Bore Butter opinions?

[Guvnor]

Ive been using bore butter thinking a "natural lube" would be best for black powder guns. I swab the bore with it after cleaning and drying, and apply a thin coat on the outside of the entire barrel before putting it away.

But now im hearing "mixed" reviews on bore butter. I noticed that when I run a dry patch to remove the bore butter prior to a shooting session...the patch comes out slightly "dirty" looking, almost like the bore butter changes color or something. Im not sure why this is happening, as the bore is spotless when I finish cleaning and apply the bore butter. Does this happen to anyone else?

Is there anyone who has used bore butter long-term and is happy with it?

 

[scrat]

Use it same way. I have seen it come out the same way. However same time i have also inspected the gun competely and i have never had any rust spots on the gun. So i am happy with it and will continue to use it.

 

[wrc376]

I love it, its non toxic, a great rail lubricant! and a useful preservative for gun in storage. Even if it dries there is still a film working as a protective barrier.

 

[BHP FAN]

not so much.had a Kentucky develop rust in the bore,and quit using it as a preservative.On the other hand,it makes a really superior cylinder pin lube, allowing me extended shooting sessions with my Remmies.Just clean it off and oil before storage.

 

[jbkebert]

I have three front stuffer rifles and they all get a coating of bore butter after cleaning. Yes it seems to come out looking strangly like a very light coat of fouling. I pulled my omega rifle out not to long ago after being store for a couple years without being touched. Not a once of rust on the gun. I am sold.

 

[Smokin_Gun]

I have always used Mooses Milk a mixture of water soluable machining oil and water...if I remember right 1/8 oil to 7/8's water maybe it was 1/4 oil to 3/4 water. Just for shootin' and swabbin' the bore.
I use bore butter sometimes with minnie balls a .58 cal boolit, but mostly my own mix. I never use Bore Butter as a long term protective coating on Bluing or Browning.
I always clean with hot soapy water and run dry patches and that's it. If it's clean it should not rust or corrode. A light coat of CRC, Bobcat, or WD40, or even the beloved LSA can't hurt.

 

[wrc376]

do you mean to say that you have seen bore butter cause browning of a finish?

 

[BHP FAN]

SG's got it right.I DO add a little Bore Butter or Wonder Lube to my grease cookies,mostly to keep them from being too hard and waxy.A patch,lightly oiled,followed by a dry patch [to remove excess] down the bore keeps rust away when stored.Clean with alcohol before restoring to service, let dry,and fire a cap before shooting,an you're good to go.

 

[mykeal]

Bore Butter is really a lubricant rather than a rust preventative. It does perform the latter function well if the metal is properly prepared first. By that I mean make sure the metal is completely dry. Bore Butter will prevent moisture from getting to the metal, but it also works the other way - it prevents moisture from drying out if you cover it with the Bore Butter. In that case it can result in rust over a long period of time.

If you're going to use Bore Butter as a long term storage rust preventer just make sure the metal is completely dry before you put it on.

 

[aprayinbear]

Something Hershel House once said.

I remember that the famous gunmaker Hershel House once said that when he cleans his rifles he oils them well and then puts them away for several days. Then he adds another coat of oil if he plans on storing the gun for any length of time.

I'm not sure of the science behind his process, but I've always used it and it always works for me. I imagine that if you used the same process with Bore Butter you would get the same result.

Just a Thought

 

[madcratebuilder]

Ballistol has replaced 90% of the different gun oils and lubes I have used in the past. All my BP stuff is cleaned in hot water then wiped down with Ballistol, no rust issues to date.

 

[Elbert P . Suggins]

If you use bore butter over the ball and let your gun sit for a couple of months without shooting, it's almost like it turns rancid like Crisco. It loses its fragrance and it turns darker. And like was said, if your piece is dry it can be applied in and out without worry of rust.

 

[K.A.T.]

Bore Butter

I know for a fact that bore butter will turn a light brown color over time in a firearm. I use it and have watched it do this inside my revolvers, but I have never had any rust.

 

[Splattersmith]

"If you use bore butter over the ball and let your gun sit for a couple of months without shooting, it's almost like it turns rancid like Crisco. It loses its fragrance and it turns darker."

Don't know why you would do that - but bore butter has been very good for my pistols. I use Murphy's Oil (11-1) or ballistol on the rifles with a coat of regular good oil at times. Basically, all the newer stuff is good if one uses sanity. Try it, look for rust and then go with what works. Nothing I have found in 50 yrs. is magic, it is just care and common sence.

Ballistiol has a "distinct" smell and bore butter smells like cooking .(IMHO). But one doesn't shoot by smell, usually.

 

[mtn hunter]

stick with the bore butter, petrolium based products will cause more headaches for you in the long run. Another good way to use the bore butter is when I go to sealing off each chamber, I place bore butter on a baby spoon and melt it over a candle flame, then pour just enough in each cylinder to cover top of ball. Let this cool, will become real stiff, and never run out no matter how hot the day is.

 

[BobOfTheFuture]

Freebasing borebutter, eh?

Time for a new hobby, mabie?

 

[mtn hunter]

Yea, not just any bore butter, but TC's pine scented in the green tube.

 

[messerist]

This might be off the beaten path a bit but it concerns bore butter. I was told by one of the stock makers for Cooper Arms that they use bore butter as part of their stock finishing regimen. So I am guessing that any long-term use of bore butter that may contact the stock or grips should not be detrimental.

 

[Elbert P . Suggins]

I ask Splattersmith, what did mean when you said "don't know why you would do that"? Are you asking why I use BB over the ball or are you referring to me having a loaded black powder pistol always loaded for a length of time? Just curious.

 

[scrat]

Well Elbert i have two loaded bp revolvers. Topped off with bore butter. been that way since august