Pietta 1858 Rem: How to unjam a cylinder rod at the range?

[BigJ]

Any suggestions on how to keep the cylinder rod free and moveable, or break it loose once stuck during a range session? Over the weekend I got through about 30 shots before it gunked up enough to freeze in there solid as a rock.

Thanks guys!

[Geologyjohn]

Shooting BP is kind of a "clean as you go" thing. I have learn that any given BP firearm is good for a certain number of shots before I start noticing difficulty in loading. At that point, I give it a rough clean and keep shooting, or call it quits for the day (and thoroughly start clean it as soon as I get home). And in my experience, nothing gunks up faster than a BP revolver. But if you take care of it, it will last as long as any of your other pistols. Have fun with it. Geologyjohn

[BigJ]

Thanks for the reply Geo.

Can you maybe give this BP newbie a rundown as to how you "clean as you go" at the range? What you bring, how you clean etc? That'd be really helpful.

Thanks again!

[usmcchet9296]

Shooting BP is kind of a "clean as you go" thing. I have learn that any given BP firearm is good for a certain number of shots before I start noticing difficulty in loading. At that point, I give it a rough clean and keep shooting, or call it quits for the day (and thoroughly start clean it as soon as I get home). And in my experience, nothing gunks up faster than a BP revolver. But if you take care of it, it will last as long as any of your other pistols. Have fun with it. Geologyjohn

I have 6 black powder firearms and 3 are revolvers and I agree with what he said. Clean as you go and you can fire reliably

[tujungatoes]

Same here. Grease it up and then wipe down and re-grease as necessary.

[Geologyjohn]

Dude/Big J (as in Jackie Treehorn?), I take plenty of rags, and a few more rags, some pipe cleaners, and whatever your favorite cleaning solvent and the rods/brushes to clean the pistol with me to the range. BP pistols seem to be labor intensive. Every couple of cylinders shot, I take the pistol apart and clean all of the gunk off of every surface that I can get to. That includes running pipe cleaners through each nipple/cone. However, having said all of that, I typically don't shoot very many shots through my pistols before I set them aside and pick up something else to shoot. I don't like to clean firearms at the range. When it comes to BP, I shoot my long guns far more than my pistols, for the above reasons. Just remember to clean the pistol as soon as you get home. I have seen even "stainless" BP pistols (as in the stainless Ruger Old Army) turned to rusted junk by those that don't adhere to the above. Have fun with it. Geologyjohn (not an Urban Achiever).

[Dutch3]

I think the key is to clean/lube before it locks up. The only lube I bring to the range is plain old lard. After 2-3 cylinders shot through my Pietta 1858, I pull the rod and cylinder and wipe them down and relube with lard.

My home cleaning involves diluted Simple Green followed by a commercial BP lube (i.e., 'Bore Butter').