While it is true that leaving a petroleum based product in the bore and then shooting powder over that will cause a black tar like substance to form. I have never found this to happen with the use of alcohol. I've been running 91% pure isopropyl or even denatured alcohol as a swab solution in my barrels for years and never had any rust or black tar substanceshow up. This alcohol swab is used to remove any oils that were put in the barrel toprotectit from rusting, before loading. I also use it in sidelocks as a swab because it will remove fowling and at the same time dry out of the barrel on its own or even faster with a couple of dry swab patches. This causes less chance of contamination of the next powder charge with a water based product. I agree that pure alcohol would not protect a rifle bore for any kind of extended storage. For that a quality gun oil is needed.

I personally used to use bore butter. I do not use it any longer except on one test barrel I am working with. I had some bad experiences with bore butter building up in the barrel and causing a loss of accuracy in the past.After that, other then a lube for conicals, I have not used bore butter at all. Even my patch lube contains alcohol in the form of moosemilk, and loading is exellent as is accuracy.

People I have sense talked to about the use of bore butter recommend scrubbing the barrel between shooting clean of bore butter and then re applying it after ward to protect the barrel. This will stop the build up problem that I experienced in the past. In one rifle I am doing exactly as they have advised to do so I can personally see the results. So far I have had a few patches with a brown type substance come out of the bore. I do not think it is rust. I really am not sure what it is. So far though, the test barrel has been shooting excellent.

I personally see no reason to smear wax down the inside of my rifle bore. I think the entire idea of seasoning a barrel is foolish. With our modern steel, and the use of modern solvents and oils to protect the bore I think that is a better way to care for the rifle. For those that use bore butter as a protector of the bore,as I always say, it's your rifle.Also, other then a conicallube you would never see me use bore butter in the bore for anything. Birchwood Casey or Rem Oilto protect the bore, and alcohol to remove the oil from the bore before loading.....