Bore Pig cleaning/storage?

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beltfed
Posts: 1962
Joined: Sun Jun 03, 2007 10:07 am
Location: Central Wi

Bore Pig cleaning/storage?

Post by beltfed »

I understand that one can "rinse" the bore pigs between stages of fire and
re-use them on next stage,etc.
But, between matches:
--do you do more than rinse, maybe with some Dawn detergent?
say Oxiclean
And:
do you
---leave them in water?

---keep them damp, say in ziplock bag?

0r ---Dry them/let them dry?

Any difference in cleaning, etc : For Wool or for Cotton pellets

Mine use wool felt pellets from BA.

Tx
beltfed/arnie
BFD
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Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:36 pm

Re: Bore Pig cleaning/storage?

Post by BFD »

I rinse several times with water - sometimes with dishsoap if handy, then I drain, shake them several times and drain again to remove as much water as possible and then leave them in their box w/o the lid on to dry. If I was especially concerned, I'd throw them in a basket and run them through the dishwasher.
beltfed
Posts: 1962
Joined: Sun Jun 03, 2007 10:07 am
Location: Central Wi

Re: Bore Pig cleaning/storage?

Post by beltfed »

Thanks, Brent,
I used mine yesterday for the first time.
First soaked them in water with a small dash of Dawn to help wetting them out.
Went ok. Hard to push thru the bore. but then rinsed, rewetted a few and then they
go slightly easier.
Put them back into the "dishwater" to soak
At home I did as you. Soaked and rinsed several times in dawn/water, then rinsed
in tapwater.
then- idea soaked them in tapwater with some Oxiclean=similar to what I do with patches.
for about an hour.
Lightened them up
Now, will do as you suggest- back in a Rubbermaid container to dry until Sat.
Oh, I'm thinking it might be a good idea to use distilled water on the pigs rather than tapwater.
Less minerals to "harden up" the felt.
What do you think?
beltfed/arnie
BFD
Posts: 2789
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:36 pm

Re: Bore Pig cleaning/storage?

Post by BFD »

I usually use tap water or bottled water, but have, on occasion had to use near by stream water and even puddle water from the range parking lot. Never made any difference to me. realtive to the chemicals in the fouling a little bit of calcium or iron or whatever in drinking water or tap water is pretty trivial I think. Mine seem to last for many years though the rubber washers wear out about yearly.
beltfed
Posts: 1962
Joined: Sun Jun 03, 2007 10:07 am
Location: Central Wi

Re: Bore Pig cleaning/storage?

Post by beltfed »

Reason I mentioned the water is
that when I was using our well water to wet and then later wash
my US Arsenal patches, I found that when they dried out between matches
they got stiff.
Better with final rinse with distilled after washing and then I use distilled water for
wet patches. Have also tried using some white vinegar in the final rinse before drying
to "almost dry"
figuring this could have a favorable effect on helping to dissolve the salts.
Arnie
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desert deuce
Posts: 3844
Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:51 pm
Location: Rio Rico, Arizona

Re: Bore Pig cleaning/storage?

Post by desert deuce »

FYI This what I have evolved in to doing with BACO Bore Wipes with BACO wool felt pellets.

When not in use I store the dry wool pellets in an air tight clear hard plastic container. Spilling them is like spilling a tray of primers. They go everywhere.

With 44 & 45 caliber rifles two pellets to a wipe, dipped in MPro7 Cleaner and placed in a clean air tight covered tray for the firing line.

Chamber the bore pig immediately after a shot with a slightly MPro7 damp (not dry) 2 1/4 inch square cotton flannel patch behind and push out through barrel into a catch box.

Load and shoot.

After string of fire, pull dirty pellets off bore wipe and drop in container with Woolite and water, put on clean dry wool pellets and repeat for next string of fire.

At end of day, put all dirty pellets in a lingerie bag, put in cold water delicate cycle washing machine with Woolite and run the cycle.

The pellets are then air dried outdoors or indoors in lingerie bag, (DO NOT PUT IN CLOTHES DRYER OR OVEN, DRY WITH HAIR DRYER, ETC).

Can be reused damp by dipping in MPro7 and starting over again.

In 40 cal I only use one wool pellet on each bore wipe.

You can get away with 16 bore wipes for silhouette & midrange but minimum 20 for long range target.

Patches are usually clean enough to wash and reuse if one so desires.
Sometimes you get the chicken, and sometimes you get the feathers!
beltfed
Posts: 1962
Joined: Sun Jun 03, 2007 10:07 am
Location: Central Wi

Re: Bore Pig cleaning/storage?

Post by beltfed »

DD : Are you using PP or GG bullets with this procedure?
Thanks
beltfed/arnie
beltfed
Posts: 1962
Joined: Sun Jun 03, 2007 10:07 am
Location: Central Wi

Re: Bore Pig cleaning/storage?

Post by beltfed »

DD : Are you using PP or GG bullets with this procedure?
Thanks
beltfed/arnie
User avatar
desert deuce
Posts: 3844
Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:51 pm
Location: Rio Rico, Arizona

Re: Bore Pig cleaning/storage?

Post by desert deuce »

Hi Beltfed, I use grease grooved bullets exclusively with home made bullet lube :wink:
Sometimes you get the chicken, and sometimes you get the feathers!
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