Do you use grease?

[tim56]

I used my r+s without lube once (because i forgot it. OOPS. ) After 2 rounds of 6 they were flying all over the place and it took ages to get the thing properly clean again. With the 577 its near imposible to load a bullet after 2 shots if no lube is used, you can feel the hard crud biting all the way down. With wonder lube i can shoot a full morning session with out even swabbing the barrel and the 45/70 is the same. Maybee just my guns but ill stick to wonder lube till something better comes along.
Intresting to see that some use allox on round ball. I use it on .357 and .44 bullets but have not tried it on b/p ball or bullets yet. Will give it a go sometime.

[Eagleman]

Chaps, chaps...please remember my greenhorn status. What is alox and what is wonder lube? Trex? Is that the lard stuff? Where from? How much? Please also see Getting started post.

[Jim McArthur]

Keep asking these questions, Eagleman, I'll read along and we'll learn together.

Jim

[john paul]

Trex - vegetable oil, you can get it from Morrissons, Asda etc...
My recipe for lube; 75% Trex, 25% Beeswax and a drop of olive oil. The beeswax makes it less inclined to melt - binds the mixture. You can just use the Trex straight - works. If you go on the American sites they advocate Crisco - same stuff as Trex.
If your getting a good ring of lead after loading the ball, well the seal is fine and you really don't need the cover over the ball to prevent a chain fire.
I've experimented with wads shop bought variety, and made my own, I actually find I get better accuracy with the Trex method.

I intend though to try the alox method suggested.

[john paul]

Trex - vegetable oil, you can get it from Morrissons, Asda etc...
My recipe for lube; 75% Trex, 25% Beeswax and a drop of olive oil. The beeswax makes it less inclined to melt - binds the mixture. You can just use the Trex straight - works. If you go on the American sites they advocate Crisco - same stuff as Trex.

If your getting a good ring of lead after loading the ball, well the seal is fine and you really don't need the cover over the ball to prevent a chain fire.
I've experimented with wads shop bought variety, and made my own, I actually find I get better accuracy with the Trex method.

I intend though to try the alox method suggested.

Its all about experimentation and finding what suits you and your gun.

[Smokeless Coal]

For BP and Pyrodex use you need to use a lube to keep the residue soft.
Wonderlube is a made for BP lube sold by gunshops.
Trex/Crisco you get from the local grocer.
Over the years people have experiments with various greasy mixtures often with a percentage of beeswax or tallow.

For 777 there is no hard residue, Hodgdons recomend just a wonderlubed wad but shooters have found that if using a filler like semolina/grits there is no need for a wad and just lubing the ball with alox keeps the barrel lubed.

Alox is what many use to coat bullets when home reloading

[Marlin.45]

In the Rem I use Wonder lube pre-lubed felt wads over the powder/semolina and a pure lead ball just over the bore size of the cylinder. As above, I get a nice ring-o-lead when they are driven onto the charge. Balls are pre-lubed with liquid Alox too.

I used to use axle grease applied with a lolly stick or via a syringe to each ball after loading. Stopped doing that now due to all the mess

Whether stopping using grease has caused my accuracy to drop off is hard to say - I cannot hit a barn door at 30yds anyway

[Calibre44]

Trex? Is that the lard stuff? Where from? How much? Please also see Getting started post.

Although Trex is a vegetable oil, don’t look for it in a bottle on a shelf. It’s solidified and resembles lard. You’ll find it in most Supermarkets in the fridge along with the Lard, Margarine, Butter etc.

The only problem is if the weather is hot it’ll partially melt. (take it to the range in a thermos or cool bag) – also when the cylinder gets hot it can fly out of the other chambers due to the recoil.

Despite all this, I find It’s cheap to buy and works well.

[john paul]

'The only problem is if the weather is hot it’ll partially melt. (take it to the range in a thermos or cool bag) – also when the cylinder gets hot it can fly out of the other chambers due to the recoil.'

Yep, but if you mix in beeswax it helps prevent the above - helps - not stops it from melting entirely.

Though I've never shot my pistols in hot weather - indoors in an old mill which is pretty cool even in the summer. When its hot I like to be somewhere with a rifle.

[bryantanthonydp]

Plumbers tallow can be purchased or ordered at a plumbers merchant.In hot weather it is best mixed . beeswax 10%, paraffin wax10% and tallow80%. It is much cheaper and just as good as any of the other options.