Breach Plug Lube

I have an older Traditions Pursuit .50 that has been giving me hardship lately removing the breach plugs after a day on the range.

The older Traditions came with a Special tool for removal of the breech plug, which can be somewhat difficult to use when the plug is really frozen in.

They are various emergency fixes like plugging the vent with a spent primer and pouring some barrel clearer down and letting it soak to loosen the crud in the threads before trying to remove it ...but I would like to know what other 'preventive' steps guys have found to stop the crud from creeping into the breach plugs threads and seizing them up.

What do you guys use ?

What I have tried so far is Outer's Choke Tube lube..it didn't work great so I switched to LocTite C5-A copper based Anti Seize lubricant. It works and is good for the hunt scenarios and but after 25 rounds yesterday it too didn't seem to stop the crud from eventually seizing up the plug. (yes I cleaned the thread in the breech after each use)

I have heard some guys use Teflon tape which I haven't tried yet..any one here use that ?

Any other idea's guys discovered over the years.

note: while the 'switch to BH209' comments are appreciated...and I will eventually give it a try...I have a few pounds of Pyrodex and Triple 7 to use up first :)

Some of the guys at the range use Teflon for BP shooting, I used it once and it works but I find nipple grease is easier and have had no issues:

http://media.midwayusa.com/productim...397/397815.jpg

I just lube mine and after a few shots I'll loosen it and screw it back in, and keep doing it every couple of shots at the range

LOL You'll appreciate this Mike. I use automotive gray anti-sieze. A bottle lasts forever. After my last shot for the day I crack the breech plug immediately. Other times when I have forgot to do this I will heat the breach area with a hair dryer then back it out but it is best to do it at the range right after your last shot.

HA

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Originally Posted by Marker

Some of the guys at the range use Teflon for BP shooting, I used it once and it works but I find nipple grease is easier and have had no issues:

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I heard the CVA nipple grease was the best....I've never tried it.

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Originally Posted by bdog

I just lube mine and after a few shots I'll loosen it and screw it back in, and keep doing it every couple of shots at the range

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That actually makes sense, never thought to do that out at the range...good tip !!

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Originally Posted by huntaway

LOL You'll appreciate this Mike. I use automotive gray anti-sieze.

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I thought my fancy 'copper' anti-seize was going to be superior to the old 'greasy paw' stuff :) I hadn't considered the heat being critical, I try do it ASAP after I've have finished, but the barrel may have cooled down by that time. I will try it when it's hot and see.

Thanks for the tips guys....if it wasn't so windy I would try it this aft...it may have to wait till tomorrow..got some tweaking to do for next week !!!

I use an industrial Walther ceramic anti sieze - works well

White lithumum grease from c/t.works fine.

I use the Teflon tape and love it. No greasy mess and easy to back off. I just put some oil on the threads then Teflon tape. Works great for me.

Traditions wonderlube has worked good for me.

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Originally Posted by fishing1

White lithumum grease from c/t.works fine.

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I looked at a lithium anti seize once but the flash point was only 450 degrees Fahrenheit (vs. the Copper at 1800 degree) so I shied away from it. maybe I'll give a try, it's a lot lighter than the Choke Tube lube I uses to use.

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Originally Posted by Mr.remington

I use the Teflon tape and love it. No greasy mess and easy to back off. I just put some oil on the threads then Teflon tape. Works great for me.

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Thanks, that's what I was hoping to here, it might be the way to go. The threads (naked and clean) can be easily turned all the way in..almost too loose, so it makes sense to close the gap a little with the Teflon to prevent the crud from migrating in.

Super lube for me. Never had one that I could not remove.

http://www.homedepot.ca/product/3-oz...FWcLMgodU3YAcw

True story! Buddy had one so seized in there that he ended up utilizing an impact gun out of desperation to get the breach plug removed. It actually worked without damaging the threads. He now uses Superlube...lol

I can Usualy back mine out with my fingers. Don't know if that's a good thing but beats using two pie wrenches lol

All I have ever used is Traditions Wonderlube in my Buckhunter, Kodiak and Accura. Never had a seized plug. Have used FFG, Pyrodex, 777 and BH209. The Accura is only finger tight and spins out even after 15 shots of BH209. With the other powders, I have had to clean the barrel between shots and left the plug alone until I got home to clean it without it seizing up.

I use the regular old grey anti seize too. When I install the breech plug I tighten it with the tool then back it off about a half a turn and then tighten it finger tight only. Never had a problem with them coming loose or removing later.

I use Teflon tape only. Clean breech thread, no mess.

The lithium anti seize is great, and it's temperature resistant to about 800 degrees.

Well some field trials were conducted today; I shot x24 Keith Nose with T7 and Remington KleanBore primers. I used Teflon Tape for 12 shots and the Crouse Hinds Lithium grease (https://www.northcoastelectric.com/C...sSTL2/PD859744) for the next 12 shots.

The Teflon went on easy, no mess, but was a little harder to thread in. I had to use the tool. Good news is back out easily with the tool. The only comment I can make is that there were tiny pieces of tape left in the thread in both the plug and breech. Just a little extra to watch out for when cleaning up.

I Lithium work great as well, I could threat the plug in with just my fingers and it came back out easier than with the Telflon. Grease is a bit messier, but wipes up clean with the cleaning patch.

However, I think this went better today largely because of the primers, these KleenBores are clean, compared to the Winchester Shotshell primers I was using the other day. Made a huge difference in the general cleaning of the whole breech area.

Thanks for the tips guys, greatly appreciated.