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patch lube in cold weather
- Thread starter sr500
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Black Hand
Cannon
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I use the same stuff that I use in Spring, Summer and Fall - deer tallow.
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I use two things an love both. Mink oil from track of the wolf and i finally found some bear grease an tried it an like it just as well 
I don't live in a cold enough place to have any hands of experience...but I do have a comment / question. I'm guessing there shouldn't be any problem keeping patches from freezing at the range so I assume you're referring to hunting.
And for hunting, a few spare prelubed patches could be carried under the jacket next to the warm body so they wouldn't freeze and should be easy to use for reloading.
The only other possible issue would be the patch freezing that's already down bore, and my question is:
Is that an actual problem or speculation?
I'm asking because it seems that the raging fire from combustion would instantly melt any patch lube even in a frozen patch down bore.
Maybe not...
And for hunting, a few spare prelubed patches could be carried under the jacket next to the warm body so they wouldn't freeze and should be easy to use for reloading.
The only other possible issue would be the patch freezing that's already down bore, and my question is:
Is that an actual problem or speculation?
I'm asking because it seems that the raging fire from combustion would instantly melt any patch lube even in a frozen patch down bore.
Maybe not...
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Here is another vote for mink oil!
paulvallandigham
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Without knowing how Cold you expect it to get when hunting, its difficult to give you a good recommendation. Any oil based lube( mink oil, olive oil, Ballistol,vegetable oils, mineral oil, etc.) should be good down to -20 Degrees Farenheit. There are " Synthentic oils, made for Airplane engine use that can stay "soft" down to -100 Degrees F. and some go further than that! Talk to the suppliers at small airports to find a source of these oils.
Personally, I have experienced outdoor temperatures of -24 degrees F., with windchills of -60 degrees F. That's cold, IMHO! The squeak of rubber boots in snow goes up very high in these conditions.
I had to walk to school, almost a mile away in this condition, but I would not plan to go hunting in that kind of weather, as I expect any game would be bedded down and only moving to find food twice a day, before returning to their beds. Without knowing their exact bedding areas, or having fresh tracks to cut, Hunting would just be great way to see how long it takes to get frostbite, when its that cold!
If you are hunting in conditions where the temperature is zero degrees F., or above, but still below 32 Degrees F. ( zero degrees Centigrade) any patch lube that does NOT use water as part of the formula should work well. I do think Roundball's suggestion to tuck the extra patches into a bag or wrap, and then carry them under your outer coat, so that your own body heat keeps them warm and pliable, is very good advice.
Because I don't like taking off gloves or mittens in that very cold weather, much less touching bare skin to any metal, I recommend you consider using a ball block of wood to hold pre-lubed Patched Round Balls, so that you can simply run the balls out of the block as needed, down the muzzle, with a gloved hand. You can carry the block on a leather thong around your neck, under your coat, or in an inner pocket to keep the lube soft and pliable.
Good hunting. :hatsoff:
Personally, I have experienced outdoor temperatures of -24 degrees F., with windchills of -60 degrees F. That's cold, IMHO! The squeak of rubber boots in snow goes up very high in these conditions.
I had to walk to school, almost a mile away in this condition, but I would not plan to go hunting in that kind of weather, as I expect any game would be bedded down and only moving to find food twice a day, before returning to their beds. Without knowing their exact bedding areas, or having fresh tracks to cut, Hunting would just be great way to see how long it takes to get frostbite, when its that cold!
If you are hunting in conditions where the temperature is zero degrees F., or above, but still below 32 Degrees F. ( zero degrees Centigrade) any patch lube that does NOT use water as part of the formula should work well. I do think Roundball's suggestion to tuck the extra patches into a bag or wrap, and then carry them under your outer coat, so that your own body heat keeps them warm and pliable, is very good advice.
Because I don't like taking off gloves or mittens in that very cold weather, much less touching bare skin to any metal, I recommend you consider using a ball block of wood to hold pre-lubed Patched Round Balls, so that you can simply run the balls out of the block as needed, down the muzzle, with a gloved hand. You can carry the block on a leather thong around your neck, under your coat, or in an inner pocket to keep the lube soft and pliable.
Good hunting. :hatsoff:
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The only hassles I've had with patch lubes in cold weather is application, since I lube as I load. If the lube is too stiff, it doesn't go on the patch well.
Easy solution is to prelube patches and keep them from sticking together in your kit.
The best I've used for application in cold weather is Mink Oil Grease from TOW. I've got a bear grease mixture from Swampy that shows even more promise. It doesn't get quite as stiff as the Mink Oil Grease when cold, and that looks like a plus.
Still waiting for weather cold enough to do a meaningful comparison.
Easy solution is to prelube patches and keep them from sticking together in your kit.
The best I've used for application in cold weather is Mink Oil Grease from TOW. I've got a bear grease mixture from Swampy that shows even more promise. It doesn't get quite as stiff as the Mink Oil Grease when cold, and that looks like a plus.
Still waiting for weather cold enough to do a meaningful comparison.
I have hunted in -10C here in England, I expect you guy's in Sweden can see-20 easy!
I heat beef fat on the stove and take the liquid off and add olive oil, once cool it is semi set and body heat just melts it. Pre lubed patches in a cap tin seperate nicely in the cold just fine.
Good hunting :thumbsup:
Brits.
I heat beef fat on the stove and take the liquid off and add olive oil, once cool it is semi set and body heat just melts it. Pre lubed patches in a cap tin seperate nicely in the cold just fine.
Good hunting :thumbsup:
Brits.
Muskeg Stomper
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Mink oil from TOW does get stiff in the cold, HOWEVER, it still loads and lubes just fine even at 30 degrees below zero F. :thumbsup:
ohio ramrod
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For temperatures below freezing I use lard (pig fat ). I have heard about the weather in Sweden from my oldest daughter. She spent a year in Sweden as an exchane student in the late 80's.You have a beautiful country, cold but beautiful! :hmm:
Hi and thanks.Iam going to make some kind of speedloaders, and prelube the patches.I have this idea, about a tube open in both ends in my calibre with the powder, wads, and a patched ball.Then hold it in front of the muzzle, and push all in to the bore with the ramrod..And ofcourse with a cap in both ends. Just an idea. Tommy.
Dnepr 750 said:
I have a couple of PVC pipe pocket reloaders in the photo below (for .62cal)...John Shorb, former owner of October Country, send a couple spares he had to me.
Snug fitting PRB in from one direction, then he poured in the powder charge under the PRB and sealed the other end with wax paper using a rubber band to hold it in place...then he would drive / load the whole thing through the wax paper with a short starter.
I modifed the approach a little, as I don't see a need for a fast reload like that, and I worried that the wax paper would break and dump loose powder everywhere :grin: .
PRB from one direction, then from the other direction, I use a thin Oxyoke wool wad or an OS card, then pour in the powder, and I seal the powder end with a finger cot.
When I need a reload, I roll off the finger cot, pour the powder, then drive the PRB through with a short starter...and after seating it all down, I put the finger cot on the muzzle to seal the bore.
Here is the link to two homemade lubes that are very cold tolerant. I've hunted the Moose Snot down to -15°F and reloaded with it after several hours at that temp. If you can't find Murphy's Oil Soap any vegetable based liquid soap (like saddle soap or Pine-Sol) can be substituted.
Stumpy's Lubes
Stumpy's Lubes
Thats neat :thumbsup:
Brits.
Brits.
missionary5155
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Greetings
I have used olive oil with varying amounts of bees wax mixed in to make it thicker. I have not tried any in less than 5-10 degrees F. but it did not freeze as best I know. Seem to shoot normal in a .60 smoothy.
I have used olive oil with varying amounts of bees wax mixed in to make it thicker. I have not tried any in less than 5-10 degrees F. but it did not freeze as best I know. Seem to shoot normal in a .60 smoothy.
I've been trying that beeswax/olive oil mix and so far so good. It's only been a bit below freezing to date but I'll be shooting it in some deep cold early next year and will see how it shapes up. The more wax, the stiffer it gets but this doesn't seem to keep it from loading easy.
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