DANG IT! Forgot the ball lube!

[BCRider]

Took a couple of buddies out for some shooting yesterday and took along a C&B revolver as part of the box o' toys.

Got it loaded up then suddenly realized I'd forgot the little bottle of Canola oil I use for ball and bore lubing after loading. Figured I'd just shoot it dry for a couple of cylinders. But then I noticed that there was a bottle of sun screen. I figured "What the heck" and used some for the over ball lube.

Turns out it works just fine. No leading and the fouling cleaned out super easily. We shot four cylinders worth. The ONLY issue may be that it didn't seem to group that well. But I was using .454 balls that barely shaved lead at all so perhaps that was the cause instead.

But hey, the point is that it looks like sun screen is another possible ball and bore lube. And the guns didn't need to worry about sun burn! ! ! !

 

[Tommygunn]

Took a couple of buddies out for some shooting yesterday and took along a C&B revolver as part of the box o' toys.

Got it loaded up then suddenly realized I'd forgot the little bottle of Canola oil I use for ball and bore lubing after loading. Figured I'd just shoot it dry for a couple of cylinders. But then I noticed that there was a bottle of sun screen. I figured "What the heck" and used some for the over ball lube.

Turns out it works just fine. No leading and the fouling cleaned out super easily. We shot four cylinders worth. The ONLY issue may be that it didn't seem to group that well. But I was using .454 balls that barely shaved lead at all so perhaps that was the cause instead.

But hey, the point is that it looks like sun screen is another possible ball and bore lube. And the guns didn't need to worry about sun burn! ! ! !

One could say you had a bright idea ......

 

[Dframe]

ANd no melanomas either. I'll keep that one tucked away in case I ever need it. Thanks.

 

[J-Bar]

I admire creativity.

Crude but effective has been my motto for a long time!

Glad you and your friends had fun!!

 

[damoc]

chapstick in a pinch as well

 

[yugorpk]

I forget it every time I go shooting. Havent used it in years.

It does nothing other than make cleanup harder.

 

[BCRider]

CHAPSTICK! ? ! ? Now that's one I'd never have considered!

I must admit that we only loaded up 4 cylinders worth but I was surprised at how well the cylinder kept running. It really did keep the fouling on the base pin free running compared to when I run it with a little Canola oil.

I'll stick with the Canola oil though for regular use. I've found that it frees up sticky cylinders wonderfully and with the little plastic squirt bottle used to apply it (I need to find a period correct oil can of the proper size ) it's super clean to put a drop into the groove where the ball meets the cylinder and watch it wick around.

 

[Bullseye]

All those tubes of kids chapstick I threw out that I found on the floor of the school buses I drove. :banghead:
Hmmm think I'll ask the drivers at the old grind to save em for me.

 

[BCRider]

Sigsmoker, just don't get them confused with the glue stick packs that they likely also dropped....