Liking mutton tallow more and more

[Skychief]

I have a buddy that keeps me in all the homemade mutton tallow that I can use.

While I've shot with it before, only recently have I been using it extensively. I've no complaints about it as a grease type patch lube. In fact, I've found a couple of my rifles really shoot tight with it. Cleanup seems easier than with other grease type lubes that I've tried.

I've had some of it for years now and it seems as fresh as the day I got it. No discoloration nor change in consistency, etc. All this with no special storing of it.

Anybody else use it as a patch lube?

I'm not sure what freezing point that it has, but, would like to know.

Best regards, Skychief

 

[rodwha]

You've been using it soley as a lube? Nothing with it?

I have read of Gatofeo's lube working on patches as well. I use it for wads and pistol/rifle conicals, and some use it for lube cookies.

 

[Skychief]

What the heck is Gatofeos lube? :idunno:

I've been using straight mutton tallow.

Best regards, Skychief

 

[BrownBear]

I've been using straight mutton tallow.

Just a heads up. I used straight mutton tallow for a while, then switched to deer tallow cuzz it's a lot easier to get my hands on. They're so similar I couldn't tell them apart.

But with both, things changed when the mercury dropped in the thermometer. They got waaay too stiff. I cut mine with bear oil (brown, of course!), but for winter use you might be contemplating a source of oil to soften it a bit.

 

[Skychief]

Thanks BrownBear. I've pondered the freezing point of the mutton tallow. Do you suppose it would be okay for hunting down in the single digits?

Best regards, Skychief

 

[coloradoclyde]

There is another part of the sheep that people over look.......Lanolin,(AKA wool wax...)
It makes a great lubricant and rust preventative and is a "secret" ingredient in some "mystery lubes"........It also performs well in cold weather....

There are thousands of lube recipes.....All work for somebody.....Choose the one that works best for you....

 

[rodwha]

Gatofeo is the handle of an older gent who, reading through an older magazine (40's?), came across a recipe for outside lubricated bullets from the late 1800's. It's been coined as Gatofeo's #1 lube.

By weight and made in a double boiler it is:
1 part mutton tallow
1 part Gulf Wax (ok, this isn't the traditional part)
1/2 part beeswax

He claimed to have tried everything under the sun (he was in his 80's then) and found this to work the best. No doubt your climate dictates this.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Dixie Gun Works used to have a product called "Old Zip" that I believe had mutton tallow and beeswax as the base.

I use it to lube the edges of smoothbore wads. For rifles I didn't get the lubricity to go five or more shots between spit wipes with the tallow mixes I tried.

 

[BrownBear]

Thanks BrownBear. I've pondered the freezing point of the mutton tallow. Do you suppose it would be okay for hunting down in the single digits?

Best regards, Skychief

Dunno for sure about the single digits, but it (and deer tallow) was too stiff for my taste in the teens. YMMV of course- You just might like it that way. We never get warm enough to inspire me to use beeswax to stiffen it, but it's getting pretty drooly for my taste in the 70's.

Short term, you might check the temp of your freezer, and put it in there for a while for a better look-see.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

I've used mutton tallow from Dixie Gun Works before to make revolver wads and it works real well. It also smells sort of meaty and makes me hungry!