Need advice Re, Moose milk

[SwanShot]

I gather that Moose Milk is basically cutting oil and water. I thought I would try it in my 54 Kentucky pistol, because it does not like my standard olive oil lube, but is ok with spit patches.
I mixed up a batch of 10 to 1 cutting oil and water to try.
The question is: How wet do you guys use it?
If 1 is as dry as you can get it.
and 5 damp to the touch.
and 10 is dripping wet, how do you get best results?

I shoot a 535 ball with 12 thou patch, over powder felt wad and 25 grains #3

I thank you in anticipation.

 

[david w]

I use Ballistol 7:1 mixture. Let the patches dry. The lube will still be there,

 

[TDM]

Pretty much what @david w said. Try 7:1 to 10:1 mixtures, soak a bunch of patches and let them dry. See what mixture works best. And by all means try them wet too, but not dripping wet. If you have access to Ballistol try it.

 

[Maven]

The late Dutch Schoultz was an advocate of the oiled, but dry patches, but they didn't work well for me. For target work, I use 1 Ballistol : 6 water and use the patches wet. I.e., I squeeze most of the excess liquid out of them: Never had a problem with misfires and the bore stays reasonably clean to boot.

 

[rafterob]

I stopped fiddling with moose milk after I was introduced to dawn detergent and water. I keep it in a small spray bottle and give the patch a light spritz before loading.

 

[Grenadier1758]

I use my mix of water soluble oil (1 part) to water (7 parts) to barely dampen the patch. The slightly damp patch keeps fouling soft at the range. Damp to the touch. A wet patch can wet the powder, but not much when shooting. However, a wet patch can be used when trying for the not wiping between shots method.

 

[Bushfire]

I don't use moose milk, but in regard to wet/dry I keep my patcheds in an old cap tin with Peanut oil. When I take them out they are quite wet, my fingers usually need to be wiped on my clothes after loading. Hasn't affected accuracy or ignition.

 

[#BPBReloadingFFL]

Machine cutting fluid,1 lube to 10 water. Water is bottled water.
My machine lube is also UV sensitive. So when it sits in the sun it will turn white from blue


In place of expensive Ballistol , 1 part mineral oil to 4 parts alcohol. You may want more or less alcohol depending on your patch material and powder used.

 

[Archer 756]

Moose Milk:
IPA (91%) 4 Tablespoons
Castor Oil 1 1/2 Tablespoon
Murphy Oil Soap 1/1/2 Tablespoon
Witch Hazle 2 Tablespoons
Water (non-chorine) 1/2 cup (cold)

 

[GO OutDoors]

Just got done making some Moose milk but I Mr Flintlock Lube for in the field when plinking!

 

[longcruise]

I stopped fiddling with moose milk after I was introduced to dawn detergent and water. I keep it in a small spray bottle and give the patch a light spritz before loading.

I use that method too if shooting a match for a day or more.

 

[david w]

When it gets warm enough for me to get out and shoot, I'm trying bear oil. I recently traded an elk pouch for some bear oil from a member. My understanding is bear oil doesn't go rancid. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[stevenjay1]

When I first started shooting muzzle loaders long ago there was very little info, a few books and no internet so a lot was figured out on your own. I was working in a machine shop at the time and thought why not use water soluble oil for patch lube. I mixed it 1 to 1 because I didn’t know any better and it worked great. I still use a damp patch when target shooting but a dry patch when hunting. I know a 1 to 1 mix is oil heavy but it works for me and in my rifles, has provided excellent accuracy as well as easy loading. Anyway, that’s my 2 cents

 

[ike]

When it gets warm enough for me to get out and shoot, I'm trying bear oil. I recently traded an elk pouch for some bear oil from a member. My understanding is bear oil doesn't go rancid. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I have been using bear fat or as you say bear oil for years for 40 cal and larger I don’t have to swab very often at the end of a shooting season my hands are soft. I melt the oil and then soak the patches which I squeeze out the excess oil. I will not go back to something else until I run out of oil. Ike

 

[Johnny Tremain]

I just buy the store made T/C 1000+ No. 13 bore cleaner.
If I ever run out I have Stumpy's formula around here somewhere.

 

[cositrike]

Just use Murphys oil soap straight out of the bottle. Great lube and makes cleaning easy. No need to keep making up various concoctions. Jmo

 

[1BadDart]

I tried several ratios, but my rifle didn't like water/Balllistol mix dry patches.

 

[azmntman]

Hoppes patch lube and black powder solvent is what I use if not using my ballistol dry patch. 50 years in formula the same and works great. Dont bother using it as a cleaner, waterbworks as well

 

[hanshi]

Hoppes BP Lube is about as good a patch lube as anything around. I used mink oil in the woods and Hoppes for everything else. Wet, but not drippy, patches work in every gun I own. And I'd rather be shooting than cobbling up some liquid combo. I've used a few other substances with very good results but prefer Hoppes & mink oil.
Moose milk.

Hoppes, the way I used to be able to buy it.

 

[Coinneach]

Forgi

Moose Milk:
IPA (91%) 4 Tablespoons
Castor Oil 1 1/2 Tablespoon
Murphy Oil Soap 1/1/2 Tablespoon
Witch Hazle 2 Tablespoons
Water (non-chorine) 1/2 cup (cold)

Forgive my Aussie ignorance, but whats IPA ?