|
Forum Rules | Firearms Safety | Firearms Photos | Links | Library | Lost Password | Email Changes |
Register | FAQ | Calendar | Today's Posts | Search |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
November 25, 2017, 05:43 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 17, 2008
Location: Fort Riley, Kansas
Posts: 139
|
Lubricating round balls?
Hello, I'm new to the world of casting bullets. I had some old conical buffalo company conical bullets that I melted down and turned into .454 round ball. I followed the instructions. Took me a few trys to get the temperature right cause I had some that frosted and wrinkled but now I have a nice amount of shiny 44.cal balls but do I lube them? Ive watched youtube videos and read in books after there casted and nothing seems to follow. What next? Do I need to lube them? What are my next steps to get them ready for shooting? Gonna be shooting them through a pair of uberti walkers.
Last edited by SAA GunSlinger; November 25, 2017 at 05:51 PM. |
November 25, 2017, 05:59 PM | #2 |
Junior member
Join Date: October 20, 2012
Posts: 5,854
|
No I've never heard of that.
Either use a lubed felt wad betwixt powder n' ball, or smear lube atop powder and ball. |
November 25, 2017, 10:27 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 19, 2009
Posts: 3,287
|
+ 1 ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
__________________
If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63 |
November 25, 2017, 11:09 PM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 8, 2007
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 16,190
|
What they said and nothing wrong with frosted balls. Or wrinkly ones for that matter. They shoot just as good as smooth, shiny ones.
|
November 26, 2017, 04:30 PM | #5 |
Member
Join Date: March 24, 2013
Posts: 33
|
In a rifle or muzzle loading pistol round ball shooters use a patch which is typically lubed. In a revolver you can add a lubed wad like a Wonder Wad or else add lube between the ball and an over powder card wad.
Seamus |
November 27, 2017, 10:13 AM | #6 |
Junior Member
Join Date: January 20, 2017
Posts: 4
|
I load the ball on top of powder then use a little butter knife to fill the balance of the chamber with lube. I can get about 20 shots before I need to clean and relube the base pin.
|
November 27, 2017, 10:58 AM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 18, 2010
Location: Orygun
Posts: 869
|
A lot of people tumble them to eliminate the sprue. I rarely bother but I have bought powdered graphite and tumbled them which makes them black, slick and look "factory". Don't bother to lube the balls until loaded. After many thousands of rounds fired I have settled on lubing and then splitting the Circle Fly 1/2" fiber filler wads into two or three thinner wads put under the ball. It swabs the bore/chambers & I have so far, never had a chain fire.
__________________
With over 15 perCUSSIN' revolvers, I've been called the Imelda Marcos of cap & ball. SASS#3302 (Life), SASS Regulator, NRA (Life), Dirty Gamey Bastards #129 Wolverton Mtn. Peacekeepers (WA), former Orygun Cowboy (Ranger, Posse from Hell) |
November 27, 2017, 01:52 PM | #8 |
Staff
Join Date: November 2, 1998
Location: Colorado
Posts: 21,843
|
No need to lube a round ball. That's what greased patches are for.
__________________
Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. Molon Labe! |
November 27, 2017, 02:09 PM | #9 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 8, 2007
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 16,190
|
Quote:
|
|
November 27, 2017, 03:06 PM | #10 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 30, 2010
Posts: 1,635
|
Quote:
In period, conical bullets were often made into combustible cartridges. The bullets were dipped in lube, sometimes paraffin, as I have recently learned! Round balls were probably not lubricated in any way. For modern shooters, people either use a lubed wad under the bullet or smear lube over the bullet. Steve |
|
November 27, 2017, 03:13 PM | #11 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 8, 2007
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 16,190
|
Quote:
|
|
November 28, 2017, 11:29 AM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 18, 2010
Location: Orygun
Posts: 869
|
I sometimes use a curved tip irrigation syringe to apply a grease to the edges of the chamber like caulking with a small bead of automotive grease. It helps to cut the tip of the syringe back to get easier flow of the thick grease.
__________________
With over 15 perCUSSIN' revolvers, I've been called the Imelda Marcos of cap & ball. SASS#3302 (Life), SASS Regulator, NRA (Life), Dirty Gamey Bastards #129 Wolverton Mtn. Peacekeepers (WA), former Orygun Cowboy (Ranger, Posse from Hell) |
November 28, 2017, 02:41 PM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 30, 2010
Posts: 1,635
|
>I'm not saying don't use it but all you need is a little around the edge of the balls. Anything else just gets blown all over the gun.
Yes I have started using a little paint brush to squeegee some grease all around the ball, but I no longer "fill 'er to the rim". I agree the blast from the first shot blows most of the grease away from the neighbors. Steve |
December 1, 2017, 06:41 AM | #14 |
Member
Join Date: April 6, 2010
Posts: 17
|
Lubing is,nt needed for loading, but a light coat of grease/wax prevents the ball from oxidizing in storage.
Also, make sure to load the ball with sprue facing up (the barrel) for best accuracy ! |
December 1, 2017, 11:35 AM | #15 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 8, 2007
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 16,190
|
Quote:
|
|
December 1, 2017, 12:22 PM | #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 18, 2010
Location: Orygun
Posts: 869
|
Hawg,
If the flat spot (sprue site) is on the chamber wall (especially if a slightly undersize ball such as a .451 dia.) you could get flash by and a chain fire w/o a wad under or grease over the ball. So, IMO flat sprue positioning is a problem only if it is on the side.
__________________
With over 15 perCUSSIN' revolvers, I've been called the Imelda Marcos of cap & ball. SASS#3302 (Life), SASS Regulator, NRA (Life), Dirty Gamey Bastards #129 Wolverton Mtn. Peacekeepers (WA), former Orygun Cowboy (Ranger, Posse from Hell) |
December 1, 2017, 09:16 PM | #17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 8, 2007
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 16,190
|
It would only be a problem with undersized balls. The correct size would shear the flat spot off.
|
|
|