"Expert" advice
 

As I start into BP shooting, I find, as I had expected, just as many differing opinions on things, based probably on personal experiences/preferences, as you would find in other sport.i.e. this bullet is great/not so great, go with pellets/go with loose powder, spit patch every shot/don't bother, etc. In most cases I'm sure there is no right /wrong answer and I will eventually settle on things based on my own trial and error.

But today was the prime example. Picked up a tube of T/C anti sieze stuff for breech plug; asked the resident expert whether this should be applied to both the breech plug threads and inside the bore; absolutely not he says, putting it inside the bore will mean when you tighten the plug the excess will squeeze into the barrel, causing problems. Sounds reasonable to a beginner right? Bring the package home, open it up, and find a short instruction that says to the effect, failure to apply to both the plug threads and inside the bore may lead to a siezed plug!!!

Almost makes a guy want to laugh, and makes me glad I found this forum where I can ask questions and get enough informed opinion to allow me to make up my own mind.

RE: "Expert" advice
 

While no expert.. when I apply the anti sieze breech plug grease, I put a nice thick coat on the threads of only the breech plug. I fill all the threads so you can not see them. When I screw the breech plug into the breech of the muzzleloader, I do get an overflow of anti siezeinto the outside of the breech. I simply take and wipe this off with a Q-tip before heading to the range.

Then before I start my shoot session I pop two 209 primers (or #11 caps in the case of the Wolverine II) and this will blow any excess lube away from the breech plug and the fire channel. To double check that I have a good clear fire channel, I put a clean white patch on the loading jag and push that to the bottom of the breech through the bore. I then pop a 209 cap and pull the patch back out the barrel. If you have a clear fire channel, the white patch will be burned from the 209 primer having gone off. That means you have a good fire channel and the patch will also draw any excess lube, oil, or anything else, back out the bore.

Now you have a clean dry barrel, with no oil or grease in it, and a clear fire channel. So go ahead and load as normal.

RE: "Expert" advice
 

One more thing - am I correct that everytime you remove the plug, you reapply the grease? The tube I picked up is small but the store emplyoee indicated that it should last "a long time".

RE: "Expert" advice
 

Yes, when ever you pull the plug.. make sure you apply more breech plug grease to the plug before you replace it. Also when you are shooting, it does no harm to ocassionally take your breech plug wrench and give the plug a twist. I am not talking about taking it out at this point, just twisting it back and fourth. This will make sure that the breech plug is not seizing up in the breech of the rifle.

In my Black Diamond XR and my Wolverine, I have to do this about every 10 shots. Just give it a twist and make sure it will move back and fourth. It will save you a lot of headaches later. Also if your range is a long distance from your home or your going to take some time before you can get to the rifle to clean it remove it and put it in a plastic baggie. Pull the breech plug out of the rifle and store it and the other dirty parts if you like in the baggie. Then the breech plug has no chance to cool down in the breech of the rifle and sieze up.

RE: "Expert" advice
 

Thanks cayguad, for this and all the other responses. Obviously I am going to have to do some shopping - this tube I picked up is not going to last long - size is .42 OZ(12 grams) - price $8.95 CDN plus 14% taxes (our 7% provincial sales tax and our good old 7% Canadian GST- goods & services tax).

OUCH!![:@]

RE: "Expert" advice
 

Good Tip Cayugad,Thanks!

RE: "Expert" advice
 

Perhaps a cheaper alternative for you is .. I have some but have not used it yet... In the automotive department of Wal Mart and different Auto Part stores, there is a grease called, SLICK 50 ONE GREASE. Other black powder shooters use it to keep their plugs from seizing. I think I paid $6.00 for a giant tube of the stuff that would last me the rest of my life.

I have used the high temperature Auto Anti Sieze grease. It works but is a mess. The stuffI normally use to keep my breech plug in top condition is CVA Slick Nipple and Breech Plug Grease. I bought two tubes of it last year and have not used up one of the tubes yet. I also bought a large grease gun tube of the SLICK 50 One Grease but figured to give it a try after the other stuff ran out...

Perhaps some shooter that has used the SLICK 50 One Grease could comment to this post as to how well the stuff works for them and how they apply it, etc....

RE: "Expert" advice
 

I'm not a "expert", but I have used a product called Gorilla Grease in conjunction with the T/C teflon tape for years with good results in my Omega, Black Diamonds -as well as aKnight Disc Rifle. Usually put a dab of grease on the female threads of the barrel as well as a good coating on the plug. Also, don't torque the breech plug too tight - turn it in till it stops and then back off 1/8 turn or so. Good luck. Roscoe.

RE: "Expert" advice
 

I say it depends on how often you pull the breach plug. I do it after every shot and I do not re-apply anything to the threads. I don't do it again until after I clean the rifle and re-assemble it. Unless I shoot a lot, then I go by how it feels when I pull the plug. Never had one get stuck on me yet. You don't need to crank them in there either. Just snug it with your fingers. I bet most get stuck plugs because they over tighten them and then shoot them three or four times. I had that problem when I first started.

I agree with the guy that told you to only put it on the threads as well. Doing both is just a waste of grease in my opinion. The directions probably tell you that so you will use twice as much and have to buy more sooner. Try shooting my rifle, you would never get that crap in there to get to the threads.

And I always fire a cap after doing anything to my rifle to clear the chamber of any thing. It is time consuming and uses up caps, but it's better than a missfire in my opinion.

Paul

RE: "Expert" advice
 

Just go to an auto supply store and look at their selection of anti-seize products. Onecontainer (mine was sold in a plastic jar) will probably last as long as your hunting career. I think what I use is called "Never Seize", forget the exact size but it is grey in color and about the size of a large bottle of baby food. It has a brush attached to the lid, but I just open it up and touch the nipple to the brush. It works fine and I'm sure I'll never run out of this stuff!