The Most Important Skill
Single men fill a bathtub with hot, soapy water to clean muzzleloaders. The rest of us use a bucket. Add a squirt of any dish detergent, then fill it up with hot water. Take the barrel off the gun and put it in the bucket. With a cleaning jag and patch on the ramrod, pump it up and down, drawing water into the barrel. Run dry patches down the bore until they come out clean, then use one lightly oiled patch to lube the bore.

In-line guns with removable breech plugs can be cleaned from the breech just like a centerfire. With any type of rifle featuring a removable nipple, take it out, clean it, and dry it thoroughly. Finally, put a dry patch on the ramrod and run it down the barrel. Leave the ramrod in place and pop a cap. A burn on the patch proves the flash channel is clear.