Traditions Side Lock Percussion - Flintlock - Manual (Page 13)

CLEANING, MAINTENANCE AND CARE
VERY IMPORTANT: Before loading and firing your new Traditions™ gun for the
first time, remove the nipple and clean-out screw from the bolster or the touch
hole liner from the flintlock and coat the threads of each with Traditions™
WonderLube. This will help in future removal. It is advisable to coat these threads
on a regular basis and whenever a new nipple or clean-out screw or touch hole
liner is installed
These items are relatively inexpensive. Nipples should be changed fre-
quently and the clean-out screw at least once a year.
Black powder and Pyrodex ® are both very corrosive and leave consid-
erable residue in the barrel. For proper shooting, protection and safety,
your gun must be cleaned frequently by using the simple methods below.
A. Cleaning during bench or target shooting:
1. After every shot or two, or as soon as you notice any resistance in intro-
ducing a projectile down the barrel, place a cleaning patch treated
with a commercial black powder solvent on a loading/cleaning jag
attached to a ramrod and run it down the barrel a few times to remove
the fouling build up. For very fouled barrels, it may be necessary to
use more than one patch. Repeat with a clean treated patch one or two
times. Follow-up with a dry patch or two to remove any moisture.
This is highly advised when shooting saboted ammunition. If saboted
ammunition is used always coat the rifling with Traditions™
WonderLube™ for easier loading and tighter groups. This is not nec-
essary when hunting where only one or two shots will be fired.
2. As soon as possible after your firing session is completed, your gun
must be thoroughly cleaned. To leave a gun uncleaned, even
overnight, can result in serious and damaging corrosion. Following
of simple cleaning instructions should be implemented.
B. General cleaning:
Important: Never remove the bolster/drum or breech plug from the barrel. They have
been installed at the factory such that they interlock with each other for maximum lock-
up strength. Next, a concentric communication hole is drilled into this unit to assure
optimum ignition. The removal or alteration of these key parts will compromise the per-
formance of your gun, void your warranty and likely create an unsafe situation.
1. Remove the nipple and clean-out screw from the bolster/drum of a
percussion gun or the touch hole liner from a flintlock.
2. Wrap a cleaning patch around a loading jag attached to a ramrod.
3. Pump warm soapy water or a black powder solvent down the muzzle
and out the hole(s) in the breech end of the gun.
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