Smokeless ML cleaner?

Got a customer with a ML700 and he called and asked me if all ML were just that dirty. I am a bolt gun guy and don't own a ML Figured I would ask here. Are the Smokeless MLs worth getting. Are they that much cleaner?

I think the difficulty in cleaning a muzzle loader is way over rated. It only takes a few minutes on the break open ones. Most of the newer ones have breech plugs that you can remove by hand and they clean up with soap and water.

That said, I have zero experience with the muzzleloaders that shoot smokeless powder (so I'm no real help to you) and you need to remember that not all states will let you use smokeless powder during the muzzleloader season.

I own a Savage MLII Smokeless. I hunt with it as much as I do any of my centerfire rifles. It is a very accurate 200 yard rifle and cheap to shoot. I clean the barrel probably no more than once a year. I use the same bore cleaner that I use for any centerfire rifle along with a bronze brush to scrub out any plastic residue left from the sabots. They recommend removing and cleaning the breach plug every 100 shots (box of primers), and replacing the vent liner at that time as well. If using blackpowder, pyrodex, or blackhorn, you would have to clean same day as you would do any other muzzleloader. Last I looked I think smokeless with sabots and optics were legal for TX, OK, KS, LA, but not for CO, WY, and NM.

I have a CVA 45-70 that has been converted to a smokeless ML. Like sniper john I treat it just like a rifle and clean it only when needed. Very accurate guns!

Key word, smokless not sure what customer considers dirty. Goex powder leaves more resado, not good with big words, its dirty'r than the smokless.

I have been shooting a CVA optima for the last 4-5 years. I used white hots for the first 3 yrs and then switched to triple 7 pellets. I clean my ML each time I take it out. Mine has a screw in breech plug so once you take it out you can run patches and brushes down the barrel just as easy as any other firearm I own. I use a foam cleaner and let it set for a few minutes and then run the brush down it. I then start running wet patches followed by dry until they come out clean. I drop the breach plug into cleaner when I start and clean it with special brush and Q-tips. Lastly I lightly oil it all up and put it away until next time. As for which cleaner, CVA, Thompson, and other al make cleaners and IMO they all work about the same. It doesn't take any longer to clean my ML than it does to clean my shotgun. I do recommend cleaning every time you take it out shooting. Lot's of the ML powders are a bit corrosive and if you leave it set dirty it is a lot harder to clean and load then next time you take it out.