Spit patches..

[Razor]

Went shooting at a new range today
Met up with the local ML group for the Wed. morning get-together.. 
I forgot my lubed (Olive oil) patches. 
One feller said "spit patches is best, cleans as you go an' you never run out"
DANG if'n he weren't right...!!
Throwed a patch in my mouth, held it there while measuring and loading the powder.
Loaded and shot.
Put 10 rds down range, one dry patch after 5 rds just for giggles.
Never did get the 3rd 'er 4th rd 'stickies'...
Came home and cleaned my rifle with 2 wet patches...
followed by 2 dry patches and 1 oil patch..
First dry patch came out clean, but had to run another one to be sure.
That's it !
Done !  ... just like that ...
I'm gonna check the bore again tomorrow, if all is good, then the heck with all that fancy stuff..

[Ironwood]

You know, I tried spit patches 6 or 7 years ago.  Didn't try more than a couple I think.  I may just cut a few and try spit a little more.  I think just about all of my patches I have on hand have olive oil on them.

[Wyoming Mike]

About 35 years ago when I started into this hobby, I used all kinds of stuff for patch lube.  Some worked alright others didn't.  Back then we had a person who was kind of a PITA but was a very good shot.  I was watching him at a shoot and him and his friend were spraying their patches with water.  Five squirts on each side.  I thought it betrayed a little OCD but it was working for him.  I figured if water was working for him, spit should work just fine also.

I started using spit.  It works as well as moose milk, Hoppie's or any other wet lube.  Unlike the other lubes I don't have to pack around something to keep the patches in while they soak.  With the right patch and ball combo, it keeps the barrel in the same state from shot to shot.  For the range and competition shooting it can't be beat.

The only time I use a greasy lube is when I'm hunting and don't want the patch to dry out between the few shots you will have during the day.

[old salt]

I have used spit patches for years. The old timers that I started shooting with told me that there was some thing in the spit that keeps the fowling soft that is the reason you can shoot a longer string before having to run
a cleaning patch down the bore. They told me that is also made clean up faster and easy-er.
Some of the clubs I shoot had shoot strings of 20-25 targets. most of the time I can shoot the whole set without having to swab the barrel.
Your milage may differ

[Hanshi]

Like Mike, I load a grease patch with my first load when I head out into the field, but that's my only use of grease type lubes.  All reloads are with Hoppes, Black Solve or something similar.  When I bought my first muzzle gun I used spit patch exclusively.  As I aged I tended to run dry when many shots were fired such as a range session; especially problematic during summer.  While I won't say spit patch is the best lube, I will say it's every bit as good as anything you can buy or concoct.

[flintboomer]

Some guns like spit patches and some don't. I won't hunt with it but most of my target work is done with spit patches and if you keep the loads on the light side you can shoot all day without having to clean until the end of the day.
So far my Sharon barrel likes a heavy load and spit patch and still just keeps on shooting. The biggest difference I see with this one is that it takes a little longer to clean up, but that means about 6 patches instead of 3, then dry patch and lube.

[sherpa]

I use bore butter or the CVA brand equivelant (whose name escapes me) when I lube my patches for loading. However I always swab the bore with a spit soaked patch and a dry patch when reloading at the range. I then fire one cap off just to ease my mind about any moisture being in there (probably not necessary I know). I can shoot indefinetly like this at the range and it doesn't really take much time. So I agree ther eis something about spit that just works for almost anything. Kind of like Windex, LOL

[battman1]

I use a spit patch but I have to run a cleaning patch atleast everyother or every third shot.I can shoot like that all day but I can't shoot any amount of shots without running a patch in between.

[Razor]

OK.. it's official...
Spit patch it is from now on..
Checked the bore.. shiney as the day it was born..
I ran a dry patch just to check..spotless  
Like I mentioned in the OP, I had been using olive oil, olive oil/beeswax, crisco etc.
But I recall getting lots more fouling and had to swab the bore about every 3 shots.
With spit patch, every succeeding load had the same relative degree of resistance..(very little)
I'm not a hunter, but the merit of using a lube for the field makes sense.
Thanks for relating your experiences fellas.

[Red Badger]

Just remember Spit patches and chewin tabacci don't mix!

[BRIAR]

I WAS JUST FIXIN TO ASK THAT QUESTION. I DIP AND WONDERED IF IT WOULD HURT ANYTHING.

[bull frog]

Always have, and still do on occasion, use spit patches.  There are three potential problems I have found with much experimentation:
1.  the sooner you fire the arm the better.....a spit patch will eventually dry out over time......there goes the lube.
2.  It is best to carry some drinking water with you.......a very uncomfortable and dry mouth can result.
3.  make sure your patch material is clean......and separate from other (lubed patches) patches...don't ask....have found some awful nasty tasting substances on what I thought was clean patches in my shooting bag. 

[Ranger]

I actually cut my patches ahead for a shoot and put them in an Altoids tin with a couple mints left in it.

[flintboomer]

Bullfrog is right, don't wait too long before firing the shot and, especially on a hot day, drink plenty of WATER.
It also helps to eat a little during the day to keep your energy at a good level, especially at a big shoot or rondy.

[Bulldog lady]

I'ma learning ever day,  just keeps in mind if'nya cut your self on a flint or what ever, human spit (saliva, bite) is one of them  thar nastiest things ever around,  Now's on the other hand, ifn ya got your old hound around they's good cleaning to lick your wounds.