Lube for cold weather in a ball block

[rich pierce]

Mink oil is not working for me below freezing for use in a ball board or bullet block or whatever you want to call it. In a timed biathlon, bullet boards make a difference regardless of questions about their use before the percussion period. That’s not the topic here.

If you use a ball block in cold weather, what lube works for you, with no wiping between shots? My shoot is Saturday. I have no bear oil. Considering Crisco or plain canola oil.  I’m thinking water or windshield washer-based lubes are not good for staying lubed in a bullet board, but I have no data. I had a devil of a time trying to ram home patched balls with mink oil lube.

[smylee grouch]

I used tracks mink oil cut with bear oil but I carried the loading block in a sandwich bag in my shirt pocket and it stayed useable. Maybe your rules won't allow that. 

[Daryl]

Neetsfoot Oil Rich. I did try baby oil, but went with NFOil in the end, or Track's Mink oil, squeezed between finger and thump melted it, then down the bore it went. I carried paper ctgs.
for subsequent shots, if they were needed.

[bob in the woods]

I use bear oil, but when shooting a trail type match in cold temps, I often use WWF with a dash of oil, or just straight WWF.  I had some bullet boards made up for my rifle, and kept a little soft plastic spray bottle in my pocket...kind of like the ones for nose sprays .  It is easy to give the patched ball a quick spritz and then load it. That way it hasn't a chance to dry out, and each load has a nice freshly wet patch

[MeliusCreekTrapper]

I've been shooting quite a bit this winter with rendered raccoon fat as a patch lube. Results have been great so far. Repeated shots hunting seem to load as easy or easier than a clean bore. Fouling doesn't build up any worse than when I spit patch in warm weather. Clean up is as easy also.

If you can find a trapper in the area, they'd probably be able to set you up with a lifetime of fat. I filled a coffee can from 3 raccoons, after rendering.

[rich pierce]

Thanks guys, you’ve given me some ideas.

[alacran]

When hunting in cold weather below20F, Tracks Mink oil works fine. I put the ball block hanging from my neck inside my jacket. It rests on my chest against my first layer of clothing. I used to use mink oil until I started using bear oil. I do the same thing with the bear lubed ball blocks.

[Pukka Bundook]

I used to hang mine around my neck inside my shirt, Rich.

Used deer tallow summer and winter.

[rich pierce]

Good hints. I wasn’t sure if the mink oil was getting hard in the block or in the barrel. Sounds like in the block.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Rich:  be sure, when you lube your patches, that the lube completely saturates the cloth right through.  I use pre-cut patches, saturate them with fat, and start the balls into the block.  Then I wipe over the bottom of the patched ball with a gob of fat, filling the recess between the wood and the cloth.  this gives an extra bit of lube which really seems to help with loading in cold weather.  I have about six cans of Lube 103 too, that seems to work well for me, for this purpose.

[Darkhorse]

Rich, The hunt is my main interest so I have done a lot experimenting with different lubes and what I've settled on for deer with my .54 is the much maligned Bore butter. I don't use it for shooting targets or plinking but when season rolls around my patches are all lubed with BB.
One big thing about BB is that it won't cause a rust ring if the rifle is left loaded for any length of time.
BB also gives me good accuracy out of my rifles, if it didn't I wouldn't use it.
As far as the wooden ball block I just heavily charge the patch, then push it and the ball into the ball block and cut off the excess just as I do when loading a rifle's barrel. When charged heavy the patch and balls in my ball block are good for the entire season. Just seat and shoot.

[MuskratMike]

If it's going to be cold but not freezing I use a 50/50 mix of pure Neatsfoot oil and T.O.T.W. mink oil. if its going to be freezing I switch to just pure Neatsfoot oil.

[rich pierce]

I kept the ball block in my shirt and that worked great!  Thanks, all.

[John SMOthermon]

I use olive oil for hunting in cold weather…
But I don’t use a ball block.
I let  the oil saturate the patches and keep in a tin..
They’re only damp, I can’t see why that wouldn’t work in a ball block as well..
Load your block just prior too the match.

[Daryl]

The only REALLY important aspect of a wooden block, is that it be finished like a rifle stock or sealed in some way so the wood does not absorb the lube from the patches.
One thing I used to do with the pre-loaded ball blocks, is to use a very small square file to file 4 grooves on each ball hole, like very deep rifling. This put less wood in contact
with the patched ball. They still held firmly, but with less resistance when pushing them with thumb to protrude slightly for alignment with the muzzle.

[smylee grouch]

On one of my loading blocks I did the same grove cutting in the holes and then heated the thing up and sealed it with bees wax. Seemed to work well until I lost it. 

[Daryl]

Heated until it would absorb no more BW would certainly work.

[walt53]

Rich I found in cold weather that Crisco and olive oil or hopes #9 work pretty well ,you play with the mix of crisco and olive oil ,for patch an ball hopes #9 is good hope this helps you. Walt

[rich pierce]

Thanks fellas. Did biathlon #2 today using ball block inside my shirt. Though many excellent lives were suggested I went with what was in the house - palm oil-based shortening. Maybe because from palm trees it brings some “tropical” with it.    Very slippery and no problems today, with smoothbore and rifle. I haven’t done many timed events like this and I’m improving each time on efficiency. Developing a good routine. Paper cartridges for powder, ball block for the .58 rifle, pre-cut greased patches for the .69 smoothbore. Priming horn hangs from the neck. I stick a 1/2” wooden ramrod with a handle on it in the bore as I shuffle along pretending to jog. The stout rod loads the ball easily and uniformly. It’s getting more “automatic” which allows me to relax and focus on shooting.

[smylee grouch]

Sounds good Rich. Did you use the Bear hide cartridge box?

[rich pierce]

Sounds good Rich. Did you use the Bear hide cartridge box?

Yes, and it was noticed!  If only they have style points!

[Daryl]

Glad it's coming together.

[Pukka Bundook]

Rich,
Another corner to cut is forget the priming horn..
Glad the inside the shirt helped!

Pukka.

[rich pierce]

Rich,
Another corner to cut is forget the priming horn..
Glad the inside the shirt helped!

Pukka.

Yesterday the priming horn (gizmo actually) was the only “horn” I carried, as my powder was in paper cartridges, pre-measured. I suppose I could prime the pan first but it makes me a little nervous.

[Pukka Bundook]

Ah!  That makes a difference, Rich!