Lubes and Patch Material

[Sharp Shooter]

I am looking for a patch lube that will not freeze in the winter. I am trying Lehigh right not. It works good to use a wet patch at the range and dry patch for hunting. I have also been thinking about PL-16 by Rooster labratories. Doese it get stiff in the winter. Finally how about Moose snot and Moose Milk? Has anyone put those in the freezer? I am thinking about trying those to.

For patch material I have heard good things about Drill cloth. I do not have a mic so I do not know how thick things are. I wan't one that will be around .015 after I wash it.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Finally how about Moose snot and Moose Milk? Has anyone put those in the freezer?

Yep. For a week. I've also hunted with both at -10º and -15º F with no freezing. The Snot stiffens up, but is still easily wiped onto a patch from out of a tin.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

Some rifles shoot better with a 'moist, not sopping wet' patch, others with a wet patch, some load easier with wet patch, lot of variables to consider.
Have you tryed Go-Jo white hand cleaner? Doesn't freeze, but I've been out in only 20' F. chill.

 

[boar]

I used Groundhog oil and beewaxs, 50-50 for 20 some years, all kind weather. Was good. Now use deer tallow, don't need the beeswax. Don't run in hot weather, gets soft. Not to hard in cold weather. Its free. Get enough off one fat Ohio deer to last long time. Only bought 1or2 tubes of TC MAX-lube since 1982. And a bottle of TC No Thirteen. Have used a little Crisco. Dilly

 

[Bountyhunter]

I have used my venison tallow for years. Used the Wonder lube 1000 and Bore Butter before that. They will all work for 3-5 shots.

I got a bottle of Lehigh a couple weeks ago just to try out, and I think I'm sold on it. It is what I will use this winter. I know that I got 50 shots with it Saturday. That is good enough for me. I will probably precut a half a dozen patches and wet them and put them in a container in my shirt pocket and I wont worry about whether it freezes or not while I'm hunting. I dont intend to have to make that many shots anyway. I think we only get 3 tags this year.

Bill

 

[paulvallandigham]

Try using ballistol and water mixed 5:1 on patches, and let them dry. Then when you go to use them in freezing temperatures, use some alcohol, in a spray bottle if you must, to dampen the patches. When the alcohol evaporates it will leave the bore dry, and the dried, lubed patches ready to work.

Another trick to consider is to use pre-lubed patches with bore butter( NL1000, Wonderlube) and run one of these down the barrel AFTER you seat the ball on the powder charge. This lubes the barrel in front of the ball, protects it from corrosion in case of inclimate weather, and keeps fouling soft after the shot. It also tends to give you about 20 fps more velocity when its used this wayl. Since cold weather tends to rob guns of velocity, the added velocity you get will just about make up for the velocity you lose to the temperatures.

 

[Enfield1]

The best that I have found, for me personally is "Old Zip" from Dixie Gun Works. It is a factory mixed tin of mutten talow and beeswax. It holds up to the heat without melting or getting "runny" and is still pliable in the cold. I prelube several patches and keep them in the patch box of my flinter. For my GPR, I pre lube them and keep them in a small leather pouch in my possibles bag. A single tin goes for $4.00 and is good for about 200 shots.

 

[Twisted_1in66]

Finally how about Moose snot and Moose Milk? Has anyone put those in the freezer?

Yep. For a week. I've also hunted with both at -10º and -15º F with no freezing. The Snot stiffens up, but is still easily wiped onto a patch from out of a tin.

GREAT STUFF. Mixed my first batch of Stumpy's Moose Snot up after I tried to use Bore Butter in 10° weather. Could have driven nails with that tube. Moose Snot passes the freezing test just fine!

Twisted_1in66 :thumbsup:

 

[Sharp Shooter]

The moose snot and milk both sound good. I am not sure what to make though. Maybe the moose milk.

 

[Twisted_1in66]

The moose snot and milk both sound good. I am not sure what to make though. Maybe the moose milk.

The Moose Milk you can use to pre-treat patches. Soak them twice with moose milk, drying them out between soakings. You'll need to wipe your patch in the moose snot if you want to use that. It works well to wipe your patch in the moose snot and then put it in a loading block.

I typically just wipe my patch in it as I load. I've found you really can just keep on loading and firing with it. If the load feels a little tight, use more moose snot on the patch next time.

Great stuff!

Twisted_1in66 :thumbsup:

 

[Stumpkiller]

The moose snot and milk both sound good. I am not sure what to make though. Maybe the moose milk.

If you are accustomed to using a liquid lube make the moose milk/juice. If you prefer using a grease lube make the snot. The disadvantage of the Moose Juice is that you must then carry a bottle in your bag; with all the attendant risks of a leak or breakage. I carry a 1 oz glass bottle. I have a couple McCormick vanilla extract bottles with the threads ground off using a Mizzy Wheel and corks for a stoppers. Rubber won't work - pops right out. You have to use true cork (hardware stores carry them in the "glory boxes" of odd, small items. Even Lowe's).