I'm probably the only person in the world to do this, as a final wipe I use paper towel patches. Plain paper towel cut to patch size, a single piece for .32 / .36,  double for .40 and above. I use them dry, of course.  they're cheap and available everywhere. if flash rust is a problem, paper towel patches are aslo mildly abrasive and can remove it fairly quickly.

Thanks for the kind words, guys! It was a great time and was unlike anything I'd ever done before; I hadn't done any real public speaking since college-- some 20 years ago.

I came prepared with blank loads, but I was advised that we should probably refrain from shooting them because of the fact that we were surrounded by homes and businesses, and there was fear that folks might complain about the noise. The event was actually held at Coeur d'Alene Bible Church, who has graciously opened their facility's doors to the troop. I think the next time we put something like this on, we'll likely do it on my property so we don't have any restrictions. I believe the spitting of smoke and fire from a 46" barrel would go a long way to capture the imagination of these kids and leave -at least some of them- thirsting for more.

The Coeur d'Alene Muzzleloaders was actually asked by Garwood Elementary to put on a mountain man demonstration this June, John. You'll be happy to learn they've actually asked us to bring our firearms!

Oh, come on, fellas-- it's clearly funny. Maybe it just requires a bit of juvenile, young-man humor to fully appreciate it. 😄

Have good 'un, Two Knives!  Well, it's a bit late, 8:45 p.m. so I guess I should say that I hope it was a grand day for you!

~Kees~
Also in SE Ohio...

.54 to .75 smoothbores get 2-1/4" to 2-1/2" patches.  Patch thickness needs to be whatever allows a "snug" fit so that it will apply a "scrubbing effect", even when wet with water or Ballistol or WD40.  Patching that appears too tight and are of a goodly size can be placed off center on the muzzle to make them easier to push down/out.

Bbls that don't seem to want to come "clean" (light grayish look), or have leading that doesn't seem to wanna come off, can benefit from the Lee Shaver bbl cleaning treatment of making up a special patch by unrolling and cutting off a width of 0000 steel wool, place over a patch, saturate with oil, push down steel wool forward, and pull out.  The overall thickness of this cleaning patch must yield a more than snug fit that will initially require some serious effort to push down past the muzzle (but will go down easier after that).  It helps heaps to use a brass rod.  Extract the cleaning patch and throw away, make another one,  After using up an entire steel wool pad, yer done.  Not only will the bore come clean it will be lapped it at the same time.  Lee has done this process to brand new bbls and without even shooting the gun in practice has won matches (well, it helps to have a world class shooter eye and trigger finger, tool!).  I've done the Lee bbl cleaning to more than a few old and new guns and he's spot on with the results.