Waxing your barrel/bore

[Gene L]

I've long been a fan of car wax for protecting the finish on guns. A light coat buffed off will protect the finish agains moisture and even fingerprints.

I had a Python that I waxed and it remained beautiful after handling and lost none of that deep blue. Likewise, it works on nickel guns.

So I wonder if it wouldn't work as a protection on the bore of a muzzle loader. It sure works on a .22 rifle, the bores of which almost never rust.

I know it will work on the outside, including the wood. Has anyone ever tried this on the bore?

 

[Cowboy]

I always use Renaissance wax on all my muzzleloaders. I pretty much shoot and clean like everyone else. Never seen a problem with using it on the barrel or any other metal surfaces on the gun.

After I clean them, I put another coat of Renwax on them and put em away. I use only a small amount, as it will go a very long way.

Respectfully, Cowboy

 

[hawkeye2]

I have used Johnson's Paste Wax on the exterior metal surfaces on my bright finished rifle muskets with excellent results. I'll leave experimenting with wax in the bore of a black powder gun for someone else though.

 

[larry wv]

I don't like the inside the bore idea. Outside yes inside not for me. :v

Larry

 

[necchi]

It sure works on a .22 rifle, the bores of which almost never rust.

.22 rifles almost never rust if you do nothing at all.

 

[Gene L]

Because the bullets are waxed and that wax coats the bore. I've got .22s I haven't cleaned the bore for 20 years.

I can't see any harm from waxing the bore. I'll try it and report on it later.

 

[Zonie]

I've used the auto wax that is made to be used on new clear coat paint jobs to wax the stock, the outside of the barrel and exposed metal parts on some of my longrifles without a problem.

I've also used the same wax to wax my guitars and furniture. No doubt about it, it gives a long lasting protection.

Depending on the kind of wax, I might be a bit hesitant to use it inside my guns bores though.

Normally, I use Maguire's Gold Coat wax and it comes in two different versions.

One is a paste wax that would probably work all right in a bore.
The other is a cream wax that has some water added to make it spread easily.

There probably isn't enough water in it to cause any harm but as the Birchwood Casey Barricade gun oil I use works so well, I think I'll just pass on waxing my gun bores.

 

[azmntman]

What benefit are we seeking in waxing the bore? If we clean well and use a good oil what more is there? Am I missing sumthin :hmm: :idunno:

 

[Gene L]

What benefit are we seeking in waxing the bore? If we clean well and use a good oil what more is there? Am I missing sumthin :hmm: :idunno:

Maybe not. But it might be worth a try. As I said, I don't see how it could hurt.

I believe in wax, at least in theory. I'll test it, of course. It could be wax makes that first ball go down more easily, maybe not. I've had pretty good luck with oil, but in a search to find something better. I'm pretty impressed with .22 LR rounds and how well they protect the bore. I'd like to find a BP alternative that does as well. Or even comes close.

I have quite a bit of carnuba wax, a natural product I'll try. Does a good job on protecting the outside, can't see why it wouldn't protect the inside.

 

[necchi]

Because the bullets are waxed and that wax coats the bore. I've got .22s I haven't cleaned the bore for 20 years.

Your right, that's for sure.
But I don't think .22's powder burns as hot as BP or the sub's.
I'm afraid if you do wax the bore then shoot it, your going to find something a bit different in the bore then what's found in a .22
It's not just the heat, BP and the subs leave all that fouling that will now get to mix with said wax.

It's kind of like an answer I gave about patch lube,,, if waxing the bore was a good idea someone in the last 400yrs or so would have already tried it,, and the process would be a topic on all the forums discussing the best wax, the best affordable wax and the methods to apply for the best results.
I'm just guessing, but it's hard to fathom that no-body else has ever had the same thought and tried it.
If it was a good thing, we'd all know about it.

Matter of fact the highest recommendation for years has been clean, bright steel with a light coating of gun oil (choose your poison) as a rust preventive that needs to be removed before shooting, we don't recommend any kind of "seasoning" in the bore to plug things up,, another myth that rears it's head from time to time.

Good luck, keep us posted.

 

[BrownBear]

Has anyone ever tried this on the bore?

I'm also a fan of wax on exteriors (Johnson Paste) and have wondered about the bores.

Only thing that stops me is reports of some bore lubes being "too slick" and causing problems of some sort. Not sure of the problems, and not sure if it's true. But like all potential elderly female spouse tales, it's made me stop and wonder.

I'd suggest you try it and report back. Doesn't sound like anyone else here has tried it in a bore, either.

 

[Gene L]

Well, I don't know how to evaluate the results. Anyone got any ideas? BP is pretty nasty. Maybe it's a matter of personal preference without scientific tests. At any rate, I seriously doubt any quantifiable benefits, just a question out there.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I've use beeswax inside and out......and I used linseed oil once on the outside of the barrel...
The linseed looked terrible when it dried....

But no turtle wax......

 

[sidelock]

My .22 is almost 70 years old, still shoots to POA after estimated 65,000 rounds and bore never gets cleaned. A little 3 in 1 oil on outside once a year and looks used but in good shape.

 

[SgtErv]

I'm wondering how you go about applying it? I've been curious to try a mink oil tallow/beeswax blend as a 'fixin wax' but didn't find much on application. (Maybe because it's common sense, and I've just overthought it)

 

[mooman76]

I used to try to "season" the bore with bore butter. Not trying to start something here because most say you can not and I'm not going to say either way but I no longer do it.

Anyway it is a soft waxy substance. Whether their is wax in it or not I don't know but I just applied it heavy to a patch after the bore was cleaned. I ran it up and down on a cleaning jag until the bore was well coated but not so coated it was thick on the bore. Just a nice even coat.

 

[SgtErv]

Oh I'm sticking to a strict water/WD40/Barricade in the bore. I was wondering about Clydes use of beeswax on the outside of the barrel and the external lock parts besides pan and frizzen.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Apply a very thin coat and then hand buff it back. Leaving a ultra thin coat. The friction from buffing will melt the wax or mixture allowing it to smooth out as you buff.
On the exterior of a barrel, if you remove it from the stock, a heat gun or hair dryer can be used to make the process easier...
On the outside you can use pure beeswax or a mixture....
On the inside you have to use a thin mixture.
I coat a patch and run it up and down the barrel.
Then I heat the jag and run patches until they are clean.

If you haven't used a heat gun before you best try something sacrificial first...it's easy to burn stuff with them.

If you can scrape wax off when you're done, you put to much on.

It's a lost of fussy work....A good gun oil/rust preventative is a lot easier...

 

[SgtErv]

Thanks. That does indeed sound tedious haha. I might try it once just to see anyway. Curiousity if nothing else. Love beeswax, fidget with a piece of it all day

 

[tenngun]

I have never put wax in a barrel. Oil or fat is light, and when I go shooting a couple three patches ran through leaves it clean for the first load. Is there any thing you do before shooting, or do you burn it out with the first shot?, Do you ever get wax blocking the touch hole/vent?