Crisco over the chambers, pros and cons

[armoredman]

Fascinated with that "dipped" cartridge, looks like something I'd like to try, but have no idea where to get beeswax, or how to get it ready. melt the wax on the stove with the olive oil? BTW, I have both olive and peanut oil - something of a foodie, always have plenty of cooking oils, since my new wife LOVES my cooking.

 

[Brokenbear]

Fascinated with that "dipped" cartridge, looks like something I'd like to try, but have no idea where to get beeswax, or how to get it ready. melt the wax on the stove with the olive oil? BTW, I have both olive and peanut oil - something of a foodie, always have plenty of cooking oils, since my new wife LOVES my cooking.

Amazon on the beeswax and olive oil 50/50 ..set on stove on warm in a small tin like candles come in
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/G/01/apparel/rcxgs/tile._CB483369110_.gifI suggest two mixes :
winter = beeswax 40 and olive oil 60
summer = 50/50

Bear

 

[Grenadier1758]

It is best to mix oils and wax in a double boiler. You have one larger saucepan with water and the smaller saucepan for the oil and wax. With the water simmering at a low boil, you will not burn the oil and wax and the consistency of the melted oil and wax is just right for dipping the paper wrapped bullet or ball.

I found a small bottle of extra virgin olive oil at the Dollar General store for $1.25. That way you don't rouse the ire of your wife by using the expensive olive oil.

 

[Bunk]

Amazon on the beeswax and olive oil 50/50 ..set on stove on warm in a small tin like candles come in
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/G/01/apparel/rcxgs/tile._CB483369110_.gifI suggest two mixes :
winter = beeswax 40 and olive oil 60
summer = 50/50

Bear

I am very satisfied with the Mark Hubbs Eras Gone mix of one block (4oz.) common Gufwax canning wax (paraffin) mixed with one ounce of common unsalted lard.Vary the amount of lard to change stiffness.
OK before anyone has their hair catch on fire paraffin wax has a different organic chemical composition and is completely comparable with black powder fouling, is inexpensive and available at any store.

 

[armoredman]

Amazon on the beeswax and olive oil 50/50 ..set on stove on warm in a small tin like candles come in
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/G/01/apparel/rcxgs/tile._CB483369110_.gifI suggest two mixes :
winter = beeswax 40 and olive oil 60
summer = 50/50

Bear

Thank you very much - we probably only need the summer blend, since I am in Arizona.

 

[Stantheman86]

Beeswax is dirt cheap , I melt it in a candle wax melter and a pyrex custard dish, then add Tallow to make a firm lube

 

[TDM]

Where do you get your beeswax from? I’m running low.

 

[Stantheman86]

Where do you get your beeswax from? I’m running low.

I get the bulk stuff off the Ebay seller with the lowest price

I even got some from China that came in bars

 

[Bunk]

Where do you get your beeswax from? I’m running low.

Bulk Apothecary was my source until I switched to canning wax and lard.

 

[Spartan64]

Pros: None, it's an ineffective way to lubricate the barrel dreamed up when large numbers of people "rediscovered" percussion pistol shooting in the 60s and 70s thanks to the (then) cheap Italian imports by people who knew what chainfires were but had no idea what was causing them.

Cons: Makes a mess, blows out the front of the chamber and goes everywhere
Cons: Doesn't stop chainfires (loose caps cause this)

Most of these pistols save the earliest Pattersons and Walkers were loaded with mass produced paper cartridges. No lube at all, nitrated paper + powder + lead. If you want to reduce fouling, load a lubed wad under the ball, which effectively swabs out the barrel each shot. If you are worried about chain fires, make sure your nipples are not worn down from dry firing and make sure you use a cap that fits snuggly and doesn't need to be pinched to stay on.

 

[Stantheman86]

Pros: None, it's an ineffective way to lubricate the barrel dreamed up when large numbers of people "rediscovered" percussion pistol shooting in the 60s and 70s thanks to the (then) cheap Italian imports by people who knew what chainfires were but had no idea what was causing them.

Cons: Makes a mess, blows out the front of the chamber and goes everywhere
Cons: Doesn't stop chainfires (loose caps cause this)

Most of these pistols save the earliest Pattersons and Walkers were loaded with mass produced paper cartridges. No lube at all, nitrated paper + powder + lead. If you want to reduce fouling, load a lubed wad under the ball, which effectively swabs out the barrel each shot. If you are worried about chain fires, make sure your nipples are not worn down from dry firing and make sure you use a cap that fits snuggly and doesn't need to be pinched to stay on.

I filled the chambers over the balls with Crisco, and fired 15 cylinders through a Brasser.

It is messy, it does blow all over the place and does nothing for chain fires but it blows into the places it needs to go to keep a revolver running

 

[Stantheman86]

Pros: None, it's an ineffective way to lubricate the barrel dreamed up when large numbers of people "rediscovered" percussion pistol shooting in the 60s and 70s thanks to the (then) cheap Italian imports by people who knew what chainfires were but had no idea what was causing them.

Cons: Makes a mess, blows out the front of the chamber and goes everywhere
Cons: Doesn't stop chainfires (loose caps cause this)

Most of these pistols save the earliest Pattersons and Walkers were loaded with mass produced paper cartridges. No lube at all, nitrated paper + powder + lead. If you want to reduce fouling, load a lubed wad under the ball, which effectively swabs out the barrel each shot. If you are worried about chain fires, make sure your nipples are not worn down from dry firing and make sure you use a cap that fits snuggly and doesn't need to be pinched to stay on.

They also really didn't shoot more than maybe 18 rounds and even that was rare, except in situations like combat. Some of the conicals were lubed, some not.

There's a reason letters home talked about pouring a canteen over a revolver and shaking it dry so the user could stuff 6 more nitrated cartridges in after probably 12

Spreading various lubes over the chambers became a quick and dirty way for people to keep guns running in the 1960's when the Civil War Centennial and Spaghetti Westerns made everyone and their pops a percussion revolver owner and the brassers were like 40 bucks. They primarily used them for blasting cans and tree stumps out in the woods and most people would just spread their reloading gear over a table because why not, they were range poppers. The N-SSA just went with it and still requires lube over the chambers because it had been done for so long and became a thing. "Use lube to prevent chain fires" is still all over YouTube after 60 years of this going on because crusty old guys at gun shows still tell you that you have to.

I do it because I want to shoot, without having my guns bind up and I don't always have wads or even care to use them. Dipping my finger in a tub of Crisco and filling chambers is a lazy way to keep things running, I'm at the range I'm not worried about it. I wipe my hand on my "range pants" that have years of stains from BP shooting anyway , it's almost become part of my zen-like ritual. I'll even fill an old dip can with Tallow and use that.

 

[Bad Karma]

They also really didn't shoot more than maybe 18 rounds and even that was rare, except in situations like combat. Some of the conicals were lubed, some not.

There's a reason letters home talked about pouring a canteen over a revolver and shaking it dry so the user could stuff 6 more nitrated cartridges in after probably 12

Spreading various lubes over the chambers became a quick and dirty way for people to keep guns running in the 1960's when the Civil War Centennial and Spaghetti Westerns made everyone and their pops a percussion revolver owner and the brassers were like 40 bucks. They primarily used them for blasting cans and tree stumps out in the woods and most people would just spread their reloading gear over a table because why not, they were range poppers. The N-SSA just went with it and still requires lube over the chambers because it had been done for so long and became a thing. "Use lube to prevent chain fires" is still all over YouTube after 60 years of this going on because crusty old guys at gun shows still tell you that you have to.

I do it because I want to shoot, without having my guns bind up and I don't always have wads or even care to use them. Dipping my finger in a tub of Crisco and filling chambers is a lazy way to keep things running, I'm at the range I'm not worried about it. I wipe my hand on my "range pants" that have years of stains from BP shooting anyway , it's almost become part of my zen-like ritual. I'll even fill an old dip can with Tallow and use that.

“Range pants” my wife wishes I had range pants! LOL!

 

[Bunk]

several things to talk about
first Crisco is not a grease it is cotton seed oil that is hardened by a process called a hydrogenation.
Second a good all around lube can be made with a 4 ounce bar of "GULFWAX" a brand of common canning wax but any brand will do and an ounce of common unsalted lard. Use the lard to adjust the hardness. Beeswax will work but runs up the cost. Paraffin wax has a different organic chemical makeup and is completely compatible with Gunpowder fouling.
Thank you Mark Hubbs of Eras Gone Bullet Moulds for this idea...
Third Beeswax can be obtained from Bulk Apothecary look them up on the web. It mixes well with lard and oil does not bleed out.
Hold Center
Hit it from time to time
Bunk

 

[Whitworth]

several things to talk about
first Crisco is not a grease it is cotton seed oil that is hardened by a process called a hydrogenation.
Second a good all around lube can be made with a 4 ounce bar of "GULFWAX" a brand of common canning wax but any brand will do and an ounce of common unsalted lard. Use the lard to adjust the hardness. Beeswax will work but runs up the cost. Paraffin wax has a different organic chemical makeup and is completely compatible with Gunpowder fouling.
Thank you Mark Hubbs of Eras Gone Bullet Moulds for this idea...
Third Beeswax can be obtained from Bulk Apothecary look them up on the web. It mixes well with lard and oil does not bleed out.
Hold Center
Hit it from time to time
Bunk

I've used pure Gulf wax on unmentionables for years. The addition of a Crayon gives the wax some color making the lube in the grooves easier to see and when shooting them you get the time warping smell of Crayons

 

[Stantheman86]

“Range pants” my wife wishes I had range pants! LOL!

I have a pair of Chocolate Chip trousers that have become my official range pants and turned into my blackpowder pants....both legs have black stains from a few years of wiping lube and BP crusty hands on them

 

[Stantheman86]

Speaking of Walkers, the Texas Rangers smeared fat from their pork over the Pickett bullet, after loading up before an expected engagement so after they fired their 12 with the big , fouling inducing 60gr charges they could get another 6 out of the now fat slathered gun , after riding to cover to reload after a charge into the Mexicans

None of them were reloading on galloping horses or firing 100 rounds, they were just happy to not have a pair of single shots , 12 shots without a reload was a huge thing.

They didn't shoot like we shoot at the range where we feel like, we set up to shoot, or drove to a range so we want to get some trigger time. I often shoot 100 rounds or so through a percussion revolver, and it's just convenient to smear some crap I can buy at a dollar store over the chambers to keep them going, with maybe a baby wipe to a hammer or a quick wipeout halfway through. I need to have fun, then go home and go about life I can't always make some concoction if I decide to break out for a quick 2 hours of shooting

 

[Bad Karma]

I have a pair of Chocolate Chip trousers that have become my official range pants and turned into my blackpowder pants....both legs have black stains from a few years of wiping lube and BP crusty hands on them

probably a big improvement on those pants!

 

[appalichian hunter]

Where do you get your beeswax from? I’m running low.

check local craft stores in the candle making section.

 

[TDM]

check local craft stores in the candle making section.

Thanks.