The diy or cheaper alternative muzzle loader information for beginners with smaller budgets.

[Half-Cocked]

I am going to try to find a decent oak dowel as a range rod. I also bought a fiberglass driveway marker going to see if that works.

Maybe a tennis ball on one end pool cue tip on the other? I heard the wood may splinter at the end. I may or may not have that issue Sabots seem to go down really smooth. Of course that's on a clean barrel that hasn't been fouled yet.

 

[Half-Cocked]

These are found at the dollar tree. They work great for premeasured powder. I like them because they have a flat surface won't roll around. yeah the openings wider but I plan on using a funnel with a tube.

These are fifty grain charges in the picture.

 

[JimP]

I've used anti-seize for years on breech plug threads, never had one seize. If it's good enough to keep spark plugs from seizing in aluminium heads, it should work for breech plugs. A little tube costs a few dollars and last for years.

 

[Scotts98rt]

I put safety above saving a Nicole. Scrap the wooden range rod idea. Saw first hand , pun intended. Bad idea.

 

[Half-Cocked]

I put safety above saving a Nicole. Scrap the wooden range rod idea. Saw first hand , pun intended. Bad idea.

so when I purchase the dowel I went with a hardwood oak dowel good luck trying to find a straight one. I found the best use is not a ramrod but a cleaning rod. and yeah no kidding if you put enough pressure on it it will splinter and drive that right into your hand.
Again with all cost-saving items like this you got to use some common sense. if you don't have enough level of common sense to know that if you push on a wooden dowel hard enough it will splinter and go into your hand then you probably shouldn't be using firearms.
Again using an oak dowel with minimal pressure is not going to snap the thing even with a bow in it.
Now for a ramrod the fiberglass roadside marker works like a charm. So you can save 15 bucks or 20 bucks or more on that fancy-schmancy range rod. and if you're super paranoid about that splintering they actually make one that's about a half inch diameter.
Good looking out for the dim-witted though.

 

[Half-Cocked]

I've used anti-seize for years on breech plug threads, never had one seize. If it's good enough to keep spark plugs from seizing in aluminium heads, it should work for breech plugs. A little tube costs a few dollars and last for years.

due to lack of availability and incompetence at my local home Depot I ended up using the yellow gas pipe tape.
Now when I was doing my own gas pipes for my house I thought this stuff was a lot thicker. until I took a look at it again and it looks like I remember wrong it's not that thick and it should work just fine.
are probably number different types of lubricants and anti seize products that you can use on those threads it would all work. Especially if you cracked it open every time you shot it. I'm no expert but if you break the seal it should be just fine.

On a side note. I found that NATO recommends that for impoverished countries that do not have adequate cleaning supplies for firearms to use transmission fluid to clean the bore and motor oil preferably synthetic for oiling the rifle. It really can't get much simpler than that can it.

 

[JimP]

due to lack of availability and incompetence at my local home Depot I ended up using the yellow gas pipe tape.
Now when I was doing my own gas pipes for my house I thought this stuff was a lot thicker. until I took a look at it again and it looks like I remember wrong it's not that thick and it should work just fine.
are probably number different types of lubricants and anti seize products that you can use on those threads it would all work. Especially if you cracked it open every time you shot it. I'm no expert but if you break the seal it should be just fine.

On a side note. I found that NATO recommends that for impoverished countries that do not have adequate cleaning supplies for firearms to use transmission fluid to clean the bore and motor oil preferably synthetic for oiling the rifle. It really can't get much simpler than that can it.

Wal-Mart carries the small toothpaste tubes of anti-seize in the auto dept. I'm thinking around 4-5$ maybe less. The tube I have now, was purchased about 5 years ago. Other than coating breech plug threads I used some when I replaced the timing belt and water pump on my truck. Have about a 1/2 tube left, should last a few more years.
Never used teflon tape on firearms, but plenty of it on plumbing fittings.

 

[GM54-120]

So let me see if i understand this.......You are going to use Teflon tape on a CVA Quick Release Breach Plug?

 

[Half-Cocked]

After 15 shots with real black powder . You can see some fouling got into the straight section where the threads have been removed. None got into the threads though.

So let me see if i understand this.......You are going to use Teflon tape on a CVA Quick Release Breach Plug?

Yep like above poster. Tape is rated to 500 degrees. Less messy than antiseeze. Cleaning that stuff out was a pain I can only imagine once it gets burned t7 on it. I came across that idea on the web it's apparently others have done it before. By the looks of the pic above it doesn't melt.

 

[GM54-120]

No its not like the above poster. That is a White breach plug. Adding Teflon tape to a CVA QRBP will defeat the purpose of a QRBP wont it? Almost nothing will make it past the nose seal on those plugs.

 

[Half-Cocked]

No its not like the above poster. That is a White breach plug. Adding Teflon tape to a CVA QRBP will defeat the purpose of a QRBP wont it? Almost nothing will make it past the nose seal on those plugs.

Well I'll see how fouled it gets when I actually shoot the thing but as a preemptive measure I'm going to use the tape. many people have used tape on their breech plugs it's not unique just Google it.
I'm not so sure about what some fancy-schmancy about the CVA type breech plug. As far as nothing getting past the nose I can see stuff getting past it and getting into the threads. It's a $200 rifle and none of its precision machined. This thing ain't no Kimber. Or whatever the black powder equivalent of a Kimber would be I guess a knight?

 

[GM54-120]

many people have used tape on their breech plugs it's not unique just Google it.

Yes they do but NOT on CVA QRBPs. What you will be doing is risking not getting the nose sealed and then that nose will gas cut. The mating surface in the barrel will gas cut also. I can see you dont understand how their system works and why tape is not required/recommended. A light coat of oil works fine on those plugs for countless people.

 

[Half-Cocked]

Yes they do but NOT on CVA QRBPs. What you will be doing is risking not getting the nose sealed and then that nose will gas cut. The mating surface in the barrel will gas cut also. I can see you dont understand how their system works and why tape is not required/recommended. A light coat of oil works fine on those plugs for countless people.

Much of what CVA does both confuses and intrigues me my friend. Lol.
Okay so the q rb is a revolutionary cut magnifico design that I don't seem to understand.
I did look at the tread on the breech plug and honestly it just looks like they removed more material from the tread of the breech plug to make it easier to remove from the barrel if that makes sense. Look to me if anything be structurally weaker but what do I know I'm not an engineer.
Here's the deal I got some lithium grease. Bought a big tube of that for my air guns. I'm going to go ahead and return the yellow tape. Because it is a little bit thick and it does cut when you screw in the breach. Which screws into the same position with or without the tape so I'm not sure how that would affect how it seated.
But like I said I'm going to go ahead and save myself the three bucks and use something I already have.

 

[GM54-120]

Oil or grease...whatever....just wipe off the excess. A light film is all thats recommended. Loosen it and re-tighten by hand after a few shots if you want to make sure. I dont think i have ever read a post about a CVA QRBP sticking.

 

[MrTom]

CVA QRBP's seldom get stuck and even then easily loosened up. I've tried the tape and it hinders getting the plug as snug as it needs to be using fingers only tightening. And getting the tape residue out of the threads in the barrel's end are a real treat.

GM54....that study in the link sure offered some great insight into what's what with corrosion prevention. I'm headed out in search of a can of the WD40 special use product. Thanks for that link. Very well done self-study.

 

[GM54-120]

WD40 Specialist Long Term is EXPENSIVE but its really good stuff. The can is about half the size of the other Specialist products. Honda quit selling the original formula product i loved. It was a spray polish that worked excellent on SS or chrome. Water would just bead off for weeks. It was very affordable and excellent for hunting in poor weather. Just used on the outside of the barrel.

 

[mnoland30]

X2 on the Auto Store anti-seize. I bought a can 20 or 30 years ago, and it will last my lifetime. On my Kanke rifle, I only remove the breechplug at the end of the season. A little dab will do ya. The old timers peed down their barrels to clean them. I'm not quite that cheap. Black powder and T7 clean easily with Dawn dish soap and hot water. The hot water is to help the barrel dry faster. I have lots of methanol (wood alcohol) for my alcohol stoves, so I'll try that for cleaning. I just got rid of all the transmission fluid I had in my garage from 20 years ago. I knew I should have saved it.

 

[Half-Cocked]

X2 on the Auto Store anti-seize. I bought a can 20 or 30 years ago, and it will last my lifetime. On my Kanke rifle, I only remove the breechplug at the end of the season. A little dab will do ya. The old timers peed down their barrels to clean them. I'm not quite that cheap. Black powder and T7 clean easily with Dawn dish soap and hot water. The hot water is to help the barrel dry faster. I have lots of methanol (wood alcohol) for my alcohol stoves, so I'll try that for cleaning. I just got rid of all the transmission fluid I had in my garage from 20 years ago. I knew I should have saved it.

I can just imagine somebody taking a whiz right down there barrel. Fun facts like that are awesome thank you for sharing I love history man. And yeah I don't think I'd go that route either every time I got that rifle right up to my nose I probably regret it.

 

[Half-Cocked]

The fiberglass driveway marker works great as a range rod. I taped a plastic ball to the end. Pics to follow...

I am currently looking at plastic funnels and 1/4 in straight plex pipe for a drop loader.

 

[sdporter]

The fiberglass driveway marker works great as a range rod. I taped a plastic ball to the end. Pics to follow...

I am currently looking at plastic funnels and 1/4 in straight plex pipe for a drop loader.

That PEX may cause you some issues with static, and feeding the powder. I know from years of using it, sawdust and dirt can’t wait to jump onto it, and then of course static can create sparks. I don’t know if it would or not. Just throwing that out there.
Most ACE hardware stores carry thin walled brass tubing in 3/8” o.d. 5/16” i.d. I think three feet was about $7 a small aluminum funnel might be able to be adapted to epoxy onto the end of it?????