You using a greased wad under the ball, or slathering lubricant over the ball?
In my experience, it makes a difference.
When I use a greased felt wad, my revolver stays cleaner. I can understand how the bore might, but I can't explain how that wad makes a difference on the base pin, yet it seems to.
Also, on my Remington I coat the base pin and rear of cylinder rather heavily with CVA Grease Patch. I think Crisco or Bore Butter would do as well; dunno, never tried them.
I also coat the sides of the hammer and hammer channel in the frame, to keep the hammer from sticking in the frame during cocking.
I remain convinced that the lubricant recipe I found in a 1943 American Rifleman is the best I've found for lubricating felt wads, bullets, patches and nearly any black powder application.
The recipe is 1 part canning paraffin, 1 part mutton tallow and 1/2 part beeswax. All measurements are by weight, not volume.
This results in a fairly stiff, waxy lubricant. According to the article, this is what the factories used for years to lubricate heeled bullets such as the .22 rimfire, .32 Long and Short Colt, .38 Long Colt, .41 Long Colt and .237 Gatofeo Yowling ZX-500 Ridiculously Short Turbo Magnum.
Sorry ... just wanted to see if you were paying attention there ... :lol:
But seriously, since I teamed this lubricant with a good felt wad I rarely put lubricant over the ball.
In my Colt 2nd generation 1851 Navy I can usually go 5 or 6 cylinderfuls before I have to stop and clean --- and I don't have to clean the bore because the wad keeps it quite clean.
In my Uberti-made Remington .44 I go 4 or 5 cylinderfuls before I have to do some lubricant touch-up on the base pin, sides of the hammer, rear of cylinder and hammer channel in the frame. Again, I usually don't clean the bore because the wad with that wonderful lubricant keeps it clean.
I know I"ve been all over the internet in various message boards extolling the virtues of the above lubricant but really, I can't praise it enough.
I'm sure after I've left this world someone will step up to my tombstone and wonder why, "1 part paraffin, 1 part mutton tallow and 1/2 part beeswax" are etched on it!