Trapper's Pure Mink Oil

[Ohio Joe]

Has anyone tried the "Trapper's Pure Mink Oil" patch lube? I ordered a couple 8 oz tins earlier this week from TOTW, and they arrived today... I just felt like trying something new other then my good ol' 50/50 blend of T/C Bore Butter and Crisco Vegetable Shortening... I figure even if I don't like the Mink Oil, I still have two good fire starting kit tins!!! So,,, if you use it or have used it, what do you, or did you, think???

 

[cayugad]

I ordered a tin of it from TOTW also, and have been using it when I shoot the .58 caliber with patched ball. So far it seems easy to use, no nasty smell, and the rifle performs perfect with it. No sign of patch burn out when I use it. It was recommended by them, so like you I thought I would give it a try and the tin will be handy when the stuff runs out.

 

I used Mink Oil back in the early 80's when I first saw it and have just picked up another couple tins. It worked just fine for hunting, it's intended purpose. I've shot up to 20 rounds without having to clean and without loss of accuracy.
:For range shooting, I use spit & have for over 30years. both the mink oil and spit seem to hit the same POI, which is important. Other greases I've used, such as crisco blends, usually strike higher than spit lubed RB's, due to greater lubricity. Straight crisco didn't shoot well for me due to being too slippery, if there is such a thing. Also, the mink oil is suitable for cold weather shooting. The Crisco blends usually get to hard in sub zero weather and don't release from the ball. Accuracy is also poor at cold temps with crisco. The oil shoots just fine as does pure clear bear's oil, just as Ned Roberts said. Most people use too much heat when rendering bear's oil and get shortening instead. That's fine for making pie crusts or summer pathc lubing, but not for cold weather.

 

[Ohio Joe]

I ran some test today using my 50/50 Bore Butter mixture, and Trapper's Mink Oil... I used my .45 caliber Half Stocked Transition Hawken Rifle with Large Siler Percussion Lock, 36" inch GM Barrel, and Fixed Sights. The barrel is double pinned rather then wedged... The load was; blue ticking patch, .445 Hornady RB, 55 grains 3fg Goex, and #11 RWS cap... I swabbed between shots. I shot two five shot groups offhand at 25 yards using the 50/50 Bore Butter patch and the groups were 2 3/4" and 2 7/8". The patches were recovered 14 to 16 yards out from the firing line... Next I shot three five shot groups offhand using the Trapper's Mink Oil patch and the groups were; 1 5/8", 1 3/8", and 1 1/2". These patched were recovered 7 to 11 yards out from the firing line... What do you make of that??? This mornings temperature when I started was 44' and when I finished it was 49' and holding... I will run more tests, but for now I believe the Trappers Mink Oil to be surperior to my mix of T/C Bore Butter and Crisco Veg. Shortening. I have had excellent results with my mixture off the cross sticks, so this will be the next test... Any comments are welcomed... And what do you make of the difference of where the patches were recovered after firing???

 

[rabjr]

Thanks for posting this, I just received a tin of mink oil I ordered last week along with a bottle of Lehigh Valley. Figured I'd try somethin new in two .54's I hope to finish up here soon (fingers crossed). A 1792 contract rifle and a 1803 Harpers Ferry, the plan is, to use both for hunting so I was hopeing the mink oil would work out.

 

I've found most lubes with crisco to be too 'slippery' if that's possible, except for lubing slugs. I find it too soft for slugs and prone to melting off the bullet. I now use beeswax/vas for slugs & find that works just as Paul Mathews said it would - perfectly.