oiling an 1858?

[swimmer]

After cleaning my 1858 Remington, should I use any oil IN the barrel and cylinder to lube it?
I don't want any rust to start before it is fired again. But, I don't want to foul it up for loading again, either.
Thanks for your help.

 

[necchi]

It is a quandry.
If you use petroleum oils, then you need to clean that out before firing again. It's really a simple matter. It's not that hard to be aware of the condition of your guns, if you use oil, then you know there is oil on it.

I use Ballistol for my revolvers, it's a water soluble oil and doesn't foul like Pure petrolium oils but I still wipe the excess off before shooting.

 

[rafterob]

Yes you want to oil it and then wipe the oil out of the bore and chambers before loading and firing. I have been using Remoil aerosol on my revolver becuase it gets into the tight spots.

 

[Gatofeo]

I have used olive oil for decades, to give protection to the bore and chambers. Because it's natural, it doesn't require removal before shooting.
I typically snap two caps on each chamber before loading for the first time. This removes any olive oil from the chambers. Any olive oil in the bore is inconsequential.
No need to buy the fancy olive oil. Dollar stores are good to buy small bottles of inexpensive olive oil.
Some folks claim that olive oil is mildly acidic and will lead to rust. Don't know about the acidity, but I was using it years ago as an interior and exterior preservative oil on my black powder guns when I lived in Seattle.
The coast of Washington is humid, of course. Never had a speck of rust appear, as long as I kept the gun in the apartment at room temperature. I'm sure it would have been a different story if kept in a vehicle, shed or unheated garage.
Olive oil has worked fine for me for four decades.

 

[outbackzack]

I have used RemOil, WD, BoreButter spread with a cotton swab, and at one time, some ancient Outers gun oil. All worked fine if the gun was clean and dry when applied. I don't recall what I used before I put the gun in storage, probably the evil yellow stuff, but, after ten years sitting in a safe, I had no corrosion at all.

 

[George T.]

I oil the heck out of mine! In fact all of my C&B get a really good coat of grease and oil inside and out. I remove the cylinder and spray it down with carb or break cleaner and dry with my compressor before loading.

When I load for hunting I load the powder felt wad and then grease the chamber mouths with wonder lube. I wipe the barrel out and use that patch to grease the outside lightly. Geo. T.

 

[Many Klatch]

I use a mix of 50% kerosene and 50% two stroke motor oil to oil all of my guns. I have never had a problem with this mix. I use it in the barrel, cylinder and on the outside. I also pull the nipples and oil them as well each time that I clean the gun.

Several times a year I will do a complete dismantle and make sure all the inner parts are well oiled and clean.

The 1858 cylinders like to bind up on the arbor after a dozen shots. I find that using white lithium grease on the arbor stops that problem.

Many Klatch

 

[Marc Adamchek]

I was always leery of using petroleum based stuff in my BP guns. Then I discovered EEZOX

This stuff is just plain wonderful. A little dab'll do ya. Just a thin coat is all that's needed at least for a year.

You want to shoot the gun, denatured alcohol swabbed in all appropriate places and you're all set to go.

Try it - you'll like it.