Cleaning 1861 Springfield

[RNE228]

Since I finally shot the 61 Springfield, any tricks to cleaning it? The directions were vague...

When I clean the Hawken, I pull the barrel, run a brush down it, and then put the breech end in a bucket of very hot water. Then work patches down the bore.

Guessing this can be done same way?

Checked some of the reenactor sites; they had some interesting ways to field clean, but it seems the bucket of hot water and patches would work fine?

[RudyN]

I take the barrel out of the stock, remove the nippel and put the breech end in a bucket of hot soapy water. Pour some soapy water in the barrel and go to town with a cleaning rod and patches until they are clean. Then dry patches until the barrel is dry and then a touch of oil on a patch. That should do it. I know I do a bit more, but can't remember right now.


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[MajorSideburns]

I don't know if you want to be removing the barrel from the stock repeatedly, won't the pins start to get a loose fit in the stock? I just remove the nipple, and plug the breech hole with a bit of patch or something, then put some warm water in the bore and plug the muzzle and turn the gun back and forth, shaking it a bit. I believe this was the official way specified in the original Army manuals. Then I take a rod with tight jag and patch, and run it down the bore, the pressure shoots the water out hard through the breech hole. I use a couple wet patches until they come out not so black, and put some more water and do the process again. Basically do it until you have no more dirty water or wet patches. Then dry patches until they come out totally dry, and a light coat of ballistol on a patch at the end. I use Q-Tips to clean the nipple threads, and a tooth brush to clean around the nipple area on the breech and the nipple. Maybe a few pipe cleaner runs as well. That's what I've been doing lately, hope that helps. I'd like to look into those hose rigs, I've seen a youtube video of a guy using an adapter that is hooked up to a hose, and threads right into where the nipple goes, and you can run that hose into a bucket, and use the rod with jag and patch in the bore to create that suction and siphoning action that you are used to when putting the Hawken barrel in a bucket

[RudyN]

The 1861 Springfield has barrel bands, not pins.

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[THBailey]

I use a "flush nipple" from TOTW. It is a hogged out nipple with a hose running to it. Put the end of the hose in your pan of hot soapy water and use a tightly patched jag to run the water in and out of the bore.

https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/578/1/FLUSH-MMI

I also wipe down the the area and parts near the nipple with a rag dipped in the hot soapy water.

[RNE228]

I ordered one of these... Thanks!

I use a "flush nipple" from TOTW. It is a hogged out nipple with a hose running to it. Put the end of the hose in your pan of hot soapy water and use a tightly patched jag to run the water in and out of the bore.

https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/578/1/FLUSH-MMI

I also wipe down the the area and parts near the nipple with a rag dipped in the hot soapy water.

[FeuerFrei]

I suggest reading "hot soapy water" as "boiling hot soapy water". I used benign Ivory soap. No additives.
Plain boiling for final rinse. Sans nipple of course.
Boiling hot will dry up quicker and more complete before you re-lube etc..

[19K]

I have an 1864 2nd Allen conversion Springfield, just as old, just not a muzzle loader.

I take the stock off, remove the breach, and use hot wet soapy patches and run them in down the barrel until there is no more fouling. I take a bore brush and scrub the bore, run a few more wet patches.

Afterwards run some dry patches to clean up the water and soap until it is dry. I run a few clp soaked patches to get rid of any other fouling, scrub some more, run some dry patches until it comes out clean, and lastly follow up with one or two CLP patches to keep it oiled.

Assemble the rifle and continue on until next time.