What do you guys lube your C&B revolvers with?

[Surrywoodman]

Dang, search results for ball lubes, bullet lubes, synthetic lubes, and just lubes turned up no results, not even this current thread, I must be setting that parameters wrong or something

 

[nkbj]

Another workable lube for the front of the chambers is Do-All Tool Saver but there are far better alternatives.
General Lee perhaps used the commonly available mid-19th Century sealing wax as the substance on his 1851's chambers was described as a dark wax.
As long as what you have works then yeah, it works.

 

[nkbj]

But I watched lots of Lorette Lynn's Crisco commercials and she never said nothing about revolvers.

 

[M. De Land]

All,
I just got a Pietta 1851 Navy in 44 cal. brass frame that I gave $80 for. It seems to be close to pristine and the guy only shot it a few times until he had a chain fire which freaked him out. I used to have a Navy and Army many moons ago but sold them. Back in the day I used crisco but after a couple of shots it became a mess. Does anyone have an over ball lube that does not disintegrate too badly? I have read where folks used crisco/bees wax...looking for what you use that gives success. I am not really interested in wads but I am willing to consider, never have used them.

I have used Crisco for over 50 years and put up with the mess but have in the last few years switched to 1/8th " Duro-felt wads soaked in Mathews lube comprised of equal parts of Bees wax, bear oil and Murphy's oil soap. The bear oil is my substitution for Neatsfoot oil in the original formula. The wads are soaked in the lube while still melted before it sets up , picked out with tweezers and let cool on wax paper. The lube does not melt after it sponifies and sets up and keeps practically forever.
The felt wads don't leave the mess all over gun, spotting scope and shooting glasses while maintaining good accuracy. They do however use up some powder volume for max loading.
This is the set up I use with the wad cutting dies invented by Fred Lieth. The die works in a reloading press and also secures the pie tin capture plate.
I love to punch out wads as it gives the same kind of satisfaction as popping bubble wrap !

 

[M. De Land]

All,
I just got a Pietta 1851 Navy in 44 cal. brass frame that I gave $80 for. It seems to be close to pristine and the guy only shot it a few times until he had a chain fire which freaked him out. I used to have a Navy and Army many moons ago but sold them. Back in the day I used crisco but after a couple of shots it became a mess. Does anyone have an over ball lube that does not disintegrate too badly? I have read where folks used crisco/bees wax...looking for what you use that gives success. I am not really interested in wads but I am willing to consider, never have used them.

The thing about over ball lube is that with each shot the volume of lube remaining in subsequent chambers is decreased which is an ever changing part of ones load equation where as the lubed wad is a consistent component.