Lubricating the cartridges?

[Merc]

Only for storage, and dry the chamber before shooting. If grease is used wipe bore out too, before shooting.

That's what I figured. Thanks.

[Griff Murphey]

As I recall there were issues with cupro-nickel fouling in the 03 in the pre-WW-1 era and the shooters dipped the bullet tip in a heavy grease called Mobilubricant. Townsend Whelen covers this in MISTER RIFLEMAN. As I recall, this practice led to numerous blown up rifles, and was discontinued.