How to Clean a Modern Inline Muzzleloader: A Step-by-Step Guide

October 7, 2026

By Jared Sturtevant, Brand Marketing Manager Otis Technology 

Cleaning your modern inline muzzleloader immediately after each use is essential. Carbon and fouling build up extremely quickly and are highly corrosive. Neglecting proper maintenance can cause permanent damage to your bore and lead to a seized breech plug.

Take 15 minutes to properly clean your muzzleloader today to ensure a lifetime of reliability and accuracy in the field.

Step-by-Step Muzzleloader Cleaning Process

Step 1: Prep and Small Parts Soaking

1. Open the Shooter's Choice Small Parts Soaker.
2. Remove the breech plugs from your muzzleloaders. Drop them directly into the soaker basket. This loosens the caked-on carbon building up near the flash hole. Leave them to soak for the duration of the bore cleaning process.

Step 2: Complete Disassembly

While you can clean just the bore by pulling the breech plug on an assembled gun, a full teardown is recommended to clean hidden fouling, debris, or moisture trapped under the stock and barrel.

1. Separate the barrel from the stock:
• On the CVA Optima: Remove the single flathead screw from the handguard.
• On the CVA Accura: Release the quick-detach lever on the foregrip. Maintain strict control of the firearm so pieces do not drop.
2. Remove the firing pin components: Use your muzzleloader's decapping tool (the smaller end is designed to remove the firing pin screw. Pull out the firing pin and spring from the breech face.
3. Add the firing pin components into the Small Parts Soaker alongside the breech plugs. Keep parts separated if you are cleaning multiple muzzleloaders at once.
4. Inspect the rubber O-ring on the firing pin screw for cracks or damage. Replace if compromised to keep moisture and debris out of the firing pin area.

Step 3: Cleaning the Bore

To protect your rifling, always clean the barrel from breech to muzzle. Use the ramrod that came with your muzzleloader, attaching the components from your Otis 10-32 threaded kit.

1. Apply the Bore Cleaner:
• For Blackhorn 209: Spray Foaming Bore Cleaner directly into the bore. Let it sit and expand to coat the inside of the barrel until the bubbles dissipate.
• For Pyrodex / Triple 7: Apply a liberal amount of Bio Bore Cleaner to a cotton patch. Thread a 50 cal brass jag onto your ramrod and push the wet patch through the bore.
2. Scrub with the Bronze Brush: Attach your 50 cal bronze bore brush to the ramrod. Push it through the barrel to loosen stubborn, crusted carbon. Note: If using a telescoping ramrod (like on the Accura), remove the brush after it exits the muzzle rather than pulling it backward, to prevent the rod from separating.
3. Patch Out the Fouling: Follow the brush with dry cotton patches to mop out the loosened residue and remaining liquids.
4. Repeat: Repeat this three-step cycle (Wet Patch → Bronze Brush → Dry Patch) until your dry patches come out completely clean.

Step 4: Final Bore Lubrication

Once the barrel is entirely clean, apply a final layer of protection to prevent rust and corrosion.

• For Blackhorn 209 barrels: Run a final FP-10 CLP Presaturated Patch through the bore.
• For Pyrodex / Triple 7 barrels: Apply a few drops of Otis Precision Gun Oil to a clean cotton patch and pass it through the bore.

Step 5: Detail the Breech and Small Parts

1. Use the oversized heavy-duty bore brush from the Otis kit to clean the internal threads of the breech area and the lower section of the chamber.
2. Take the mini nylon AP brush to clean off connection points, friction surfaces, and the receiver. Check for any hidden rust.
3. Remove the soaking basket from the Small Parts Soaker and let it drain briefly.
4. Take out the breech plugs and firing pin parts. The carbon should be thoroughly loosened. Scrub them down using your nylon AP brush. For stubborn fouling or rust on threads, a bronze AP brush can be used.
5. Take the straight pick with the knurled brass handle to clear out the flash hole and the small pocket where the primer sits. Ensure the flash hole is completely clear to avoid misfires.
6. Clean the tiny firing pin spring carefully so it does not roll away.

Step 6: Anti-Seize and Reassembly

1. Before putting the breech plug back in, apply Shooter's Choice High Temp Grease to the threads. Apply a small amount to the breech plug threads as well as the top and bottom of the barrel threads. Working the plug in will spread the grease evenly, preventing it from seizing due to intense heat and corrosion.
2. Reinstall the breech plugs, followed by the firing pin and spring assemblies. Reminder: Avoid getting petroleum-based cleaners on the rubber O-ring, as it can deteriorate the rubber.
3. Reassemble the barrel and receiver back into the stock.
4. Wipe down your ramrod with a clean cloth to remove any collected oil or soot before storing it back on the gun or in its pouch.

Step 7: Exterior Wipe Down

1. Give the outside of the muzzleloader a thorough wipe down with a microfiber cloth. This removes any stray carbon fouling, fingerprints, or excess oil that migrated to the exterior during the cleaning process.
2. Finish up by using another Otis Lead Cleaning Hand Wipe to clean your hands of any final chemical or lead exposure.

Your modern inline muzzleloader is now clean, protected, and ready for the range, your next hunt, or long-term storage.