How To Clean A Muzzleloader Thompson Center

Thorough Cleaning

A WARNING: ALWAYS KEEP THE MUZZLE POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION.

A warning: never attempt to clean a charged or primed muzzleloading firearm. an accidental discharge can cause injury and/or death to the shooter or bystanders and damage to property.

A WARNING: WEAR SAFETY GLASSES EVERY TIME YOU ASSEMBLE OR DISASSEMBLE YOUR FIREARM.

A WARNING: DO NOT ALTER, MODIFY OR REPLACE ANY OF THE PARTS OF YOUR FIREARM UNLESS THIS WORK IS PERFORMED BY A QUALIFIED GUNSMITH USING GENUINE THOMPSON/CENTER PARTS. IF YOU DO OTHERWISE, IMPROPER FUNCTIONING MAY OCCUR AND SERIOUS INJURY MAY RESULT.

A WARNING: ALWAYS HAVE ADEQUATE VENTILATION. CLEANING FIREARMS IN POORLY VENTILATED AREAS, DISCHARGING FIREARMS, OR HANDLING AMMUNITION AND LOADING COMPONENTS MAY RESULT IN EXPOSURE TO LEAD AND OTHER SUBSTANCES KNOWN TO CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS, REPRODUCTIVE HARM AND OTHER SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY. WASH HANDS THOROUGHLY AFTER EXPOSURE.

Proper cleaning is essential to ensure the proper functioning of your firearm.

Your firearm is a precision instrument. To ensure reliable function it is necessary to follow a routine maintenance procedure. When you are finished shooting for the day or for the season and plan to store the Encore muzzleloader away, it is recommended that you clean the firearm thoroughly. Follow these instructions for thorough cleaning:

Tip the barrel open and be certain that there is no primer in the primer pocket. Then remove the breech plug.

The breech plug is removed from the barrel by turning it counterclockwise (as viewed from the breech end of the barrel) using the wrench that was supplied with the gun.

Once removed, the breech plug should be scrubbed free of fouling and should then be lubricated with an anti-seize lubricant like T/C's Super Lube, before reinstallation. The threads inside the breech end of the barrel must also be well cleaned with a stiff brush and solvent and then dried and lubricated with anti-seize lube.

Next in the cleaning process; fill a pan with hot soapy water. Submerge the muzzle end of the barrel in the water and push a wet patch down the barrel (from the breech end) on the end of your ramrod that has a jag installed on it (a jag comes with T/C muzzleload-ers from the factory). Pump the ramrod and patch up and down in the barrel. This will draw water into the barrel and flush out the fouling. When the barrel is clean, wipe off any excess water and allow it to dry.

Thoroughly wipe any powder residue from the frame assembly. Dry the parts thoroughly and lubricate them lightly to prevent rust and corrosion.

Thompson Center Hammer Block Assembly

Use a pressurized moisture displacing oil to clean and lubricate the firing pin within the frame (from both the front and back) - as shown in Figures 11b & 11c).

After cleaning your Encore muzzleloader, it is recommended that you lightly lubricate the metal surfaces of the rifle. Do not use heavy grease or oil, as during cold weather, excessive lube may congeal and slow the hammer fall (or keep it from striking the firing pin altogether) when the trigger is pulled.

With the barrel completely dry, lightly lubricate the bore with a quality gun lubricant or, in keeping with the all-natural method, T/C's Natural Lube 1000 Plus Bore Butter. Re-install the breech plug, making sure that you have lubricated all of the threads with an anti-seize lubricant like T/C's Super Lube. The breech plug should be threaded into place by turning it clockwise with the breech plug wrench - until it is seated. Screw breech plug in carefully. Be certain that the threads mesh properly (not cross-threaded) and ensure that the breech plug is snug.

A IMPROPER TYPE OR INSTALLATION OF BREECH PLUGS CAN CAUSE INJURY AND/OR DEATH TO THE SHOOTER OR BYSTANDERS AND DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.

Also, lubricate the threads inside the breech area of the barrel with anti-seize lubricant.

After your Encore muzzleloader breech plug has been reinstalled, check for proper functioning of the barrel and the hammer/trigger mechanism prior to loading and firing.

If the Encore muzzleloader has become very dirty due to extensive firing, the shooter may want to disassemble the rifle further than just removing the breech plug. If this happens, follow the instructions in the Disassembly Section that follows.

CAUTION:

Always follow the instructions provided with your gun cleaner and gun lubricant.

CAUTION:

Some cleaners can cause damage to your firearms. You should avoid prolonged solvent immersion and prolonged ultrasonic cleaning of your firearm. Choice of solvent should be restricted to those products specifically developed for firearms maintenance. Damage to a firearm's finish may occur if these cautions are ignored. Ammoniated solvents or other strong alkaline solvents, should not be used on any Thompson/Center firearm. As a rule of thumb, if you would be comfortable applying the solvent of your choice to the finish of your automobile, it will probably be safe for use on your firearm.

Continue reading here: Disassembly Of The Tc Encorem Muzzleloader

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