How much patch lube do you use?

[rja72]

Just made a batch of moose snot this afternoon. I substituted mineral oil for castor oil because I has a good sized bottle.

My question is how much do I use on my patches?

I have used wonderlube mostly in the past four years since I started shooting BP. I am sure I have been very inconsistent with the amount I have used and thus affected accuracy.

I am in the process of sighting in a new muzzleloader and want to develop consistency in lubing my patches.

Thanks

 

[Stumpkiller]

I lay the patch over my thumb and rub it across the lube in a tin. Just enough to load up the weave of the patch.

 

[ohio ramrod]

I use very little, just enough to be able to tell the patch is lubed. This is in line with Dutch Schultz's system of using a soluable oil and water mixture and letting the water evaporate. Too much lube causes an increase in fouling. :idunno:

 

[Rifleman1776]

Liquids, I just rub on the side that will contact the barrel.
Current lubes are semi-solid, like soap. They are stored in small, bar soap sized, containers. I just rub them over large pieces of my patch cloth on the side that will contact the barrel. I then fold up, put in plastic baggies and keep in my range box for use. In use, I tear into strips and cut at muzzle. Easy, handy and not wasteful of lube.

 

[stronics]

I'm far from being knowledgable about all the different lubes, but for the liquids, I make them just damp enough that I can't squeeze out any between my fingers.
This works for me, your milage may differ. For the range I take a small sponge dampened with the lube and push the patch down on it till slightly damp.
David

 

[Flash Pan Dan]

I’m with Rifleman 1776 on this one, you do have to do some testing, but I found with my rifles and smoothbores if I just lube one side of the patch lightly I get better groups than when I slobber the stuff on.

 

[necchi]

Less is more,, If you know what that means,, :wink:

 

[ebiggs1]

I guess I am the odd guy out again! :shocked2:
I don't use any of the exotic lubes some of these guys seem to think make so much improvement.
None I have tried better Bore Butter or just plain old olive oil. :thumbsup:

I also like more lube as opposed to less. I usually put my patch material in a baggie and some olive oil and thoroughly knead it in.
It's probably why I can shoot all day and they have to swab all day. :hmm:

 

[Maven]

I do this as well, but on both sides of the patch strip. I then roll it, place it in a clean yoghurt cup and microwave it for ~15 secs. to distribute it fully. When cool, I cut it (with a pinking shear*) into individual patches. Btw, I'm using "Stumpy's Moose Snot" and it works very well.


*prevents fraying

 

[Flash Pan Dan]

ebiggs, when I used olive oil I would get smoldering patches and some burn through. I switched to peanut oil to prevent these occurrences. Do you have these problems also or is there something else you do to overcome these issues?

 

[ebiggs1]

Photobucket isn't working right now so I can't show a picture. But I may suggest, your patch may not have had enough olive oil on them. Mine do not burn at all and could be used again.

 

[simeon england]

Howdy!

Linen patching for me, and like stumpkiller I run strips under my thumb in the grease tin, both sides. After this, I cut to size with my scissors, and place in my tin for patches, which goes in my shooting pouch.
Amount is just enough to coat the linen weave, on both sides of the patch. I lube both sides because I do not know which way I will be turning the patch during loading.

Hope this helps.
BTW, my lube is a mixture of rendered deer fat, and beeswax.