all purpose gun protector for the field?

Gentlemen,
Does anybody have any ideas on a "weather" protection for both metal parts and wood parts of a rifle when IN the field. What I mean is DURING a rendezvous/encampment. Looking for that all purpose "wonder" stuff that will prevent surface rust(humidity in Wisconsin is nasty)and is also good for the stock. AND, have some semblence of an early 1800's nature.
Not asking for much, am I? ::
Manynames

 

[Stumpkiller]

Boiled linseed oil.

Also, paste wax.

 

[Ohio Joe]

I might try that myself, Stumpkiller... Out here in Nebraska's northwest we don't fight much humidity, but we do hold our annual rendezvous along a creek bottom and the nights do cool off... I've seen rifles and pistols with rust formed on them over night, including mine, though not to the extreme of others who leave their firearms in a blanket or leather rifle sleeve... The first thing I do before beddin' down is wipe my bore out with a dry patch, then I wipe the rifle down completely with a dry cloth, and lean it against the rear tent pole next to my cot... (O'kay, so I don't sleep on the ground) :shocking: I also do this in the mornings when I get up and get the campfire going and the coffee cookin'... What little rust spots I get overnight are truly minimal, but rust is rust and if there is a way to prevent it, why not!!!

 

[Stumpkiller]

I should have mentioned - you don't need much boiled linseed oil. (The raw stuff takes longer to dry and is cloudier). Just dab some your finger tip, smear it around and then work it in. Too much and you'll have a slippery, gooey mess. I use a piece of cotton on the barrel and just work some into the stock with the palm of my hand. To work a little under the barrel slide a strip of heavy paper in the gap between barrel and stock, THEN dab some oil on it and work it around between the staples/pins. If you put the oil on first it is harder to work in. I use Lehigh Lube in the barrel itself.

 

[Ohio Joe]

Thanks, Stumpkiller,,, I'll do that... Matter of fact, I'll treat one of my rendezvous rifles tonight...

 

Click Here For Benefits Of Ballistol

 

[roundball]

Seems like a "traditional looking can" of WD40 would be hard to beat for the circumstances you describe...particularly getting into, under, and around cracks and crevices...and/or Mil-Spec medium weapons oil...used them both for decades on every type of firearm I've owned and they leave nothing to be desired...rondy be darned, I'd protect my rifles...if they had a problem with that, they could keep their rondy...your mileage may vary of course ::

 

[Stumpkiller]

Watch out for WD-40 and wood. It soaks in and the wood thinks "OH BOY! Thin water! I can absorb a ton of that and get my moisture content back up from 8% to 95% again!"

And a can of Ballistrol or WD-40 hardly meets his "Early 1800's" solution to waterproofing. I use CLP BreakFree for long term storage and metal protection on my 'modern' arms. For some of us, part of the charm of traditional weapons is maintaining them with traditional means. A brass oiler tube of boiled linseed oil (army surplus or Ted Cash) can be carried in a shooting pouch and works nicely.

If you come across me running ball in the coals of a fire you don't have to tap me on the shoulder to tell me they have invented electric furnaces, thanks just the same. ::

 

[lonewolf5347]

BEESWAX IS EXCELLENT WORKS ON THE COMPLETE GUN:

 

[roundball]

I understand...and whatever floats the boat differs from one to another I'm sure...I just wonder where the line is drawn in practical terms...for example:

Do people walk to rondy's? do they ride mules? do they get there on horseback? by covered wagon?

Or.......do they drive to a rondy in a modern car, truck, camper, etc?

Does everybody leave their modern medications at home like blood pressure meds, antihisamins, insulin, aspirin, lipitor, etc, etc?

Does everybody leave toilet paper at home and just use leaves instead?

Does everybody leave perscription glasses & contacts at home?

The list of "well, no we don't go that far" just goes on and on...so for my personal practical view on life, I'd hardly worry about wiping down a favorite rifle with a rag soaked in a proven anti-rust product.

And I like "trying" some experiences from the old days, like your example of melting lead in the campfire, but without hesitation would reach for Neo-Sporin ointment the very first time I burned myself! :: :: ::

 

Roundball,
There is a faction of skinners in this country that ARE 100% commited to pure authenticity. Most of the people who write the articles in Muzzleloader along with most members of the AMM fall into this catagory. And you know what? God bless them! Because these are the people who have dedicated their time, money and ambition to this hobby/sport/interest.
They are the people who we, the majority, the "weekend warriors" , get our info from. They research it, they live it. Is any of us on this forum that dedicated?
I'd love to be, but because of some of the drawbacks you listed, can't. Not because of laziness, or lack of money, but because my surroundings dictate it. I, unfortunatly live in Wisconsin, not Wyoming(Ohhhh to live in Wyoming!).If I can be 75% in my camp and my persona, I feel I've accompished my goal.
So, if I burn myself "running" lead balls, I'll reach for the rum! It'll do the same as Neo-Sporin, eventually.
Manynames

 

[Stumpkiller]

So, if I burn myself "running" lead balls, I'll reach for the rum! It'll do the same as Neo-Sporin

Before Rum:

After Rum:

Before Rum:

After Rum:

Any questions?

 

[roundball]

Let's be sure we don't let this get turned around...I couldn't agree more with the notion that some people are 100% purists and I salute them and their right to be that.

Again, my post was only making MY different viewpoint that considering all the other non-traditional, non-purist things that already occur with respect to a rondy, I personally wouldn't have a problem wiping down a nice rifle at night with a rag soaked in a modern rust preventative.

 

WAGH!!!!!!!!
After that little display,...........I think I'll go back to Tullamore Dew(nice Irish whiskey)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Slainte!
Manynames :: ::

 

[NoJacketRequired]

I'll throw a curve-ball in here. Kinda half way between traditional and high-tech. There's a product on the market called Fluid Film which is an excellent protectant of metal. I've been using this on my guns for a decade now and swear by it. This stuff carries all kinds of Mil Spec's and Boeing Specs, and the can reads like gee-whiz, but the bottom line on it is that its main ingredient is lanolin, the oil that comes from sheeps wool. It smells a bit funny, and in its "normal" (read non-spraycan form) looks a bit like butterscotch pudding, only not quite as thick. And it's "natural" enough that you could eat it if you wanted to.

Because it's kind of gooey it doesn't soak into wood, but rather it establishes a nice protective layer, and if you get it in the joint between metal and wood it will act like a bead of sealant to keep water from penetrating - kinda like a grease. It works well in the bore too, and I've used it as a patch lube with round ball and had decent success. All in all, I'm very impressed with this product.

By the way, did I mention that my first experiment with it was on my old plough? I didn't want it to rust so I coated the mouldboards with Fluid Film. That plough sat outside through a wicked Canadian winter, through the spring and summer and on into the next fall before I took another look at it. The Fluid Film had not only stuck on the mouldboards through rain and snow but had also prevented any rust from forming ('cept where some dodo had left his fingerprints...). As my father would say, "sticks like s**t to a blanket". I think you'd find lots of folks at the rendezvous asking where they could get some of that stuff if you were to show them how well it protects your treasured rifle.

 

[Rebel]

Sounds like good stuff.

 

[LRB]

As a knifemaker, I'll throw in my 2 cents. I used to have a lot of problems with rust when I would set up at a rendevous with all the handling of my knives by potential customers. Come evening I would have to take the time to wipe them all down to get the finger prints off. Another maker told me to wipe them with wonder lube. Works so good I seldom have to rewipe for days. Last vous, I wiped at set up and never did rewipe. No problems. Wonder lube is also good for your gun stock, and will help seal the small gap between the wood and barrel. I am sure a mix of beeswax and olive oil would be as good, but the wonder lube is just too easy.

 

[No Powder]

Here is another approach. I use a gun sleave made from an old blanket, turn it inside out and use a silicone spray on it. I spray it kind of heavy let soak in. Then turn right side out. By slipping the gun into the sleave every night and using good cleaning methods after shooting I have never had trouble with rust.
No Powder