Oiling your blackpowder rifle..?

Tropical Z · September 28, 2002, 12:11 PM

I have a CVA inline and while reading the book for the first time,noticed that it says that after cleaning the gun "oil the barrel inside and out and reassemble the gun"
"all oils should be natural; NO PETROLEUM PRODUCTS"
Why,and what oil should i use?
Also,why does the book say that the use of ball and patch loads in a CVA inline are not recommended? Couldn't you use them just for goofing off?

TBAUS · September 28, 2002, 04:52 PM

There are different schools of thought on this topic. When you use all natural lubes for cleaning and shooting, you season your bore with these lubes and never strip them completely. Since soap and water is your cleaning solvent, the natural lubes made for black powder will remain in the pores of the gun, protecting it and giving you some consistancy for shooting. If you use something other than soap and water for your cleaning solvent then you may be stripping the natural lubricants out. As far as CVA not recommending a patched ball, I don't know their line of thinking. If I were to guess, I would guess the rifling in the gun is fast for conical projectiles, like a modern rifle. If this is true, then perhaps CVA believes accuracy will suffer with patched round balls. A typical rifling for round ball is something like 1 turn in 66". A compromise round ball/ conical projectile twist may be something like 1 turn in 48". If your gun is something like one turn in 29" it may not stabilize a round ball well. I am sure others will give us the correct scoop.

BenW · September 28, 2002, 09:07 PM

TBAUS most likely got it right on the round ball issue. Unless CVA has some kind of legal CYA policy for something else, the only reason you wouldn't shoot round ball is that the rate of twist won't give you any decent accuracy.

As to lubes -- Crisco.

Tropical Z · September 29, 2002, 06:12 PM

Are you serious about Crisco?
Would i use it in the barrel and be able to use gun oil on the outside for rust protection?

And by the way my turn rate is 1 in 28 or 29.

BenW · September 29, 2002, 07:01 PM

Serious as a heart attack.

It's what a lot of guys use in their traditional BP guns, both in the barrel and on outside surfaces (as do I). Some do like Wonder Lube, Bore Butter, and others of the over-the-counter stuff, but Crisco works just as well for a lot cheaper. Crisco to lube the gun, Crisco to lube the patches -- it's all good.

Your barrel twist is almost for sure why they say not to use round ball.

Poodleshooter · September 29, 2002, 07:56 PM

I use Crisco as well. Use it as a patch lube, conical lube and for seasoning the bore.

Cap n ball · September 30, 2002, 08:40 AM

Yep, I use crisco as well. A little smeared on the end of the cylinder prevents chain fire. Just don't believe anyone who says they use oatmeal for wadding so they can have muffins after shooting.

**4V50 Gary** · September 30, 2002, 11:13 AM

Moose Milk (water soluable oil mixed with distilled water in a ratio 1:4).

Tropical Z · October 1, 2002, 11:31 AM

Gary,can you give me an example of a water soluble oil?
Thanx everyone!

BenW · October 1, 2002, 05:32 PM

Quote:

anyone who says they use oatmeal for wadding so they can have muffins after shooting

Hey, I use oatmeal and I never thought of that!

I have thought about using some of that oatmeal with strawberry oatmeal mix to give my barrel that fruity fresh smell after shooting though...

TEXAS LAWMAN · October 4, 2002, 08:15 PM

Machine shops use water-soluble oils. I believe you can find some at industrial supply houses--possibly NAPA, Auto-Zone, other auto parts shops.

I got mine ~25 years ago from a friend in the Fort Phantom Hill ThunderSticks Muzzleloading Gun Club. I believe he worked in a metal fabrication shop. Still have some as well as the mixture. Believe we mixed it about 1 part oil to 4 parts water. Added a little DAWN or JOY for extra cleaning action (used it to wipe the bore after each shot as well as a patch lube).

Iggy · October 5, 2002, 10:34 PM

This is good stuff.. You can season the barrel.. Use it for patch lube,. Clean the gun and then use if for rust prevention..

You can shoot longer without gummin' up the works too...

Good stuff...

September 28, 2002, 12:11 PM	#1
Tropical Z Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2000 Location: Atlantis Posts: 1,683	Oiling your blackpowder rifle..? I have a CVA inline and while reading the book for the first time,noticed that it says that after cleaning the gun "oil the barrel inside and out and reassemble the gun" "all oils should be natural; NO PETROLEUM PRODUCTS" Why,and what oil should i use? Also,why does the book say that the use of ball and patch loads in a CVA inline are not recommended? Couldn't you use them just for goofing off? __________________ FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE!!!!!!!

September 29, 2002, 06:12 PM	#4
Tropical Z Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2000 Location: Atlantis Posts: 1,683	Are you serious about Crisco? Would i use it in the barrel and be able to use gun oil on the outside for rust protection? And by the way my turn rate is 1 in 28 or 29. __________________ FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE!!!!!!!

September 30, 2002, 11:13 AM	#8
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,831	Moose Milk (water soluable oil mixed with distilled water in a ratio 1:4). __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

October 1, 2002, 11:31 AM	#9
Tropical Z Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2000 Location: Atlantis Posts: 1,683	Gary,can you give me an example of a water soluble oil? Thanx everyone! __________________ FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE!!!!!!!

October 4, 2002, 08:15 PM	#11
TEXAS LAWMAN Senior Member Join Date: August 27, 1999 Posts: 304	Water-sol oil at machine shops Machine shops use water-soluble oils. I believe you can find some at industrial supply houses--possibly NAPA, Auto-Zone, other auto parts shops. I got mine ~25 years ago from a friend in the Fort Phantom Hill ThunderSticks Muzzleloading Gun Club. I believe he worked in a metal fabrication shop. Still have some as well as the mixture. Believe we mixed it about 1 part oil to 4 parts water. Added a little DAWN or JOY for extra cleaning action (used it to wipe the bore after each shot as well as a patch lube).

September 28, 2002, 04:52 PM	#2
TBAUS Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2002 Location: Central Texas Posts: 111	There are different schools of thought on this topic. When you use all natural lubes for cleaning and shooting, you season your bore with these lubes and never strip them completely. Since soap and water is your cleaning solvent, the natural lubes made for black powder will remain in the pores of the gun, protecting it and giving you some consistancy for shooting. If you use something other than soap and water for your cleaning solvent then you may be stripping the natural lubricants out. As far as CVA not recommending a patched ball, I don't know their line of thinking. If I were to guess, I would guess the rifling in the gun is fast for conical projectiles, like a modern rifle. If this is true, then perhaps CVA believes accuracy will suffer with patched round balls. A typical rifling for round ball is something like 1 turn in 66". A compromise round ball/ conical projectile twist may be something like 1 turn in 48". If your gun is something like one turn in 29" it may not stabilize a round ball well. I am sure others will give us the correct scoop.

September 28, 2002, 09:07 PM	#3
BenW Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2001 Location: CA Posts: 282	TBAUS most likely got it right on the round ball issue. Unless CVA has some kind of legal CYA policy for something else, the only reason you wouldn't shoot round ball is that the rate of twist won't give you any decent accuracy. As to lubes -- Crisco.

September 29, 2002, 07:01 PM	#5
BenW Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2001 Location: CA Posts: 282	Serious as a heart attack. It's what a lot of guys use in their traditional BP guns, both in the barrel and on outside surfaces (as do I). Some do like Wonder Lube, Bore Butter, and others of the over-the-counter stuff, but Crisco works just as well for a lot cheaper. Crisco to lube the gun, Crisco to lube the patches -- it's all good. Your barrel twist is almost for sure why they say not to use round ball.

September 29, 2002, 07:56 PM	#6
Poodleshooter Senior Member Join Date: August 7, 2000 Location: Floating down the James River in VA Posts: 2,599	I use Crisco as well. Use it as a patch lube, conical lube and for seasoning the bore.

September 30, 2002, 08:40 AM	#7
Cap n ball Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2000 Posts: 247	Yep, I use crisco as well. A little smeared on the end of the cylinder prevents chain fire. Just don't believe anyone who says they use oatmeal for wadding so they can have muffins after shooting.

October 5, 2002, 10:34 PM	#12
Iggy Member Join Date: October 4, 2002 Location: Wyoming Posts: 89	Try Bore Butter. This is good stuff.. You can season the barrel.. Use it for patch lube,. Clean the gun and then use if for rust prevention.. You can shoot longer without gummin' up the works too... Good stuff...