Black powder lube

[Mad Turner]

Could I have a couple (of hundred) of opinions on the best all round lube for blackpowder guns whether it be flint or percussion, rifle, pistol or revolver. I use lard and beeswax melted together but if anyone has better please put me in the right direction. Thanks, Mad.

 

[Zeke/PA]

For years I've used the stuff we have in the toolroom called "Old BuLL".
It works well on Maxi- Balls and for greasing over the mouth of revolver cylinders.
Best part? It's free.
Respectfully,Zeke

 

[Steve499]

I think your lard/beeswax mix will work just fine, Mad. I use beeswax/olive oil, which smells better after a long time of un-refrigerated storage. All my real animal fat lube mixtures got kinda high if I mixed too much up to use in a couple of months, but I can't tell a whole lot of difference other than that. I'm beginning to think how one uses the lube is as important as what it's ingredients are, as long as it isn't petroleum based.

Steve

 

[Phillip Allen]

add a bit of castor oil...the lube I use for BPCR shooting is beef tallow, bees wax and castor oil...I can connect at 500 meters about half the time which is good for a new rifle...iron sights

 

[mykeal]

Bore Butter

I finally went to Bore Butter. It works fine, takes no effort to produce and comes in two scents.

I don't think it's any better than the beeswax/fat recipes, but I was always running short of the homemade stuff, so I finally quit trying.

 

[Plink]

I've basically switched over to Ballistol for everything. Originally I bought some because I heard it made a great lube and increased accuracy. It does! It's also a good solvent and lubricant also, so I guess I'm hooked.

If you want to give it a try as a lube, mix it with 5-7 parts or so of water. Wet your patches with it and let the water evaporate out. This leaves behind just the right amount of Ballistol. A little bit of Ballistol goes a long way and this is the only way I know of to lube the patch without overlubing it.

The patches feel somewhat dry to the touch. Not being slick and oily, they tend to allow the powder to burn a bit more thoroughly before letting the ball move down the bore. I think this is what increases the consistancy, and thus the accuracy. They also keep the bore pretty clean.

You'll need to tinker with the water ratio to find what your gun prefers. All of mine prefer somewhere in the 5-7 parts range, but some folks like their mix really rich and others like it leaner.