Ballistol is the only lube you need for cleaning, maintaining and yes... even patch lube when used as follows. So yes, it's worth it and they know it.
Moose Milk:
1/2 Cup Ballistol
1 Ounce Murphy's Oil Soap
2 Cups water - I use distilled
In cold weather use a bit of 91% Rubbing Alcohol to prevent freezing
Moisten your patches with it as a patch lube and cleaner as you shoot.
After shooting plug off your vent hole or nipple and pour several ounces down the barrel. Hold a patch over the muzzle to seal it and flip the rifle upside down and back a few times to cleanse the full length. Set it down and let it soak a few minutes while you put away your shooting supplies and pick up your targets. After leaving it soak a while pour the moose milk out the muzzle end on the ground - it's fine it's organic. Then start running patches down your barrel as you normally would to wipe it out. I use the patch I use to plug the muzzle while flipping the riffle as the first patch because it's already wet with moose milk. Follow it with damp or dry patches, which ever you think is necessary to finish the job. Then run a liberally lubed patch of just Ballistol to finish. Wipe down the exterior of the rifle with moose milk and a Ballistol patch and your good to go.
I do this at the range before coming home. When I get home, I will usually pull the nipple of my percussion rifles to clean, oil and reinstall to prevent corrosion of the threads.
I have no problem leaving my rifles in this state for weeks or months - they are clean and lubed.
