Best Animal fat for lube?

[ahcollier]

I see all kind of concoctions for patch lube. I’m currently using home made “Barrel Butter” of beeswax and olive oil.

I’ve heard people talk about some animal fats, mostly mutton/sheep.

What other animal fats do people use? Beef tallow? Clean pork fat?

What will rendered (clean) pork fat do to my rifle? Bacon fat is always the one thing I have lots of.

Thanks, Andy

 

[Fatboyz]

I use rendered down deer tallow and bees wax.

 

[wiscoaster]

Animal fat won't hurt your rifle. If you have lots of bacon fat, and it's rendered clean, use it. Beef and mutton tallow you can buy at the grocery store. I don't know there's any "best". They'll all work. You might find a mixture with animal fat a little "stiffer" than your current recipe with olive oil. I vary the ratio of olive oil in mine to make it softer in cool weather or firmer in hot weather. So, I'd suggest you play around with your beeswax to fat ratio to find what works best for you.

 

[Phil Coffins]

Unicorns back fat.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

I have been using mutton tallow for many years. It is by far the greasiest natural lube I have found to date.

 

[Johnny Too-Tall]

I see all kind of concoctions for patch lube. I’m currently using home made “Barrel Butter” of beeswax and olive oil.

I’ve heard people talk about some animal fats, mostly mutton/sheep.

What other animal fats do people use? Beef tallow? Clean pork fat?

What will rendered (clean) pork fat do to my rifle? Bacon fat is always the one thing I have lots of.

Thanks, Andy

If you value your rifle do not use bacon fat or bacon grease wayyyyyy to much salt in it which leads to corrosion. My buddy did this and left it loaded for almost a month for gun season and it completely rust the bore.

 

[wiscoaster]

If you value your rifle do not use bacon fat or bacon grease wayyyyyy to much salt in it which leads to corrosion. My buddy did this and left it loaded for almost a month for gun season and it completely rust the bore.

He said he would render it first. Doesn't that get rid of the salt? If not, ya, you wouldn't want to use that!!

 

[rafterob]

Lamb fat-tallow is the best. A good mix of greasy to waxy consistency.

 

[1950DAVE]

If you value your rifle do not use bacon fat or bacon grease wayyyyyy to much salt in it which leads to corrosion. My buddy did this and left it loaded for almost a month for gun season and it completely rust the bore.

And sodium nitrate.

He said he would render it first. Doesn't that get rid of the salt? If not, ya, you wouldn't want to use that!!

No. Rendering only separates the solid matter from the fat.

 

[wiscoaster]

I guess I'll just keep saving MY bacon fat for soup!!

 

[hunter thompson]

DEER FAT and melt it slow outside and add murphys oil soap and i had to do it a few times to get the right consistancy

 

[rp77469]

Pure bear grease or bear oil. What you get depends on what the bear has been eating.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Several will be just fine. e.g. bear, mink, lamb and more. But, absolute worstest (DAMHIK) is chicken.

 

[ahcollier]

And sodium nitrate.

No. Rendering only separates the solid matter from the fat.

Important safety tip. Got it.

And sodium nitrate.

No. Rendering only separates the solid matter from the fat.

Got it. Important safety tip. What about pure pork fat, right off the hog, not bacon?

 

[Beaverman2]

I second the Bear fat, works real good for biscuits and pie crust too!

 

[deerstalkert]

I use bear fat because i have 10 quarts of it and have no need for anything else. Generally mixed with different percentages of bees wax depending on the temperature.

 

[TechMoron]

You can get enough grease for two lifetimes of shooting from one possum.

 

[LME]

Animal fat won't hurt your rifle. If you have lots of bacon fat, and it's rendered clean, use it. Beef and mutton tallow you can buy at the grocery store. I don't know there's any "best". They'll all work. You might find a mixture with animal fat a little "stiffer" than your current recipe with olive oil. I vary the ratio of olive oil in mine to make it softer in cool weather or firmer in hot weather. So, I'd suggest you play around with your beeswax to fat ratio to find what works best for you.

I think any fat will do but cured bacon fat has a lot of salt. I would avoid that kind of grease.

 

[nhmoose]

Morrell snow cap lard. Pure, no salt, Muslims hate it so I use it in my lube if I don't have bear fat.

Cheap and at your local food store.

 

[1950DAVE]

What about pure pork fat, right off the hog, not bacon?

That’s what lard is made of. No impurities. I have used lard, but it will go rancid sooner than many other fats/oils. I have kept beef tallow a lot longer with no rancidity.