Hello from New Jersey

[Maverick261]

I've had an original m1861 Springfield for a few years and finally got it in working order. I haven't fired it yet since I have no experience with bp so I'm here to learn as much as I can before I take it out. So far I'm reading that most people prefer firing minie balls with about 50 grains of fffg as opposed to the ffg due to it burning cleaner, is this the general consensus here? I have 50 minie balls for when it's ready but need to lube them, anyone have suggestions for homemade lubes? Thanks!

 

[zerosprk]

Hi and welcome from northern New Mexico! Do a search on here for "lube" and you'll get all kinds of answers. Good luck!

 

[thomas]

Welcome to the forum.
Thomas

 

[Tumbledown]

I have 50 minie balls for when it's ready but need to lube them, anyone have suggestions for homemade lubes? Thanks!

Melt beeswax and Crisco together in equal parts. Stand the bullets up in a shallow pan, fill pan with melted lube up to the bullet grooves. When it sets up, remove the bullets. The remaining lube can be melted again and reused.

 

[PathfinderNC]

Welcome from North Carolina.
What exit are you on?

 

[kelljp]

Welcome from East TN

 

[Crazybear]

Welcome from NE Ohio

 

[3Setters]

Greetings from central Pa.

 

[nit wit]

Welcome from Maine
Nit Wit

 

[moose23]

Welcome from Beaver County PA

 

[Old Timer 48]

Welcome!

 

[Maverick261]

Melt beeswax and Crisco together in equal parts. Stand the bullets up in a shallow pan, fill pan with melted lube up to the bullet grooves. When it sets up, remove the bullets. The remaining lube can be melted again and reused.

Thanks that's exactly what I was looking for, I see that those are both readily available so thats a relief. I wasnt looking forward to finding tallow of mutton like another post said to use with beeswax haha one more question, can they just be put in a cigar box or something after? Or should they be separated in an egg crate type fashion?

 

[Maverick261]

Welcome from North Carolina.
What exit are you on?

I'm exit 7! So funny everyone knows about that even in NC

 

[PathfinderNC]

I'm exit 7! So funny everyone knows about that even in NC

I'm originally from exit 7a off the NJ Parkway!

 

[Travler]

Welcome from Oregon. Also, look at some of the lubes that some of the Black Powder "unmentionables" folks are using in their bullet groves. Often it is beeswax softened with a vegetable oil. Some add some lanolin. Cheers!

 

[CaptainKirk]

Welcome to the fun!

 

[Tumbledown]

...one more question, can they just be put in a cigar box or something after? Or should they be separated in an egg crate type fashion?

I think a cigar box will be fine. You can vary the mix to get a softer or harder lube. Too hard and it breaks, too soft and it can be a problem in hot weather.

 

[3 trees]

Welcome from the Mts of WV!

 

[toot]

Welcome.

 

[Tenring]

Welcome from southeastern Pa.