How I lube cut at the muzzle patches

[OkieDougie]

Mr Flintlocks Is the best lube I’ve ever used! I’m able load and shoot multiple times without having to stop and swab. I also keep patches cut and extra material with Mr Flintlocks in a ziplock bag. Patches don’t deteriorate and are easily ready when needed.

Have heard good things about Mr. Flintlocks. Using my mix, I dont swab between shots either. I use this same lube mixture for patches in rifles, cap and ball pistols, and making metallic cartridges in both black and smokeless. I never have to stop at the range due to fowling issues or any apparant loss of accuracy.

 

[Sidney Smith]

I've still got several tubes of bore butter, and have been using it for years. I squeeze a gob into a zip lock bag, toss in a couple strips, seal the bag. And toss the bag into the microwave. Easily melts the bore butter, then just do the shake and bake to the bag. Voila, lubed patch strips.

 

[Ben Meyer]

Mr F is my 2nd choice. I really should redo the test. I shot 5 rds at 50 yds from a bench using both the drylubed patches + swabbing and the Mr Flintlocks without swabbing. The drylubed group was about one inch better(1.75" vs @3"). I took emotion out of the equation and let the rifle choose.

Mr Flintlocks Is the best lube I’ve ever used! I’m able load and shoot multiple times without having to stop and swab. I also keep patches cut and extra material with Mr Flintlocks in a ziplock bag. Patches don’t deteriorate and are easily ready when needed.

 

[rafterob]

I used to go through the process of pre-lubing strips, and then refining my lube mix for hot and cold seasons. Then I decided I didn't like getting all greasy from handling the pre-lubed strips while shooting. I had won a spray bottle of Hoppes black powder cleaner and lube so I figured I would use it. Did not make a great cleaner but it is a great lube. I put it in a small spray bottle. Used that up and switched to dawn detergent in water as recommended by a local champion shooter. I spray one side of the patch and place that side on the muzzle, place the ball and start and cut then ram home. Keeps the barrel clean, no swabbing needed, not greasy. To keep things simple when shooting in the woods I simply spit patch. The rifles clean easier now and like I said, no swabbing is required. One note on adding beeswax to lubes. That is when I started noting that the fouling was harder to clean than just straight tallow.

 

[ohio ramrod]

I used to do that and stored them in 35mm film cans. You do know what those are don't you? I expect today you could find some pill bottles online to use. If I were going to shoot a lot I would just unroll one and pin it to the upper left side of my frock.

I would cut a slot in the side and pull out the strip as needed.

 

[hawkeye2]

I would cut a slot in the side and pull out the strip as needed.

That would be the way to go in a regular match but we were shooting in an event where we had to be 100% correct. Apparently the strip of patching material was OK or overlooked. We were judged by virtually everything we did and were even docked for ragged volleys in the musket team event where we had to load by the manual and shoot on command.

 

[BlackRock52]

From my notes on it. I forget now where I got the forumla from. Was not my own creation.
Yes, standard lard from the grocery store. Crisco would be fine to.

5 parts beeswax
4 parts fat
1 part oil

Are your "parts" volume or weight?

 

[rafterob]

Which parts of the beeswax do you use?

 

[OB One]

I use strips of pillow ticking. Soaked in a varied mix of Ballistol and water. I hand squeegee them between my fingers and then lay them out to dry on some wax paper. The next day I roll them up and put them in 35 mm film cans marked with the mixed amount. The best mix that shoots consistent is with a mix of 8 water to 1 part Ballistol on 10mm thick pillow ticking

 

[OkieDougie]

Are your "parts" volume or weight?

Weight. Put a pot on a scale, add as needed then heat it to melt together.
If I recall correctly, it is basically SPG lube. Same ratio.

 

[Nor'Easter]

After dunking my patch strip in melted Mink Oil, I squeegee the strip between two Popsicle sticks over the melting pot to catch the drips, then I lay the strips on an old towel to dry. Once dry, I roll the strip and put it in a .35mm film canister (the aluminum ones with the screw on lid, shows how old I am) I have a slit cut in the aluminum can that I feed the end of the lubed patching strip thru. The can has a screw eye in the bottom of it that is attached to by shooting bag by a thong.

That's a great idea!!! It would work great for hunting squirrels - rabbits - birds, where your taking alot of shots.

 

[Nor'Easter]

I read somewhere about a technique I thought made sense for pre-lubeing patches.
1. Melted lube of choice.
2. Dipped patch material of choice.
3. Squeeze out excess.
4. Placed lubed material between two ridged plates, like 1/4" glass or large floor tiles, then put XX pounds of weight on it.
5. Let sit for X amount of time.
6. Remove, cut to desired form, and store as desired.
Repeatable and consistent.
Have not personally tried it as I am still using up my pre-lubed store bought patches.

 

[BozoMiller]

Anyone use Crisco any more?

 

[Jim]

Anyone use Crisco any more?

Yeah, I do . . . . .

Always thought the T/C “Bore Butter” was nothing more than Crisco with yellow food coloring added.

 

[hawkeye2]

Which parts of the beeswax do you use?

All of it, there isn't any different parts to beeswax.

 

[BozoMiller]

Yeah, I do . . . . .

Always thought the T/C “Bore Butter” was nothing more than Crisco with yellow food coloring added.

Kinda like butter flavored Crisco?

 

[Cattywompuss]

Yeah, I do . . . . .

Always thought the T/C “Bore Butter” was nothing more than Crisco with yellow food coloring added.

If only crisco smelled as good as Bore Butter/Wonder Lube/Whatever name it has this week. I am not nearly as picky as most folks about lube. But in fairness I also don't shoot competitively or as often as others. I find most common hard lubes work well enough. I also like straight bear oil for a wet lube. And I mean actual rendered bear oil, not something called bear oil that isn't pure rendered bear oil. Only downside is that is salty, or at least it smells salty. I carry dry strips of patch and lube in real time.

I don't generally worry about the lube getting everywhere though because I can just wipe it on the bag or wherever. If historicity is of any account in this adventure we call MLing, our ancestors were as greasy as a ****'s midnight bowel movement. Some of em coulda run a patch through their hair and run outta powder before they did grease.

 

[Buckskinquin]

All but used up my supply today so figured I would share my process.
cut pillow ticking to width, melt my pot of lube(bees wax, lard and Balistol) dunk the strips to saturate them, hang to cool and set.Then roll up and done. Makes it pretty handy when loading from the bag.

Is is messy on your hands when shooting.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Is is messy on your hands when shooting.

On hot summer days…yeah it can be a bit messy on your hands. In the fall and winter, not bad. It is a great method…he knows what he’s talking about.

 

[golden sky]

how much for a roll of your lubed patch ?