Its not so much what lube you use, but when its put on the fabric, when it involves any kind of grease. Grease( and wax) take time to penetrate the fibers of the weave. You can speed the process up by heating the greased fabric, but basically, you need to grease patches at least a day before you are going to use them.
Only if you are going to use water, spit, or a water based "lube" on a patch- at a range- where you are going to fire the gun within seconds of it being loaded, can you Lube patches At the Range, without problems.
All PRB should be run down with a Hand-over-hand motion, with the two hands never being more than 8 inches apart. If the patch is lubed enough, It should not Stop and Start as you have described. With a proper Hand-over-hand technique the rod should continue to move down during the transition from one hand to another. Slow and easy, but without the jerks.
Way too many men seem anal-compulsive-- afraid of getting their hands dirty, among other things. I don't know what they think goes on when shooting BP guns! :shocked2: :idunno:
Here's a NEWS FLASH to new BP shooters: You ARE GOING TO GET DIRTY LOADING AND CLEANING YOUR GUN. Most of the residue is CARBON!( SOOT!) You need to take rags or towels with you, Water, a bit of liquid soap, and both shooting patches, and thinner, Cleaning patches with you whenever you are going to shoot your gun! If I shoot at a club where there is a loading bench available, I go back to my truck and take out my water bottle, my paper towels, and any rags and soap I have stashed there, to take up to the loading bench. I make them available to other shooters, most of whom Marvel At MY THOUGHTFULNESS!!???? :shocked2: :hmm:
I also get comments on my loading technique,, as I turn my hands away from me( thumbs down) and grab the rod ONLY with my fingers. If a powder charge fires off and pushes that rod up through my hands, the Normal reaction of my hand( and yours) is to open the fingers. If you are holding the rod with your thumb closed around it, the movement will cause you to grip( or try to grip) the rod Harder, making it possible for your jag to rip your thumb off your hand! :shocked2: :idunno: :hmm:
I call my grip technique the " Monkey Grip" after observing monkeys and chimps in zoos, and seeing that they almost never close their thumbs around a tree limb when moving, by grabbing the limb with their fingers. Grabbing with just the fingers allows them to move smoothly from one hand to the other as they travel through the treetops. You can use the same fingers only grip, with your thumbs up, and palms facing you, provided You make a studied effort to fold that thumb down next to your index finger, and keep it there, rather than using it to grab the rod in a fist.
An inspection of the crown of the muzzle will discover quickly if there is a rough spot or sharp edge that is cutting that patch. ALways RECOVER YOUR PATCHES FROM THE GROUND WHEN WORKING ON LOADS. Read the patches. They will tell you what you are doing RIGHT, and what needs to change. :hmm: If you don't own a copy of Dutch Schoultz's material, get it. Its the best $20.00 investment in your education about MLers that you can make.
http://www.blackpowderrifleaccuracy.com/
Best wishes to your friend and his musket. :thumbsup:
Paul
