Paden
Active Member
I hail from a place where summers are short and winters are long; a quick trip to the outhouse in your birthday suit at -30F. is no big deal, and +80F. is commonly referred to as "Africa hot"….
I'm also a fairly simple guy, and tho I enjoy challenging my understanding of the physical and chemical sciences and learning new things, when it comes down to hands-on application I will typically opt for the simplest most convenient (safest, least challenging) option. So, as I contemplate concocting a lube suitable for my climate, I naturally gravitate toward the less complicated recipes with fewer ingredients (SL-68/variants look like fantastic formulations, but frankly I'm not up for that level of complexity and required heat).
I've read, here and elsewhere, references to at least three(?) different 'green' lubes for colder weather, but no specific recipes… So I've set out to necessarily reinvent the wheel and put together a simple, effective, bees wax based lube suitable for cold climates. I'd like to come up with something that will perform well in large bore revolvers at 1,100 fps and pressures in the 30,000 psi range, and hopefully eventually in my 6.5x55 SKAN/SE loads at 2,900 fps and 55,000 psi…. Is this reasonable/possible?
First stab at it consists of roughly 1 pound bees wax, 4 oz. 2-stroke fuel additive which contains a high percentage of synthetic ester and butene homopolymer, and a small amount of engine lube which brings more butene homopolymer and zinc salts. All ingredients combined readily at the melting point of the wax, with no smoke or offensive odors. Result is pale ODG, medium soft/tacky. Smear feel between my fingers is pretty good; perhaps just a tiny bit drier than my gut says it maybe should be(?) (tho I can't quantify why I think that).
Preliminary range test was in .45 Colt (350 grain bullet pictured in my avatar) at ~1100 fps. Temp was a pleasant +35F. Accuracy was good. No bullets were recovered. Paper indicated lube was jettisoned within about 8 feet of the muzzle; there was no evidence of lube on targets beyond that distance. After 36 rounds, the gun was squeaky clean relative to LBT Blue. Powder/lube fouling was really minimal and pretty much limited to the face of the cylinder and inside the frame window, and simply wiped off with a dry cotton shop rag.
I'll test more as time and bullets become available and winter sets in. Suggestions for modifications/improvements/things to look for highly encouraged and appreciated!
I'm also a fairly simple guy, and tho I enjoy challenging my understanding of the physical and chemical sciences and learning new things, when it comes down to hands-on application I will typically opt for the simplest most convenient (safest, least challenging) option. So, as I contemplate concocting a lube suitable for my climate, I naturally gravitate toward the less complicated recipes with fewer ingredients (SL-68/variants look like fantastic formulations, but frankly I'm not up for that level of complexity and required heat).
I've read, here and elsewhere, references to at least three(?) different 'green' lubes for colder weather, but no specific recipes… So I've set out to necessarily reinvent the wheel and put together a simple, effective, bees wax based lube suitable for cold climates. I'd like to come up with something that will perform well in large bore revolvers at 1,100 fps and pressures in the 30,000 psi range, and hopefully eventually in my 6.5x55 SKAN/SE loads at 2,900 fps and 55,000 psi…. Is this reasonable/possible?
First stab at it consists of roughly 1 pound bees wax, 4 oz. 2-stroke fuel additive which contains a high percentage of synthetic ester and butene homopolymer, and a small amount of engine lube which brings more butene homopolymer and zinc salts. All ingredients combined readily at the melting point of the wax, with no smoke or offensive odors. Result is pale ODG, medium soft/tacky. Smear feel between my fingers is pretty good; perhaps just a tiny bit drier than my gut says it maybe should be(?) (tho I can't quantify why I think that).
Preliminary range test was in .45 Colt (350 grain bullet pictured in my avatar) at ~1100 fps. Temp was a pleasant +35F. Accuracy was good. No bullets were recovered. Paper indicated lube was jettisoned within about 8 feet of the muzzle; there was no evidence of lube on targets beyond that distance. After 36 rounds, the gun was squeaky clean relative to LBT Blue. Powder/lube fouling was really minimal and pretty much limited to the face of the cylinder and inside the frame window, and simply wiped off with a dry cotton shop rag.
I'll test more as time and bullets become available and winter sets in. Suggestions for modifications/improvements/things to look for highly encouraged and appreciated!
Last edited: