.

Thanks for all the advise and answers.


Thunderhawk

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Post by: Captchee on August 13, 2009, 08:43:46 PM

traditions  often puts a  full cock adjustment screw on the tumbler . tke the lock off and  take a look if its there , its just an adjustment , if not  your looking at  moving the pivit point

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Post by: Sir Michael on August 13, 2009, 09:03:32 PM

You might also want to take the entire trigger mechanism off the rifle, take it apart, clean and polish all the internal surfaces and see what that does.

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Post by: Old Salt on August 14, 2009, 07:52:04 AM

Quote from: "Sir Michael"

You might also want to take the entire trigger mechanism off the rifle, take it apart, clean and polish all the internal surfaces and see what that does.

Especially if you are getting residue behind the lock.  

Trigger pull can change very fast if the lock is getting dirty while shooting.  

Salt