popular lube?

For patched round ball I'd try spit first.
If it doesn't work out then olive oil is worth trying. And vegetable oil. Vegetable shortening. Lard.
All the choices around the house are first on my list.
If nothing else works I go for the lanolin-olive oil-beeswax mixture usually reserved for muzzleloading soft lead bullets. But it tries to hang on to round ball and I like a clean release so it isn't something else to think about.

NoMansLand said:

So have been out of the game for a while ... what is the preferred lube these days?

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Depends ... well, lots of options and there will even be MORE opinions, haha, but I do see BB going out of favor in COLD weather. Once did a shift at scoring at the last shooting station as a MZL snowshoe biathlon event up in Vermont, whilst a balmy 17-degrees-F out, and within one1-hour I witnessed 8 broken ramrods on arms like T/C Hawkens and Lyman GPRs, 7 with Bore Butter and 1 with spit lube.

Note that none the flintlock shooters broke their rods, but whereas flints are a different animal and typically require somewhat more 'care', dare I say it ... maybe they were more experienced shooters or familiar more with lubes, loading, and/or issues in cccold weather.

What I like ....

WARM weather - Hoppes' BP Patch Lube 9Works fantastic ... shoot all day without swabbing!

COLD weather - aka below freezing ... Pire, rendered Mink Oil from Track of the Wolf, $6 a big tin, the last time I ordered.

Man, did you open a can 'o worms.

Talk about loaded questions

Lard, mink oil, olive oil, olive oil and bees wax, tallow, bear oil, moose milk, spit, coconut oil, mixes of all of the above.

Spit in the summer. Mink in the winter. Bore Butter in the garbage can.

And thus it begins........I think the Horned Toad is right.

For winter weather I like salt free lard, for warmer weather 80% lard 20% beeswax. Or the synthetic sperm whale oil that dixie sells.

Year round, cold, hot, rain, snow, shine.

You’ll want #11 caps for a rifle.

chorizo said:

And thus it begins........I think the Horned Toad is right.

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I'm keeping my mouth shut on this one.

Lard and #10 caps for my .32

I found an older thread about lubes, castor oil was the main focus but several blends/concoctions were mentioned. Guess I'll have to try a few concoctions.

I appreciate all the efforts to respond. Rebuilding my muzzleloader supplies. Lots of decisions to be made. Bought some Triple 7. Better get a possibles bag and start filling it. Starting the process from scratch.

Since 1980, Spit for PRB. You never run out, never leave it at home.

I have used vegetable oil if I plan on leaving it loaded all season.

Never heard anybody say Bore Butter was worth having.

NoMansLand said:

I appreciate all the efforts to respond. Rebuilding my muzzleloader supplies. Lots of decisions to be made. Bought some Triple 7. Better get a possibles bag and start filling it. Starting the process from scratch.

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I went to the thrift shop, bought a canvas grocery bag and a leather belt for a Dollar each. Replaced the short handle with the belt.
Not pretty, but works.

NoMansLand said:

I appreciate all the efforts to respond. Rebuilding my muzzleloader supplies. Lots of decisions to be made. Bought some Triple 7. Better get a possibles bag and start filling it. Starting the process from scratch.

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Half the fun is getting ready and the other half is cleaning up. In between you take about a dozen shots and you've got a whole day of shooting.

NoMansLand said:

I appreciate all the efforts to respond. Rebuilding my muzzleloader supplies. Lots of decisions to be made. Bought some Triple 7. Better get a possibles bag and start filling it. Starting the process from scratch.

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Dang, I wasn't going to respond, until you brought up 777,,,Black powder works best with real muzzleloaders...It has a lower ignition temp, and is easier to clean, in addition, some have problems with 777 forming a crud ring and burning out patches...Do yourself a favor, start with real black, FFF grade is fine...

As far as patch lube, I have used SnoSeal since the '70s with no problem, or order some Mink Oil Tallow from Track of the Wolf...

Agree, you'll find trying to use straight 777 to be very frustrating. Best to use the real thing.

NoMansLand said:

So have been out of the game for a while. Back when I was muzzleloading a lot Bore Butter was all the rage. Awaiting arrival of traditional percussion cap, .50, plan to shoot round balls and pillow ticking. So what is the preferred lube these days?

Also, both #10 and #11 caps fit most traditional muzzleloader nipples right?

Thanks

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Nomansland, I'll tell you what. If you message me your name and mailing address, I'll send you a 5oz tin of my lube, free of charge, to get you back into action.