New assault rifle circa 1874

[Bigslug]

One thing I've noted in playing around with some of my Dad's BP toys is that the ignition and burn of compressed black powder produces some staggeringly consistent velocities over a chronograph - and usually with far less effort than it takes to get similarly tight spreads (or a little worse) with smokeless.

Given that we now have Ballistol to make "moose milk" and spray bottles to dispense it with, I'm no longer scared of the corrosive propellants boogeyman. By all means load up with the real stuff and enjoy the puffy white, sweet-smelling clouds.

[sakodude]

I've been using BP in my C. Sharps 1875 40-65 for 30ish years without any concern whatsoever. I keep a spray bottle of windex in my kit to soak the bore. "Moose Milk" is not something I am familiar with if you'd care to elaborate.

[Bigslug]

Ballistol is a German gun CLP that's been around since WWI or a little before. The sales pitch is basically non-toxic, non-gumming, can be used to preserve the leather and wood components as well as the metal, and being mildly alkaline, it neutralizes corrosive agents in BP or mercuric primers. Supposedly, you can use it as a "wound oil" like Vaseline or maybe even Neosporin, but I haven't read the manual on that part yet.

Moose Milk is what you get when you dilute Ballistol with water at ratios between 1/1 and 5/1. It's effective at cleaning up your black powder gunk, and when the water component evaporates, you have a protective oil in place.

I've been using it for both BP and corrosive mil-surp ammo for a couple years now. You can start the initial cleaning at the range with a heavy spritz down the bore, bolt face, percussion nipples, etc..., and the rust-causing elements will be neutrailized and the gunk softened for the wipe-off by the time you get home. Good stuff!

[sakodude]

Ballistol is a German gun CLP that's been around since WWI or a little before. The sales pitch is basically non-toxic, non-gumming, can be used to preserve the leather and wood components as well as the metal, and being mildly alkaline, it neutralizes corrosive agents in BP or mercuric primers. Supposedly, you can use it as a "wound oil" like Vaseline or maybe even Neosporin, but I haven't read the manual on that part yet.

Moose Milk is what you get when you dilute Ballistol with water at ratios between 1/1 and 5/1. It's effective at cleaning up your black powder gunk, and when the water component evaporates, you have a protective oil in place.

I've been using it for both BP and corrosive mil-surp ammo for a couple years now. You can start the initial cleaning at the range with a heavy spritz down the bore, bolt face, percussion nipples, etc..., and the rust-causing elements will be neutrailized and the gunk softened for the wipe-off by the time you get home. Good stuff!

Great info. I will have to give that a try.

[Elk Creek]

Ballistol is a German gun CLP that's been around since WWI or a little before. The sales pitch is basically non-toxic, non-gumming, can be used to preserve the leather and wood components as well as the metal, and being mildly alkaline, it neutralizes corrosive agents in BP or mercuric primers. Supposedly, you can use it as a "wound oil" like Vaseline or maybe even Neosporin, but I haven't read the manual on that part yet.

Moose Milk is what you get when you dilute Ballistol with water at ratios between 1/1 and 5/1. It's effective at cleaning up your black powder gunk, and when the water component evaporates, you have a protective oil in place.

I've been using it for both BP and corrosive mil-surp ammo for a couple years now. You can start the initial cleaning at the range with a heavy spritz down the bore, bolt face, percussion nipples, etc..., and the rust-causing elements will be neutrailized and the gunk softened for the wipe-off by the time you get home. Good stuff!

Great info. I will have to give that a try.

Don’t go buy any I have a couple pints of that stuff! A 2 lifetime supply

[GrapeApe]

There are a BUNCH of "secret sauce" recipes for "moose milk"
The one I use has Murphy's oil soap, simple green and water.

You can google "Moose milk for black powder" and get more recipes than you can shake a stick at.

One thing I would AVOID are the ones that contain peroxide.
I've seen it used as a test medium to test corrosion resistance. So I DEFINITELY don't want to add it too the corrosive BP residue. YMMV

[Jayhawker]

FB_IMG_1718072251713.jpg (130.08 KiB) Viewed 742 times

Buffalo Hunter 1_zpsoryszmpa (1).jpg (39.81 KiB) Viewed 742 times

[Jayhawker]

I load 535 grain Postell bullets over 68.5 grains of FFg...

[Gene L]

Do you need a long drop tube to load that?

[Wambli Ska]

You freaking guys have got me hankering for a damn Sharps again

[sakodude]

You freaking guys have got me hankering for a damn Sharps again

How else are you going to hunt buffalo properly

[Elk Creek]

You freaking guys have got me hankering for a damn Sharps again

How else are you going to hunt buffalo properly

A stone tip arrow?

[Wambli Ska]

You freaking guys have got me hankering for a damn Sharps again

How else are you going to hunt buffalo properly

My 45-60 will do it fine, but yeah, I do need one don't I.
I have this hankering for a 50-90...

[Wambli Ska]

You freaking guys have got me hankering for a damn Sharps again

How else are you going to hunt buffalo properly

A stone tip arrow?

That worked fine for many centuries...

That reminds me, not too long ago I posted a picture on FB of me on the mountains standing on a BIG rock wearing tall Lama boots. EricB sent me a text saying I'd be better off with my Oboz on that trail. I reminded him that my style boot was doing services as a riding, hiking, walking, going to church, fishing, and many other activities shoe for a couple of centuries through the 1800-1900s and it did those jobs just fine...

... and he agreed

[sakodude]

I load 535 grain Postell bullets over 68.5 grains of FFg...

Do you cast those or buy them?

[sakodude]

You freaking guys have got me hankering for a damn Sharps again

How else are you going to hunt buffalo properly

A stone tip arrow?

those indigenous people who did that had more guts than I do! Don't want to be anywhere near that close to a buffalo

[Elk Creek]

How else are you going to hunt buffalo properly

A stone tip arrow?

those indigenous people who did that had more guts than I do! Don't want to be anywhere near that close to a buffalo

Someday when you meet my brother I’ll have him tell you his Buffalo story……sort version
Trapped in pop up blind while antelope hunting when’s hers of Buffalo shaped up to the watering hole. The herd bull walks by and a cow absolutely destroys the antelope decoy….. trapped for about 3 hours

[Wambli Ska]

How else are you going to hunt buffalo properly

A stone tip arrow?

those indigenous people who did that had more guts than I do! Don't want to be anywhere near that close to a buffalo

On horseback you have a reasonable chance of getting swiftly away to watch the arrow do its thing.

[sakodude]

A stone tip arrow?

those indigenous people who did that had more guts than I do! Don't want to be anywhere near that close to a buffalo

On horseback you have a reasonable chance of getting swiftly away to watch the arrow do its thing.

I've been on a horse only once my whole life so that would just add to pucker factor for me

[Wambli Ska]

We have got to change that…

[Jayhawker]

Do you need a long drop tube to load that?

Yes

[Jayhawker]

I load 535 grain Postell bullets over 68.5 grains of FFg...

Do you cast those or buy them?

I bought 500 of them (pre-lubed) from Track of the Wolf.
The price was right and casting bullets bores me to tears...

[sakodude]

I load 535 grain Postell bullets over 68.5 grains of FFg...

Do you cast those or buy them?

I bought 500 of them (pre-lubed) from Track of the Wolf.
The price was right and casting bullets bores me to tears...

It is akin to watching paint dry but useful at times.

[sakodude]

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1010199053?pid=214596
Thinking about trying this one.

[Elk Creek]

That could be fun!!!