Bore Butter with Smokeless Guns

I have recently returned to a little BP shooting and picked up some T/C Bore Butter. For some weird reason I really like the way the stuff smells, clings to the outer surfaces, repels water, and makes my hands baby soft. I greased up one gun and took it out in the rain and the water just beaded up and ran off. I started using it as final external application to many of my guns. Does anyone else do this? Am I crazy for doing it? Are there any known long term issues with using the product or other natural lubes like a home brew bee's wax and bear grease mix on modern cartridge guns?

Smith357 said:

I have recently returned to a little BP shooting and picked up some T/C Bore Butter. Does anyone else do this? Am I crazy for doing it? Are there any known long term issues with using the product or other natural lubes like a home brew bee's wax and bear grease mix on modern cartridge guns?

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I rub down all my revolver wood grips with it. Brings out the grain, smooths them and preserves them.
It also works great on presentation cases.

I'm not real crazy about the smell. I must not be alone as they have come out with a 'pine scented' version of late.
Same stuff, just a different smell and in a green tube instead of the yellow one.,,and the dealers usually have the new stuff marked a dollar more..

I use it for my M/L patch lube. I have found a 50/50 mix with Crisco melted together works a bit better than straight BButter. A little thicker consistancy.
There are more recipes for patch lube than M/L shooters it seems but this is about as far as I care or need to take it.
No wiping between shots using it. I've shot up to 23 shots from my Flintlock w/o wiping out the bore. Just as easy on the 23rd shot as those loaded before. Could have gone on from there but I ran out of RB's.


I was suprised that when the two are put into a tin to be melted/blended,,,the BButter melts almost immediately as a gentle heat from a propane torch is applied at a safe distance underneath. The lump of Crisco remaines in tact well after the BButter has melted. Then the two blend together nicely.

The heating/melting/cooling seems to diminish the original smell of the stuff. A plus as far as I'm concerned!

I haven't used it for anything else but I'd have to guess it does a nice job as a metal protector,,,maybe less so with some Crisco in it though!

Never thought to try it on my modern guns. I use it on the stock and outside metal of my replica Hawkin and it works well there. The thing has never rusted. Also use it on patchs and as a bore protectant after cleaning.
Good stuff

I may try it in the bores of my pistols that I shot lead in. It might make a good bore prep.

Smith

Try some Ballistol, and see if you like the way it smells, I know I do.

It is a very unique product, you can use it on guns [and other metal things], wood, leather, and even on small cuts, scrapes and insect bites.

It was invented in 1905 and adopted by the German Army in 1906.

2152hq said:

I use it for my M/L patch lube. I have found a 50/50 mix with Crisco melted together works a bit better than straight BButter. A little thicker consistancy.
There are more recipes for patch lube than M/L shooters it seems but this is about as far as I care or need to take it.
No wiping between shots using it. I've shot up to 23 shots from my Flintlock w/o wiping out the bore. Just as easy on the 23rd shot as those loaded before. Could have gone on from there but I ran out of RB's.

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I have tried a few home brew patch lubes as bore butter melts in the summer. I found just cutting the BB with about 35% bee's wax to the mix makes it easier to work in the heat. I may try a few voodoo combos with tallow, lanolin, lard and olive oil.

NE450No2 said:

Smith

Try some Ballistol, and see if you like the way it smells, I know I do.

It is a very unique product, you can use it on guns [and other metal things], wood, leather, and even on small cuts, scrapes and insect bites.

It was invented in 1905 and adopted by the German Army in 1906.

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Does it smell good enough to eat too? I really have bought no cleaners in 20 years, I have been using Ed's Red exclusively since I found the recipe on Fido.net. It was not until I went back to BP that modern petrochemical cleaners were a no-no and bore butter was in the BP section.


When will they come out with the fruit flavors?

Smith357 said:

I have tried a few home brew patch lubes as bore butter melts in the summer. I found just cutting the BB with about 35% bee's wax to the mix makes it easier to work in the heat. I may try a few voodoo combos with tallow, lanolin, lard and olive oil.





Does it smell good enough to eat too? I really have bought no cleaners in 20 years, I have been using Ed's Red exclusively since I found the recipe on Fido.net. It was not until I went back to BP that modern petrochemical cleaners were a no-no and bore butter was in the BP section.


When will they come out with the fruit flavors?

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Smells like licorice to me.

I use Bore Butter as a case sizing lube for bottle neck rifle cases. I was having a real bad time with 30-06 military cases fired in my Garand sticking in the sizer die. Tried the Bore Butter about a year ago and have not stuck a case since. I just put a little in my hand and roll the body of the case in my fingers for a very light coat.

Yes.

I either use Ren Wax on guns that aren't going to be used for some time, and Bore Butter on everything else. I only use dino oils and greases for lubrication of moving parts.

Unfortunately, Bore Butter has one drawback. It will seal moisture inside the barrel. In other words, if applied to a barrel that has any moisture left in it the BB will trap the moisture between the metal of the barrel and itself. Not such a problem for smokeless guns and the cleaners used with them. Can be hell to pay for a blackpowder gun. It can cause a rust spot in the bore or worse, a pit to form.

Anyone using it would be well advised to use a few patches of alcohol to make sure the barrel is completley dried, prior to using BB. Ballistrol is what I use these days...

Ballistol is a great product. I have used it for some time. It is non toxic and can be used on metal, wood, leather, It is basiclly mineral oil with some other natural additives. It never gums up. Not the greatest copper solvent but is very good at protecting from rust. Plus you can let parts soak indefinitely. It's inexpensive and a little goes a long way. Midway USA carries it.

http://www.ballistol.com/1_Ballistol 2010 Amazing Story Flyer PROOF3.pdf

ballistol - The World's Most Use-ful & Environmentally Friendly Lubricant

Read the attached PDF on Black Powder Shooting.

gizamo said:

Anyone using it would be well advised to use a few patches of alcohol to make sure the barrel is completley dried, prior to using BB.

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I did not know that, but it makes sense. I have been heating my BP barrel until I can just hold it to dry it out before final greasing with BB. During the winter I lay it over the kerosene heater, yesterday I used a propane torch to warm it up.

Smith357 said:

I did not know that, but it makes sense. I have been heating my BP barrel until I can just hold it to dry it out before final greasing with BB. During the winter I lay it over the kerosene heater, yesterday I used a propane torch to warm it up.

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Both are very good practices. I generally clean my bores with nothing more than lukewarm soap and water, plug the touchholes with a toothpick and a ounce or two of soapy mix in. The first patch is back and forth in the bore creating suctions and really losening the fouling. So I've introduced the water into the barrel at that point, but it really cuts the fouling. After a few drying patches I scrub the bore. When it's clean, a alcohol scrub to further dry it, then good old WD-40 for the first day. Day two I patch again with Ballistrol. Never, ever had a problem with that program.

One thing about very hot water is that it can cause flash rusting on the metal surfaces. So long as you clean and oil immediately, there is no problem. But even a short wait can cause a haze of light surface rust....

Smith357 said:

I have recently returned to a little BP shooting and picked up some T/C Bore Butter. For some weird reason I really like the way the stuff smells, clings to the outer surfaces, repels water, and makes my hands baby soft. I greased up one gun and took it out in the rain and the water just beaded up and ran off. I started using it as final external application to many of my guns. Does anyone else do this? Am I crazy for doing it? Are there any known long term issues with using the product or other natural lubes like a home brew bee's wax and bear grease mix on modern cartridge guns?

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Uh oh...this could really go south fast