Black Powder Cartridge Grease Cookie

[flygrimm]

So I made up a batch of lube for my Martini Henry project. I used 2 cups Beeswax, 1 2/3 cups Crisco and 1/3 cup vegetable oil. That's about 50% Beeswax, 42% Crisco and 8% vegetable oil.

The mixture seems to be a bit stiff when cooled. You can wipe your fingers on it and it does get on your finger but it's kind of the consistency of Imperial Sizing wax or even a bit harder.

About what hardness should the mixture be when cooled to room temp? Cold butter, soft butter, somewhere in between? I know I can soften it by adding a bit more vegetable oil.

This is my first foray into black powder cartridge reloading. BTW I will be using a paper patched 98% lead, 2% tin bullet sized around .468 to .470.

Thanks

Stuart

[Tom-ADC]

This is mine I pan lube my bullets and use a .062 over powder wad. I think the lube is much better since I switched from the vegetable oil to the lanolin.
I believe this would make good lube pills.

I use Buck Emmert's Lube Formula (for black powder)

1750 grains Beeswax
1368 grains Crisco Shortening (White)
328 grains Crisco or Wesson Vegatable Oil

This recipe makes 1/2 pound lubricant. If you tray lube as I do, you'll probably
want to double the recipe.
I also now substitute Anhydrous lanolin for the vegetable oil.

[smle-man]

I used beeswax and olive oil, seems to work pretty well. The cookie is pretty stable under normal temperature conditions.