M/L newbie

[MI.sabot]

Well I got through the Stainless Sidekick owner's manual.  Now the questions start.

Can I use the cleaning rod and bronze bore brush that I use for my 12 ga shotguns or are there different types and sizes specifically for muzzleloaders?  Likewise is Hoppe No. 9 Plus something different than good old No. 9?

Any recommendations for what kind of gun oil to lubricate the bore with after cleaning?

Recommendations for coating the breech plug threads.  What's a natural bullet lubricant?  What brands of high temperature grease are available and which is better?  Is teflon tape and grease the way to go?

Does the breech plug need to be re-greased with each 3 shot cleaning at the range?

It keeps mentioning about shooting off some primer caps before loading after either a home or range cleaning?  What's an adequate number: 2, 3 or more?

These are the only questions to come to mind at the moment.  I'm sure there will be many more.  Any advice you can pass along will be appreciated because I really don't know where to start!

[mangulator]

Welcome    I  will try answer a few questions you have maybe someone else will fill in the things I have not answered.
I use a bronze brush that is made especially for muzzleloaders and use number 13 bore cleaner from Thompson and also Rusty Duck black off, with good luck. I then use Thompson bore butter for my barrel lubricant and on the outside of the gun with good results. When I install the breach plug a use Thompson breach plug grease on the threads and finger tighten only.  After five shots I will break the breach plug loose and put a little more grease on the threads. I sometimes just loosen the breach plug and fired another five shots and then loosen again with no problems expreienced. My gun shoots better if I foul the barrel prior to shooting. I will shoot off one primer only. Hope that answers some questions. Believe me we all have question when using muzzleloading guns.