Black Powder Lube - Criticism welcome

  • 1.1K Views
  • Last Post 29 August 2018
  • Topic Is Solved
johngardener posted this 09 July 2018

I must have read fifty different authors and digested their loads.

My cap and ball revolver and my Baker don't need lube (I lube the Baker patches with bought stuff) My .45 long colt bullets get done in my Lyman lube-sizer. No chemistry or alchemy needed there.

I settled on 70% pure bees-wax (a friend keeps bees) 29% beef dripping an 1% green candle wax (because it was in the saucepan last used to make candles)

First thoughts are that it looks very hard. 

Now, which method to chose. In a pan - need to make a lube cutter (currently in the lathe under construction)

Make a box to keep the ammo in - made the box - ding! little light comes on, I could bottom fill the Minnie cavity and then dip. Which is what I did.

Now - Devon and Cornwall Police, kindly get your arses into gear and send me my certificate - I neeeeeeeeed to shoot my gun!

 Still in the tray!

Bottom filling

 After dipping

MI YAMMO  

I really would like to read your comments I am a true black powder lube novice.

 

 

 

Attached Files

Order By: Standard | Newest | Votes
R. Dupraz posted this 09 July 2018

It helps to have a bee keeper across the street too.

 

R.

Attached Files

  • Liked by
  • TRKakaCatWhisperer
johngardener posted this 23 July 2018

That's not my hair - it's a hat!  I don't have any hair to speak of innocent

My ticket finally came through but I'm in Plymouth and the bundhook is two hundred miles away in Bisley.

Going up in a couple of weeks to collect it and give it some severe testing applause 

Attached Files

  • Liked by
  • delmarskid
longhunter posted this 09 July 2018

I would like to help you but am not sure what you are loading for or shooting?

Jon

Jon Welda CW5 USA Ret.

Attached Files

johngardener posted this 09 July 2018

Jon,

Dur! I can hear you shouting "Run Forrest!"embarassed

 

I have bought Birmingham made Parker Hale two band Enfield Navy.

With luck, after five weeks, my fire-arms certificate will come back so that I can actually take it out on to the range.

I have made note of starting loads, and plan to start with 70 gr. of Swiss No.2

I know that it will be a case of fire it and see and I'm sort of 'schoolboy excited' at the prospect

I am lucky enough to have a  mobile home on Bisley Ranges and, being retired, time isn't an issue.

As I say, any corrections will be welcome.

 

 

Attached Files

OU812 posted this 09 July 2018

Add more beef drippings to soften.

Pan lubing should not require a cutter. I let the lube and bullets cool in small Teflon pan, remove cake from pan, then push bullets out from top.

One guy I know uses 80/20 SPG lube, Thompsons bore butter. Pretty soft and pan lubes well

He cleans his BPCR barrel with a 80/20 mix water, Ballistol.  

Attached Files

R. Dupraz posted this 09 July 2018

I have been using 50/50 bee's wax and olive oil as a BP lube for years in BPCR's, BP revolvers and percussion rifles. Sometimes, I add a dollop of lanoline. Although, don't know if it is necessary except that it makes the lube stickier. Some believe that SPG is nothing more than an expensive lanoline lube anyway.   The softness of this lube can be adjusted easily for use in the above by adjusting the amount of Bee's wax, The hardest is for the BPCR.

When lubing bullets and wanting to find out if it is hard enough, just lube a bullet and let it lay out in the sun on a hot sunny day. If the lube melts, stiffen by adding more wax. Or soften with more olive oil. 

Otherwise, my MO is identical to what OU812 wrote with the exception being that I use   a 50/50 mixture of Ballistol andd water to clean and then pure to store. Checking the bore every day for three days there after.

R.

 

 

 

Attached Files

johngardener posted this 09 July 2018

Another 'Dur!' talk about over-engineering, making an unnecessary tool!

Of course - push them out!

More dripping in the next batch.

Thank you 

Attached Files

johngardener posted this 09 July 2018

Thank you too, all useful.

 

Too hard confirmed, we are experiencing unusually hot days here in Devon and I had already thought about leaving the bullets in the sun. No melt. 

Back to the drawing board.

Olive oil - I shall try that too and roast my potatoes in the rest of the dripping!

Bets wishes to you all

 

John

Attached Files

Brodie posted this 09 July 2018

I use straight SPG in my Whitworth .451.  NO leading, no problems, holds up fairly well in the heat.  Bullets kept in a speed loader in my shirt pocket while hunting give me no problems and shoot just as well as just lubed and taken to the range.

B.E.Brickey

Attached Files

tlkeizer posted this 10 July 2018

Greetings,

Like Old Coot, I too use straight SPG (in Trapdoor 45-70's).  What I have found is pushing bullets out too soon causes SPG to stick to my fingers and not stay real well in the grooves, and waiting too long causes the SPG to break out of the lube grooves when bullets are pushed out of the cake.  Timing isn't critical, but does play a slight factor.  I have found that bullets pushed out by hand when not too cold or hot retain the SPG very well for later loading.  For my pan lubing I use an old muffin tin, get 7 bullets per muffin, and the small cakes handle well.  If you pull one set out too early you know to leave the others a bit longer.  I may have to get an old tea pot or coffee pot like R. Dupraz for pouring, that would be nicer than gloves and warmed up canning jar pulled out of hot water. 

TK

Attached Files

OU812 posted this 10 July 2018

After pushing bullets from cake I reinsert new bullets into empty holes then reheat @200-240 degrees in preheated oven. Heating bullets and lube together helps lube stick better. After cake cools ,you may have to put pan in freezer for about 1 hour to get lube cake to release from pan.

RCBS Lube a matic or Lyman lube machine works fine to lube bullets.

Attached Files

Ed Harris posted this 10 July 2018

The beeswax and olive oil mix is hard to beat.  Adjust the ratio to the hardness you want, but 50-50 is a good starting point.

Neatsfoot oil can also be used, but I see no particular advantage.

I use ATF and beeswax for my smokeless loads, but if I used it with Holy Black I would be burned at the stake as a heretic.

73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia

Attached Files

johngardener posted this 11 July 2018

Thanks Guys, all useful stuff. She Who Must Be Obeyed is out all day today cool

She has never, in forty years of buying and using 'gun-fun' stuff, complained; but using the olive oil, putting it with bees-wax, in her Teflon cake tin into the oven,  'might'   just raise an eyebrow!

Again, all advice gratefully received

John

 

Attached Files

R. Dupraz posted this 11 July 2018

Lawn sales, rummage sales, garage sales, thrift stores, second hand stores, etc. my good man. Don't know what they call these in your neighborhood, but there must be something similar. You get the idea.

Have picked up a few major casting items for the cheap at the above. Just takes a little investigation.

Helps to keep peace in the kingdom or Queendom, Which ever may apply. 

 

R. 

Attached Files

johngardener posted this 16 July 2018

I have marked R. Dupraz as the solution however all your replies have been very useful. I have made up three different mixtures of lube using colouring to differentiate. I am still waiting to get my hands on the bundhook  and as soon as I have tested the loads and lube mixes I'll let you know how I got on.

Thanks again to everyone fr their help and advice.

 

John

Attached Files

rfd123 posted this 23 July 2018

back in the dim past of a few years ago i stopped using greasers in favor of paper jacketing slicks for my .45-70 rifles.  however, i still use my grease for lubing muzzleloader patch strips.  the lube is "gato feo" (ugly cat), it's an old 19th century formula and it's a dandy that's as good as any commercial or home brew bullet lube. 

by weight ...

1 part mutton tallow (i get mine from dixie gun works)
1 part canning (paraffin) wax (gulf brand works well)
1/2 part pure and filtered beeswax

... do NOT substitute any of the ingredients!  double boiler melted, stirred and mixed.  its viscosity can be tempered by adding more beeswax as required.  mutton (sheep) tallow is a wonderful addition that won't go rancid as other tallows will, and it's great for the skin. 

 

 

 

http://www.BuffaloRifles.org

Attached Files

Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 23 July 2018

good web link ..

... and great rifle range ... lucky you if you get to shoot there !! ...

ken

Attached Files

joeb33050 posted this 23 July 2018

Mutton tallow and yak butter-42.37% yak butter. As for criticism, your hair looks funny.

joe b.

Attached Files

joeb33050 posted this 23 July 2018

In Col. Harrison's book: "Synthetic Grease is not  a good bullet lube.: I tried it, works fine. I tried a lotta lubes, any reasonable lube works fine. Unless we're talking about the "One group test", or "My cousin's girlfriend's uncle said..."-common proof methods here.

I take a capsule of flax seed oil daily on the eye guy's instructions; and I wonder if any of you BP nuts ever tried an oil or water/y capsule in amongst the BP. Might soften fouling allowing push out on next shot. My BP days are long over, or I'd try it. Of course, one does not require actual experience to speak authoritatively here.

Cod liver oil?

(I don't care for your hat either. Is that really a hat?)

joe b.

 

Attached Files

beltfed posted this 23 July 2018

Emmert's lube is  very good and simple for BPCR :

By Wt:

50% yellow beeswax

40% Crisco solid vegetable oil /NO SALT version

10% Canola oil. (or Non-virgin Olive Oil- call it Emmertini's then)

beltfed/arnie

Attached Files

Show More Posts
Close