Cleaning your ML

[Mike Suri]

Well cleaning your ML can be sometimes a challenge! But my question has to do with oiling or lubricating the bore when it is clean and dry. I know there is a lot of controversy regarding the use of Bore Butter or WonderLube but I have never had a rust issue when using these products. Yes I do realize that Colorado is a much dryer state than others so no rust! I sometimes use Balistol or even Remoil but I do know that petrolium products and real black powder don't mix ! But when using a traditional grease often times the patch comes out black and dirty. Not all of my ML come out this way, but some! Has any one else experinced this problem with there guns?? And why do you think this happens ? Thanks for your help with this confusing problem.

 

[Davemuzz]

I've been using Break-Free CLP on my barrel after it gets cleaned. I live in Pa. and high humidity is just here. Before I shoot the M\L I run a a coated (lightly) solvent patch followed by a few dry patches to get the bore squeaky clean before loading.

FWIW

 

[Black Hand]

I use Bear grease/oil.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Sperm (jojoba is the modern alternative) or "bar" (bear) oil is what the old timers used.

I use hot water for the cleaning off the fouling, and ballistic oil (Ballistol) to coat metal parts. For some used I use Moose's Milk (or is it meese milk?) which is a form of water and ballistic oil or cutting fluid.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Throw away the bore butter, wonder lube rem oil and ballistol....They are all petroleum products.

If you're going to use a petroleum product use a rust preventative like G96

 

[Flintleather]

I thought Ballistol was all natural? I think it states it on the can. :thumbsup:

 

[Flintleather]

Smells like natural dirty feet :redface:

 

[Mike Suri]

Thanks for all your suggestions but my real thought was why, after a clean dry bore, the grease comes out black on the greasy patch? When using a petroleum products, not so ! Just seams weird to me !!

 

[coloradoclyde]

I thought Ballistol was all natural? I think it states it on the can. :thumbsup:

That depends on how you define "natural"

From the MSDS

Ballistol contains medicinal grade mineral oil, alkaline salts of oleic acid, several alcohols, Benzyl Acetate and an oil from vegetal seeds. The mineral oil is unchlorinated and conforms to the specifications of US Pharmacopeia XX.
Volatile Organic Components (VOCs)
As an aerosol Ballistol contains 33.8% VOCs. As a non-aerosol it contains 5.3% VOCs.
Propellants
Ballistol aerosols contain A-70 (a Butane, Propane blend ) as propellants. The pressure inside the full can is 7-7.5 bars. Ballistol aerosols contain 14% Isohexane as a thinner.

 

[Mike Suri]

All sounds good except for the salts of acid !

 

[RAEDWALD]

Moose's Milk (or is it meese milk?)

Very East Anglian for small rodents. One Moose. Many Meece. I was partial to sugar meece.

 

[hanshi]

So far I haven't found anything to beat Barricade and BreakFree CLP.

 

[Elkeater]

Throw away the bore butter, wonder lube rem oil and ballistol....They are all petroleum products.

How can a water soluble oil be petroleum type?

 

[Mike Suri]

I don't think it is.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Throw away the bore butter, wonder lube rem oil and ballistol....They are all petroleum products.

How can a water soluble oil be petroleum type?

By adding a non-polar solvent, presumable the isohexane in this case. which is also a petroleum product.
Another way is to raise the PH which they have also done in this case.

Some people have a misconception that if it's water soluble it's safe......water soluble can also mean it is absorbed by the body more easily.

With the skin being the body's largest organ, it is estimated that 60% of topical applications to it are absorbed into it.

 

[smo]

Thanks for all your suggestions but my real thought was why, after a clean dry bore, the grease comes out black on the greasy patch? When using a petroleum products, not so ! Just seams weird to me !!

Does the bore have pitting?

If it does sometimes the bp residue will leech out after cleaning from the pitting. Just a thought :idunno:

 

[coloradoclyde]

If he's been shooting lee reals of maxi's there could be lead fouling that is coming loose with time.

 

[Mike Suri]

To answer both of the last comments, no, I do not believe there is any pitting in the bores but I still do check the guns after a few days just to make sure that all is good !
And I only shoot patched lead balls so there should not be any lead fowling. I have had lead fowling in my smoothbores when shooting lead shot but again that's only in my fowlers. I still wonder if there is some kind of a chemical reaction between the bore butter and the steel.
I keep reminding myself that we today are dealing with a steel, not iron, gun barrel and you can not season steel like you could with iron. The last time I visited with John Getz he reminded me of this !

 

[coloradoclyde]

Let's stop guessing and start diagnosing.

Start by discontinuing to use bore butter and see if your problem goes away. It may take several cycles. If not, then choose another variable to eliminate. when your problem disappears you'll have the answer.

 

[Mike Suri]

I like that answer ! Thank you. That is exactly what I am going to try.