Mink oil recipe?

[MuttCat]

If memory serves (good luck), I think Robin once suggested milk oil for a front stuffer lube. I got a tin of it, and bought ticking from a fabric shop to use for patches. I've read recipes for moose milk and making a spray to soak patch material, but this mink oil is a different critter. I plan on cutting the ticking into strips and pre lubing with the mink oil, so I think maybe if I can make some sort of emulsion I can either spray it or soak the strips in it.

Any ideas? I figure heat will be part of deal...just add water? Mineral oil maybe?

 

[Robin]

Is it real mink oil? The stuff they sell for leather treatment that I have seen is not real mink oil, it contains silicas and petroleum distillates which are totally incompatible with black powder residue and creates an asphalt like substance that is a bear to remove from the barrel. I cut my ticking into strips and with my finger slather the strip completely and very generously on one side, roll it up and 'nuke' it just enough to melt the oil, well its really more like a paste, Take it out and gently wring it back and forth a bit so the oil is pretty evenly distributed. After it cools I cut the strip into squares and keep them in tin's like Altoid containers. It keeps them clean and ready to use without getting all schmutzed up in my bag. I hope this helps!!!
Robin

 

[MuttCat]

No, not the old boot stuff. This is from Track of the Wolf, "Trapper's Pure Mink Oil".

So, just smear...schmeer (cream cheese? Ha!) one side of your strip and nuke for a second, then work it in. I can see that would do it. Hmm.

I haven't actually used this stuff yet. I was just being cheap about using it, well no, not really, I thought maybe keeping my patches a bit on the dry side might be an advantage.

 

[Robin]

You got the good stuff!!!!! I only use it for hunting, so I slather it on pretty good.I figure the fouling will be softer and the well lubed patch will slide down the bore easier if I need a follow up shot.
For the range I use spit or 'moose milk', they aren't in the bore long enough to start any corrosion.
My moose milk recipe:
I use a fairly thick patch, .025, of pillow ticking and sop it pretty good. The tight patch and ball combination makes for a more complete combustion and less fouling, the next load pushes any fouling down the bore so you're essentially shooting a clean bore every time. I can shoot as long as I want and never clean the bore till I'm done for the day.
Robin

 

[MuttCat]

I'm on the lookout for Ballistol. I was talking with the guys at the lgs and they had never heard of it. I can find it on the net, but I don't want to pay for the shipping. Thanks for posting your recipe!

How wide do you make your strips if I may ask?

 

[Phauxtoe]

take one med sized mink and Blend it into a paste, ally liberally to your boots.

 

[Robin]

Well, it depends on the ball diameter, generally I cut them wide enough to completely wrap the ball, say a .50 caliber ball I would cut it around 1-5/8" wide. I do cut the patch at the muzzle. Laying the strip centered on the muzzle, put the ball on the bore with enough thumb pressure that it will stay put, use a short starter and pop the ball into the bore just below the surface of the muzzle, gather up the strip, use my patch knife, lay it on the muzzle and cut the strip free, use the longer stem of the short starter and push the ball down its length, about six or seven inches, then take the ram rod and send it home making sure the ball is firmly seated on the powder, NO gap, and at the same time not overly compressing the powder.
My pre cut, mink oil lubed, hunting patches are done the same way, there is just less material to pinch up before cutting, but I don't have to fool with a long strip of material and just toss the scrap.
Robin

 

[camper4lyfe]

I'm on the lookout for Ballistol. I was talking with the guys at the lgs and they had never heard of it. I can find it on the net, but I don't want to pay for the shipping. Thanks for posting your recipe!

How wide do you make your strips if I may ask?

Free Prime shipping Amazon.com : Ballistol Multi-Purpose Lubricant Cleaner Protectant Combo Pack #1 : Gun Lubrication : Sports & Outdoors

 

[MuttCat]

take one med sized mink and Blend it into a paste, ally liberally to your boots.

Had a comparative anatomy class a million years ago. Took a mink completely apart. Those critters ARE greasy!

 

[MuttCat]

Good info. I'm still a noob with my rifle. I had been using round store bought patches that were lubed with bore butter. But I want to get more serious, and hopefully more accurate. And so that's got me taking a closer look at patches and lube...I don't want to get too obsessed though.

 

[Robin]

Hahahah, yeah, it can get to the obsessed state if you're not careful. I've tried many home made greasy combinations and the pure mink oil words as good as any for my hunting patches.
Robin

 

[MuttCat]

See? Now I'm obsessed with making a solution with the mink oil as the base, maybe a spray. I've some plastic 35mm film on hand, so maybe cut a slot down the side, place a rolled up and lubed strip in it, and feed it through the slot. Now that's over-thinking!!