Help me understand this. I have a percussion .54 cal Hawken and I use 80 grs of FFF Goex. When I used Wonder Lube,Bore Butter,Mink Oil and a few other "Grease Lubes" and I tried The "Dry" lube 4-1 up to 7-1 ratios. with ALL of these I have a hard time loading after the first shot and NEVER was I able to go more than 9 shots before I had to completely clean the barrel.After 9 shots my rifle would not go off.I tried a wet(damp) patch and a dry between shots,I tried I tried different amounts of wetness and even 2-3 dry patches between shots. Still no more than 9 shots, usually 6 shots, before I have to clean.Plus, I marked my ramrod to where a load is in a clean barrel. I get fouling build up ,quick, because each shot is a little less (deep?). This week I tried Lehigh Valley lube and all this changed. I fired 30 shots in a row .and let the last one sit in the barrell for 12 hours before firing.Absolutely NO problems! I loaded every shot with my Wood ramrod,easily.Never a hangfire or misfire.All loads loaded to the same depth.Cleanup was a breeze. But, I want to know WHY this happens? What is it about the other lubes that My rifle does not like? I appreciate any ideas on this.Thanks.
Patch Lubes....... Help.........
- Thread starter Sully
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I've never shot Lehigh Valley lube so I really can not comment. I have shot bore butter, mink oil and moosemilk among many and usually get about seven to ten shots off before I have to swab the barrel, no matter which if those lubes I shoot.
In my percussion sidelocks I swab a little different then in my inlines. I run a Black Off Rusty Duck patch down them, both sides. Then I run a patch with pure 91% alcohol down, both sides. After that I run about two dry patches and then can usually shoot an additional seven to ten shots.
All I would say is if Lehigh Valley lube is working that well for you... use that. All rifles are different and what works in one will not work in another. I have some cap locks in my collection that are as different as night and day for loads... It just takes time to learn them.
Also since it is a cap lock you are not restricted to Black Powder unless you like the fact your shooting that. I have shot some Clean Shot and some Pinnacle Powder in cap locks that allowed numerous shots without any cleaning....
In my Lyman Trade Rifle I shoot 90 grains of Goex 2f and a moosemilk patched roundball. Accuracy is excellent and cleaning is not bad at all...
In my percussion sidelocks I swab a little different then in my inlines. I run a Black Off Rusty Duck patch down them, both sides. Then I run a patch with pure 91% alcohol down, both sides. After that I run about two dry patches and then can usually shoot an additional seven to ten shots.
All I would say is if Lehigh Valley lube is working that well for you... use that. All rifles are different and what works in one will not work in another. I have some cap locks in my collection that are as different as night and day for loads... It just takes time to learn them.
Also since it is a cap lock you are not restricted to Black Powder unless you like the fact your shooting that. I have shot some Clean Shot and some Pinnacle Powder in cap locks that allowed numerous shots without any cleaning....
In my Lyman Trade Rifle I shoot 90 grains of Goex 2f and a moosemilk patched roundball. Accuracy is excellent and cleaning is not bad at all...
Lehigh is good stuff (IMHO it used to be better - now I don't trust it as a bore treatment for storage).
Every rifle, even among the same brands, has a lube it prefers. Machining marks, bore smoothness, your methods of adding lube, humidity, powder brand and granulation, patch material. . ., on and on. They all have an effect on your results.
One thin I have found to be of general help in keeping the fouling manageable (as in multiple shots without cleaning) is to lube the bore BEFORE adding the first powder and ball. Not a lot, just enough to coat it well. I figure it's got to be like greasing a pan before adding the meat.
When I set out experimenting with m castor oil mixes I was hoping to end up with a liquid lube as good as Lehigh and a grease lube as good as Bore Butter. Those two were my favorites.
Every rifle, even among the same brands, has a lube it prefers. Machining marks, bore smoothness, your methods of adding lube, humidity, powder brand and granulation, patch material. . ., on and on. They all have an effect on your results.
One thin I have found to be of general help in keeping the fouling manageable (as in multiple shots without cleaning) is to lube the bore BEFORE adding the first powder and ball. Not a lot, just enough to coat it well. I figure it's got to be like greasing a pan before adding the meat.
When I set out experimenting with m castor oil mixes I was hoping to end up with a liquid lube as good as Lehigh and a grease lube as good as Bore Butter. Those two were my favorites.
I get the same results with Lehigh Valley lube. Cept for my recent problem blown patches ofcourse but don't blame that on the lube.
I suspect ramming the ball home with a slightly wet patch pushes all the crud down to the barrel breach and leaves the barrel ahead of the ball slick and relatively clean.
Britches
Gordon Horn
40 Cal.
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Sully,
Like you, I never had great luck with grease lubes as far as multiple shots before cleaning either. About 5 or 6 shots and I'd better clean. Then I read about Lehigh lube and tried a bottle. I could merrily shoot all afternoon and no wiping was required. I would wipe the bore occationally just to see what the difference would be, but not much.
Running dangerously low on the original Lehigh, I decided to mix up a batch of Stumpy's Moosemilk. Gave it a try at the last shoot and I was also very satisfied with the MM. No difficulty loading several shots in succession and accuracy seemed good as well. For a few dollars I could mix up 32 oz. of Stumpy's and that is about 5 or 6 bottles of Lehigh. I was very happy with that also. :master:
eace:
Like you, I never had great luck with grease lubes as far as multiple shots before cleaning either. About 5 or 6 shots and I'd better clean. Then I read about Lehigh lube and tried a bottle. I could merrily shoot all afternoon and no wiping was required. I would wipe the bore occationally just to see what the difference would be, but not much.
Running dangerously low on the original Lehigh, I decided to mix up a batch of Stumpy's Moosemilk. Gave it a try at the last shoot and I was also very satisfied with the MM. No difficulty loading several shots in succession and accuracy seemed good as well. For a few dollars I could mix up 32 oz. of Stumpy's and that is about 5 or 6 bottles of Lehigh. I was very happy with that also. :master:
eace:I bought and shot some mink oil on the recommendation of someone who I believe was really trying to help me set up the rifle. The mink oil was a big let down as far as accuracy. I switched back to the good old moosemilk and the accuracy was outstanding.
When it is cold I run a much dryer patch. When the weather is hot, I tend to run a damp patch of moosemilk. I find the best results that way.
Running dangerously low on the original Lehigh, I decided to mix up a batch of Stumpy's Moosemilk. Gave it a try at the last shoot and I was also very satisfied with the MM. No difficulty loading several shots in succession and accuracy seemed good as well. For a few dollars I could mix up 32 oz. of Stumpy's and that is about 5 or 6 bottles of Lehigh. I was very happy with that also. :master:
My experience has been much the same. I first tried Lehigh a couple of years ago and really liked it. I could shoot long strings of shots without swabbing and everyone loaded as easy as the first and it gave great accuracy.
Then I, too, mixed up a batch of Stumpy's moosemilk recipe and it is very good also. Same ease of loading with no swabbing and exceptional accuracy. It is all I use now.
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