your between shot lube procedures?

Curious on your recommendations for breech plug anti seize and barrel lube procedures when shooting sabots.
Looking for input on recommendations to do, or what to avoid based on your experience.

Plan to shoot Barnes 285 gr Spitfire MZ with Triple7 FFG in a CVA Accura with powder Breech plug.

Questions:

1. Breech plug anti-seize: Was going to try Mastercraft Nickel anti-seize (same as what I use on atv and truck bolts). Hear it works great but is messy when cleaning. Now thinking of using Thompson Centre Gorilla Grease as the anti seize. Is this okay or you use different?

2. Barrel lube between shots: After pushing through a damp, then a dry patch between shots (water and Dawn soap for deep clean periodically), do you run a lubed patch in barrel between shots when shooting sabots? For storage I know to lube barrel for rust protection.
For between shots when running sabots, was thinking to lube barrel between shots with Tradition Centre Wonder Lube Patches between shots or do you shoot sabots in not lubed barrel, or do you have other recommendation?

Wondering if the lubricants in barrel before each shot will effect the powder being dropped down the barrel. Issues with powder sticking to barrel walls instead of all dropping down or not burning because it got coated in lube. Also wondering of effects if heavier anti-seize get inside barrel where powder is, or difficulty to clean out the old before applying new.

Looking forward to hear how you protect your in-line breech plug and your between shot procedures.

For my Traditions Pro .50 cal in-line:

1. For my breech plug I use White Lithium Grease. I tried many, many different types thru the years as T7 does a nasty job of seizing up the plugs. Some special anti-seize products were actually the worst. I used to actually pull the plug 1/2 was thru a shoot and clean the plug before I continued or it was a real bugger to get out. The lithium has been great.

2. No need to lube for sabots. Just wet patch the barrel to keep it clean. T7 is sugar based so water (spit) works fine, some guys use Windex on a patch. If I'm target shooting I will run a wet patch between each shot for consistency. If I'm just plinking I run it every 5 shots to break up the crud ring.

If you using BlackHorn 209, it's cleaner and doesn't have to be swabbed as often as long as you keep your loads about 80 grs. My plinking load with T7 is 60 grs...so I tried that with BH209 and it developed a crud ring at the top of the barrel. Wasn't enough powder to burn it clean.

Get a tooth brush (kids size works great) to clean the anti-seize out of the threads in the breech when you pull the plug. Guys forget and it builds up. When you clean your barrel with hot water ( kettle hot) the powder residue cleans out, but the grease in the threads require more than hot water.

Nothing special for the barrel once cleaned...just swab with some CLP. I recently switched to Ballistol (from CT) it's a mineral oil (not petroleum-based) and works great.

I shoot a CVA Optima V2 that has a stainless steel barrel. My go to sabots are the Hornady SST 250 grains and I use 2 triple seven pellets. For the breech, I use a stick of grease made by CVA. It doesn't seem like much but it does go a long way. Once I run out I'll do like MikePal and use some white lithium grease.

When I take my gun out of storage, I'll shoot a couple of caps to burn the oil in the barrel followed by a dry patch. In between shots I always run a wet patch followed by a dry. I would never oil my barrel before shooting, only for storage after a good cleaning.

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Originally Posted by sevennine

I shoot a CVA Optima V2 that has a stainless steel barrel. My go to sabots are the Hornady SST 250 grains and I use 2 triple seven pellets. For the breech, I use a stick of grease made by CVA. It doesn't seem like much but it does go a long way. Once I run out I'll do like MikePal and use some white lithium grease.

When I take my gun out of storage, I'll shoot a couple of caps to burn the oil in the barrel followed by a dry patch. In between shots I always run a wet patch followed by a dry. I would never oil my barrel before shooting, only for storage after a good cleaning.

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Is it the CVA that has a 'nut' for removing the plug. ?

Traditions uses a slot head wrench that pops off with pressure and ends up squaring the corners.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

Is it the CVA that has a 'nut' for removing the plug. ?

Traditions uses a slot head wrench that pops off with pressure and ends up squaring the corners.

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I had to check online to see what you were referring to. I've only had my first muzzleloader for 4 years. I have the newer model that you tight and remove by hand. It does have a slot to insert their adapter if ever it's seized in the barrel.

Stainless TC Omega-stored after thorough clean,and bore protected with patches of TC Bore Butter.

Dry patch-snap cap-good to go.

Wet T 17 pre saturated cleaning patch 1x -dry patch 1x -after every shot at the range.Wet patch can be wet,so it is a good practice to wring it out a bit.
Shoot.
Repeat.

Wet T17 pre saturated patch for bore cleaning,dry it out.Remove breech pug.Soak in T13 TC bore cleaner,brush/rag clean after a while.Sewing needle pick the flash hole.Dry it out.
Apply T17 Breech plug grease,assure both threads are covered as best as possible.
Bore butter on everyhting before storage.

No issues .
Shootin 2x 50 gr Triple 7 with Remingon or Win primer,and TC Shockwave bullet 250 gr,yellow sabot.

Only pain is ,cleaning the bore end,where the breech plug meets the bore.There is a 2 mm counter bore kind of thing(or perhaps a groove?), where the wet Triple 7 powder can accumluate.Tooth brush and some patience can take care of it.
Sometimes i am wondering why the heck that Counter bore is there in the first place.............

I have always just used the bore butter as a lube with good results during practice and the season, and gun oil for storage. I always remove and clean the plug during use though with my Traditions Pursuit. Triple 7 pellets and either Rem or Win primers. I have patches I pre-wet in a tupperware container for quick access, as well as Q-tips I use for cleaning the counter-sunk cup in the plug.
John

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Originally Posted by MikePal

1. For my breech plug I use White Lithium Grease. I tried many, many different types thru the years as T7 does a nasty job of seizing up the plugs. Some special anti-seize products were actually the worst. I used to actually pull the plug 1/2 was thru a shoot and clean the plug before I continued or it was a real bugger to get out. The lithium has been great.

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Surprised to hear this comment that some special anti-seize products are worst.
I may try and use up some of my Canadian Tire Nickel Anti-Seize supply to start since I already have in the garage.
Then will likely try the white lithium.
I am sure both will work, but difficulty to remove old grease before reapplying new may be a consideration too.
If either don't work out as my go to for muzzleloader, then it can still be put to good use in the garage.

Great tip on Windex too. Have some Windex multi-surface that I can move from the bsmt to the range kit.

The breech plug on my TC Impact gets a dab of Super Lube. Never any issue removing it.
I burn BH209 exclusively so treat the barrel inside and out just like any of my other firearms.

https://www.amazon.ca/Super-Lube-210.../dp/B000XBH9HI

I will clean the barrel after a few shots and do a final swab with G96 lubricant.
The sabots slide right down easy peasy. Does not seem to affect accuracy too much.

I don't clean and lube between shots. The only time I clean and lube is after deer season.

Life is good with a savage 10ml ii... :)

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Originally Posted by bellerivercrossbowhunter

Life is good with a savage 10ml ii... :)

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Was wondering how long that was going to take...you never miss an opportunity Eh HaHa...

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Originally Posted by Big Tuna

Surprised to hear this comment that some special anti-seize products are worst.

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One I can remember one was that Copper Based Anti Seize grease I had in the shop for nuts and bolt.

the Specs said; " An anti-seize lubricant paste with copper and graphite suspended in a high quality grease. Applications include screws, nuts, pipes, exhaust bolts and brake caliper bolts. Resistant to extremely high temperatures (up to +980°C) and protects from rust, corrosion, galling and seizing.

I liked the idea it was high temp and the reason I choose it over others. But something happens to it when it mixes with the powder residue or the heat...it thickens up so bad I would have to strip the gun and put the barrel in a vice and very carefully try and slowly turn out the breach plug. I almost had to take it to a gunsmith once. I ended up plugging the primer hole, then poured some Varsol down the barrel and let it sit overnight, and eventually was able to back it out past the first 3-4 threads.

The White Lithium grease I use now is AGS Lith-Ease. It's a multi-purpose and cleans up with water so it's easy to keep the threats clean.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

Was wondering how long that was going to take...you never miss an opportunity Eh HaHa...

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Lol I couldn't help myself :)
...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by impact

The breech plug on my TC Impact gets a dab of Super Lube. Never any issue removing it.
I burn BH209 exclusively so treat the barrel inside and out just like any of my other firearms.

https://www.amazon.ca/Super-Lube-210.../dp/B000XBH9HI

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Took a gamble and picked up some Super Lube to test.
Will see how it works with Triple7.
Best price was $11.99 at Home Hardware. Was good to buy from shelf and buy local again.
Will put it to the test on the Sept long weekend to see if the fowling mixes into it.
My buddy will use white lithium to compare.

I tried TC bore butter because of its promise to "season" the bore (like a cast iron skillet LOL?). Maybe I did not know how or when to use it, but to my horror the bore was quite rusty a day after. Then I realized it is water based. So when do you use it? When shooting coating your bore with it in between shots ? I certainly don't think it was meant as a replacement for oil for storage unless you want a rusty bore!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ahuntr300

I tried TC bore butter because of its promise to "season" the bore (like a cast iron skillet LOL?). Maybe I did not know how or when to use it, but to my horror the bore was quite rusty a day after. Then I realized it is water based. So when do you use it? When shooting coating your bore with it in between shots ? I certainly don't think it was meant as a replacement for oil for storage unless you want a rusty bore!

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The general consensus is you DO NOT need to Lube a sabot. I looked across a variety of ML forums and no one recommends it or encourages it.

Bore butter and other Lubes are primarily to lube the patch when using 'Patch & Ball' or to lubricate Conicals (Minnie Balls, REAL and maxie's etc etc). Any time lead will touch the barrel.

I would never leave Bore Butter on a barrel to store a clean gun...it was done in the old days when bore butter was primarily animal Fat/Fallow. What is required is a CLP ...lots to choose from. As I mention earlier, I recently switch to Baristol as it is a Mineral oil base instead of petroleum.

Not to disagree or encourage the use of it-but i use only TC Bore Butter pre saturated patches for over a dozen years for bore lube/store etc ,and coat the entire gun for storage exclusively with it(sometimes with another patch, sometimes from a BB tube ,on a rag)-and have no issues.

Knack on wood.

Now,my gun is stainless, maybe that helps.
Also-proper and detailed cleaning and drying out the gun is a must, before applying bore butter(but i think that is just a norm with Muzzleloaders anyway).

I use CVA grease stick on the plug. I shoot 2 T7’s and the only time I’ll swab the barrel is when it gets tight. Maybe after 3-4 shots depending what I’m shooting. Barnes bullets seem to need a swab after 3 shots. Other bullets I may get 5. Otherwise I spray it down with ballistol for storage after a good cleaning. It’s worked so far and my poor attention to barrel swabbing hasn’t seemed to affect accuracy much.

With regards of the breech plug grease/anti-seize from the initial shooting weekend, both the Lithium grease and Super Lube worked with no issue. Removed breech plug every 1 to 4 shots and no issue. Removed breech plug after final cleaning for storage. With that in mind of removing so frequently, is likely any grease can be used. Mind you after cleaning the inline about 15 times, the grease needed to be removed from gun threads and reapplied due to pushing patch onto threads each clean. Will continue to use Super Lube or Lithium grease on breech plug threads when shooting but will continue to store with breech plug removed. Why take the chance.

With lubing between shots I took advise and did not lube between shot which was good. After cleaning barrel, I found shot 2-4 to be the most consistent. After each shot, would run a dry patch, then a patch wettened with spit or from bottle of water. Then 2 to 3 dry patches. After each initial shot, I was surprised shot 2-3 was most consistent of target. Lube only for storage when running Triple 7.

What i was blown away with is learning about is Ballistol. I am surprised I didn't know about until this thread.
I did clean of gun in regular method. Then sprayed Ballistol in the barrel and black goo came out. Did better clean than regular full clean. I didn't find the smell strong or an issue.

Figured out my cleaning routine:
Wet and dry patches while shooting.
Water and Dawn soap for end of day clean.
Followed by Windex if needed at breech threads to remove grease if needed.
Spray in and out with Ballistol for storage, keeping breech plug out for log term storage (why take the chance).

BH 209
Anti seize 797 on breech plug threads And spray barrel brake-clean blow it out
swab with oil dry with clean patch done