Back in the old day

[Gene L]

I question holding a lit candle over a loaded chamber in case the seal of the ball is not perfect. I think it's foolish. If the seal is good, wax won't help it. If the seal is not good, the flame might detonate it.

Military ammo has a sealant to prevent the bullet from moving under pressure from shipping, not from moisture. According to my reloading manual.

 

[crockett]

With regard to R.E. Lee, I don't think he ever fired the revolver during the war. He died about 5 years after the war and the revolver was fired 7 years after that so for about 12 years the chambers were sealed up pretty good. I always thought the wax was more of a waterproof type thing. I have no idea if wax was used over the caps but it seems for a complete seal that would be needed. NOW, no one would go to all that fuss on a day to day basis, it would be if you wanted to keep a loaded gun in that condition for a long period of time.

 

[Coot]

Everything that I have read says the lacquer is to 1- seal against moisture & 2 - protect the case from corrosion. Back to the wax - the heat & flame go up away from the cylinder & the dribbled wax down. If a major worry, the wax could be melted & dribbled from a teaspoon. At any rate, it would seem a waste of time & effort unless the gun was expected to be stored/carried unused for a long time.