Hi,
 
I just received the Gibbs 45.  
 
I would like to know what is the better way to clean "all that waxy Ped stuff" from the breech plug ?
 
Is that image correct for the Gibbs ?
 
 

 
 
How can one do the right cleaning and be sure of that... ?
 
Thank you
 
Gerald Bergeron
 
 
 

Dick Trenk the Pedersoli representative in the USA has advised me that ordinary mineral spirit will dissolve the protecting lube Pedersoli installs for shipping all over the world.
 
He has also provided the following helpful information:
 
"Gibbs rifles breach plug is not intended to be removed. There is a left side plug screw which closes the drilled hole running  across into the nipple chamber. The breach plug itself has a length of about 3/4" and inside of the breach plug there is a 9mm diameter powder chamber. So when you drop in a powder charge it fills the 9mm x3/4" chamber and then continues to fill the .45 cal or 40 cal barrel to whatever distance your charge can occupy.
 
"When cleaning, remove the nipple and use plenty of water to clean out the barrel and chamber pockets.  I also use a 9mm brush to twirl around inside the chamber to knock loose any hard fouling and help the water to do it's job. If desired, you could also remove the left side sealing screw but this is not recommended because of damage to fine threads if done too often. Also removal is not really needed when washing out normally.
 
"When drying....make certain to get a few dry patches down into that 9mm chamber so wetness does not remain there.  Same with using a oil patch or other water displacing liquid down in the 9mm chamber."
 
 
 
David

Some further information on Pedersoli Gibbs breech plugs from Dick Trenk, their American Rep.:
 
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The drawing above is NOT correct for the one we make.
 
Our chamber has the 9mm x .75" drilling in the breach plug face, and it is flat bottomed not rounded much. The nipple sits on the right side above a large diameter flash chamber cast or machined down next to the 9mm chamber. Then a flash hole is drilled from the left side right through both sides of the chamber and into the flash chamber under the nipple. The left side of this hole is threaded and plugged. We do not recommend removing this plug for normal cleaning.
 
The cap flash (brissance) goes down from the nipple, into the large flash chamber and turns left into the 9mm powder chamber. When charging the rifle, I suggest tipping it so the nipple is low and tap the barrel with the hand to jar some powder grains into the chamber "under" the nipple. This simple quick step has shown to increase ignition reliability as well as to lower the SD a bit.  
 
The 451 Gibbs likes Swiss 1.5 Fg but works well with FFg. The .40 Gibbs should use only FFg.  We suggest CCI Magnum caps but also suggest you determine what your indivdual rifle may show a preference for.
 
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David