Henry Big Boy - Cleanup after shooting Black Powder

[Rickk]

I am gearing up to shoot 45 Colt in Cowboy Action Shooting using black powder. I just got my hands on a Big Boy in 45 Colt. I am going to shoot it this coming weekend if the weather permits.

Has anyone else shot BP in one of these lever guns and are there any tips from someone who has already done it as far as cleaning it after shooting BP?

I figure I can clean the barrel by removing the bolt, sticking the muzzle into a bucket of soapy water, and run a mop up and down from the breech end just like one would a muzzle loading rifle barrel after removing the nipple. The same mop should maybe be run damp up the magazine tube? The run a mop with Ballistol on it through the barrel and mag tube, and then wipe more ballistol anywhere I can get it without needed to take it apart further. At least that is my plan.

Has anyone else cleaned one of these, or even a Marlin (similar) after shooting BP in it?

Rick

[Rickk]

Well, I fumbled through the process. Removed the bolt, stuck the muzzle in soap water, ran a 45 mop up and down thru the reciever end to pump the water in and out of the barrel.

I repeated the process a second time with hot water with Ballistol added (aka "moose milk").

I also ran moose milk with a mop thru the magazine tube.

Then I cleaned the action with a wool dauber the same way.

Finally I ran 100% Ballistol though everything.

It works more smoothly now than it did when I took it out of the box, not that it was bad when I took it out of the box. I guess 50 rounds and a bit of cleaning helps.