Let's discuss: Reenacting!

[joer5835]

I literally emptied 15 liters of boiling water in the barrel today, it should be 100% gunpowder free now...

Jesus. How filthy was that thing that you needed 15 liters? I use like 2 liters max whenever I clean at home and you know me, I'm a complete freak when it comes to my gun being clean.

[Riddlez]

Water will barely solve the gunpowder, as it is mostly an oil-like substance. Using slightly acidious solutions will work.

Piss supposedly works fine, but you can try other stuff as well.

[Olafson]

Hot water works fairly well, it removes all the big residue. A liter of water or less usually works fine if you want it to work. I dropped 15 liters in there because I am at home, have a couple of kettles, and because I could.

Originally they would have cleaned their guns with water. Regulation states that soldiers are not allowed to take the guns apart, unless they are a trained gunsmith. After 50 shots, they would put boiling water down the barrel.

Thats all it says.

[Duuring]

I guess we could try boiling the water up to boiling point instead of just making it hot.

[Olafson]

Aye. That's what I do at home. At reenactments we somehow never have the patience for it.

[zac]

Lol..the key to cleaning them is to clean them as soon as possible after action. We down here usually spend 20-30 minutes after a battle cleaning/boiling water as a unit. When cleaning don't merely pour it down but hand over touch-hole, hand on end of barrel and swish it around...we do it 2-3 times, then pour one last round of boiling water down, dry the lock and oil it and walla...all new. Though most of us use Pedersoli and the Indian models don't clean as easily

[Duuring]

We need a set of protective gloves for that.

[Olafson]

Not really, that's how we usually do it too. Put water in, let it drizzle through the touch hole until it comes out clean, then pour a bit more, shake it, twist it over and let the water go out the muzzle.
It does not really matter when you clean your barrel from it either, if you have boiling water it should get rid of the remains. I usually clean it the next morning, it works just fine, I never had a musket misfire because there was shit left in the barrel.

The biggest problem is, that you can not pour it alone. You need at least 2 guys. We have no tea/coffee boiler, only a large kettle we can boil water in. The kettle does not have a handle or a nice funnel where the water comes out. It makes it difficult to pour water into the barrel without burning yourself.

[Duuring]

Yeah, but if you do that with water that has just reached boiling point, I'm not touching that barrel.

[Olafson]

That is why god invented the handkerchief.

[Cara]

I guess it was alright. Nothing special or anything.

We will be at LBE, but Marc asked us to go Landwehr instead of French. Reason for that is quite simple... First of all, the French have one permanent camp with farb things like tents etc, while the Coalition does not, and 2nd of all there are far to few Coalition troops this time.

So yeh, we will be there as Landwehr, trying to do our best to drive the French back to Paris. Which will be difficult, considering that we are like 6 guys, while most french groups will be much larger... And as you know, engagement rules say that the smaller unit has to retreat. But I guess in the end it is better for us, at least we have someone to fight against.

Not all of us are coming though, my brother and some other guys do not have the time :/

Nice to hear.
We have the same problem in early August at the Saint-Bernard reenactement : 47 french vs 9 austro-piemontais... But when you read some memories at the time, in a good ambush position it was manageable to win the confrontation with far less men. However as you said, it's not quite possible with our reenactement rules, even if we did it a bit last year (4 vs 25 at Saint Amans)

About farbism in the french camp, I know right. It's difficult to gather a large number of troops and have a "Living History" camp. Even if Marc would love that I'm sure. Too many people are attached to their tables and chairs.... and too many people are old and need a tent and a sleeping bag. I could understand in Jena but here during the summer....

Anyway I'm glad you will be there, who knows, a rogue royalist voltigeur could join up your ranks

[zac]

pfff you don't need gloves dear Duuring, you haven't gone soft have ye ...you just kinda play hot potato with the musket as the barrel boils over xD , and as Olaf said a rag is your best friend.

We always have large Billycan's for Tea (STRAYA) but yeah....would love to see someone bring a tea/coffee boiler...would be hilarious

We usually have a plastic funnel to hand as it makes it easier too..farb but tbh if no public around don't care

[joer5835]

I usually use my bonnet to grab the barrel if it's too hot. Or I leave the barrel attached to the stock and hold it by using the leather sling.

[Olafson]

Yep it's all possible.

But difficult without a funnel and with a large kettle full with water. Buuuuuut we done it before, it works so yeh.

[Duuring]

I too use my bonnet (Though in ACW the hard-top forage cap does not nearly lend itself as much as the loose wollen bonnet) but it's not uncommon to get some water over your hands anyway. That's no problem if it's just hot, but I would like to be extra careful if we boil it.