100 shots with lube pills, Chapter 2

[dwave]

Well, finally got around to doing my second test for the lube pills. I was using the same mix, 50% beeswax and 50% Crisco. The test platform this time was a Pietta 1858 New Army Target. I got 100 shots in without even having to wipe the pin.

Load data:
20 gr FFF Goex
Lube Pill over the powder, under the ball
.457 Round balls
CCI # 10's (ran out of the Remington 10's, my favorite personally.)

Here are the results:

One dirty gun after 100 shots, but it made it with no cleaning!

The pin got pretty dirty, but the gun didn't bind up. Removing the pin was a bit harder, but I pulled it out by hand without having to beat on it at all. I think the pin would have came out easier if the gun was still warm when I pulled it.

You can see on the top of the frame how much of the lube gets pushed out.

The barrel was very clean after 100 shots and the accuracy stayed up very well. I don't have a picture of my target, but my final 4 shots measured just about 3 inches at 15 yards.

Final note: The lube is harder to clean that just crisco or other lubes, but hot water removes it fairly easy. It melts the wax and then it wipes off. It is a great trade off for being able to shoot without swabbing the barrel every so many cylinders. They are also less messy than using bore butter or crisco over the ball.

 

[Pancho]

how do you make you lube pills. how thick are they?

 

[dwave]

I use a 50/50 mix. 50% pure bees wax and 50% crisco. I make mine thicker so it works as a filler for my light loads. The batch used in the test here was 1/4 of an inch. I was thinking however, since winter was here, about changing my mix to maybe 30/70. 30% bees wax to 70% crisco because the cold weather will keep it from getting runny or such. Haven't tried it yet, but maybe that would be too much. Good news is if it is, I can just remelt and add beeswax.

 

[Norseman_01]

using all natural materials for you lube really helps with keeping the fouling soft.

wether its lube pills (over the ball) or home made wonder wads (under the ball) the goal is still the same.

I use a soft lube mix for over the bullet...

 

[Wildfire]

Nice.

Very well done. Keep it up.

 

[dwave]

They are amazing! I got the idea from other members here on THR, thanks Rifle, Pohill, and Smokin_Gun. I seen them mention then and then got started. I used a different recipe than them, but they work very well.

I did the tests here to show how effective they are. I like to do different tests and post the results for everyone to see.

Hey Norseman_01, I use them under the ball too, not over. I have found that they work better that way. I am not sure and I have no chronograph, but the gun sounds different and I almost wonder if they form a kind of gas check. Sounds funny, but you never know!