Moose Milk

cloud8a · May 30, 2009, 04:37 PM

Guy at the range today told me about Moose Milk. he said it was a good patch lube for in-between loading. Does anyone know the recipe? He did not know it cause his dad had made it for him.

I was also told by the owner of the range that the only thing he cleans his BP rifles with is vinegar based Windex and bore butter. He said all that new high tech stuff complicates things and does not work as well.

He also said the old timers used to mash up wasp nest with the larvea and use that as lube.

opinions?

Jim Watson · May 30, 2009, 05:04 PM

Moose Milk is 10% Ballistol in water, useful as patch lube and for cleaning. When cleaning with Moose Milk, dry, then oil with straight Ballistol.

I clean my .38-55 BPCR with Windex + Vinegar, dry, and oil with Ballistol.

The main thing is to clean with something with water in it - soapy water is fine, clear water will do - then dry and oil. You need the water to dissolve the potassium carbonate that makes up most of bp fouling. Soap, detergent, or emulsifiable oil that will help the water penetrate the fouling is good, but secondary.

Pahoo · May 30, 2009, 05:05 PM

Moose Milk:
Been quite a spell since I ran up against this one. So long that I forgot where I put the recipe. Had to go out and hunt fer it and looke here. This was a choice back in my Buckskinner days and by you questions, sounds like you are talking to some old timers.
http://mamaflinter.tripod.com/id10.html

Quote:

He said all that new high tech stuff complicates things and does not work as well.

That's his measure and that's fine. Know quite a few fellers that have used Windex for years. You should make the final measure as there is some great solvents out there.

He also said the old timers used to mash up wasp nest with the larvea and use that as lube.
Have never heard of this in this manner but Paper Wasp nest have been used as a buffer between the powder and patched ball. I always have a sample when we teach M/L.

Generally you have to keep in mind that way back then, folks used whatever was handy to get the job done and old habbits are hard to let go of. I too have my favorite set and ways.

Be Safe !!!

long rider · May 30, 2009, 05:41 PM

WASP NEST

mmmm i dont like that idear.

mykeal · May 30, 2009, 07:46 PM

Quote:

He said all that new high tech stuff complicates things and does not work as well.

Soap and water, or, in a pinch, just plain water. How complicated can it get?

B.L.E. · May 30, 2009, 09:18 PM

I have quit bothering with the soap and just use plain water. Acids, bases, and salts all have one thing in common, they are highly water soluble. I figure that what water doesn't dissolve, won't rust the barrel anyhow.

I have read that "moose milk" was water soluable machinist's oil mixed with water to form a milky emulsion. I'm sure it works well also.

Smokin_Gun · May 31, 2009, 01:15 AM

I still use Mooses' Milk in my BP Rifles for patch and swabbin' lube...

darkgael · May 31, 2009, 05:00 AM

There are, maybe, a gazillion recipes for Moose Milk. They all work. Seems like everyone adds something else to the basic water and Ballistol combo - be it alcohol, witch hazel, et cetera. I add a little liquid dish detergent to mine but I don't use it for patch lube. I swab the bore with it between shots.
Cleaning - MM, Windex, and other cleaners work just fine. Mostly they work just fine because they are mostly water. Water is really all you need. A little soap speeds things up, I suppose.
Pete

longranger · May 31, 2009, 07:56 AM

Traditional "Moose Milk" has been various ratios of water soluble oil and distilled water. A few drops dish soap helps break the surface tension of the water.Napa stores sell a quart of water soluble oil for $6.00, it will make many gallons.It is used for wiping in between shots as a bore conditioner while some may use it for patch lube as well.

Noz · May 31, 2009, 09:36 AM

Find a printer and bum some press wash from him. It is a water soluable oil. As some one suggested a drop or two of dish detergent helps keep it in solution.

kwhi43 · May 31, 2009, 11:25 AM

The correct way is to use a 5% water souable oil mix for a good barrell,
and use a 10% mix for a new barrel. You can just mix the oil with plain water.
This comes from a master barrel maker who has since passed on. Almost all
the top bench rest shooters at Friendship used this before switching over
to the Teflon patch in the mid to early 1970's.

Smokin_Gun · May 31, 2009, 08:30 PM

Originally Mooses' Milk was merely a water soluable machining oil mixed 1/8:7/8 or 1/4:3/4 water and nothing more. That was 28-30 years ago I first tried it. But I am sure there are many other additives that work in the mixture.

May 30, 2009, 04:37 PM	#1
cloud8a Senior Member Join Date: April 27, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 399	Moose Milk Guy at the range today told me about Moose Milk. he said it was a good patch lube for in-between loading. Does anyone know the recipe? He did not know it cause his dad had made it for him. I was also told by the owner of the range that the only thing he cleans his BP rifles with is vinegar based Windex and bore butter. He said all that new high tech stuff complicates things and does not work as well. He also said the old timers used to mash up wasp nest with the larvea and use that as lube. opinions?

May 30, 2009, 05:41 PM	#4
long rider Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2008 Posts: 669	WASP NEST mmmm i dont like that idear. __________________ Sod Buster Tried To Pull On Willson.

May 31, 2009, 01:15 AM	#7
Smokin_Gun Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2005 Location: Mojave Desert, CA Posts: 1,195	I still use Mooses' Milk in my BP Rifles for patch and swabbin' lube... __________________ "I Smoke Black Powder" "Favor an 1858 Remington" SGT. Smokin' Gun, Mosby's Rangers 43rd Virginia Cavalry C.S.A. SASS# 19634, ... Admin:http://blackpowdersmoke.com/oldcoots/index.php

May 31, 2009, 05:00 AM	#8
darkgael Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania. Posts: 5,473	Moose milk There are, maybe, a gazillion recipes for Moose Milk. They all work. Seems like everyone adds something else to the basic water and Ballistol combo - be it alcohol, witch hazel, et cetera. I add a little liquid dish detergent to mine but I don't use it for patch lube. I swab the bore with it between shots. Cleaning - MM, Windex, and other cleaners work just fine. Mostly they work just fine because they are mostly water. Water is really all you need. A little soap speeds things up, I suppose. Pete __________________ “Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games.” Ernest Hemingway ... NRA Life Member

May 31, 2009, 08:30 PM	#12
Smokin_Gun Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2005 Location: Mojave Desert, CA Posts: 1,195	Originally Mooses' Milk was merely a water soluable machining oil mixed 1/8:7/8 or 1/4:3/4 water and nothing more. That was 28-30 years ago I first tried it. But I am sure there are many other additives that work in the mixture. __________________ "I Smoke Black Powder" "Favor an 1858 Remington" SGT. Smokin' Gun, Mosby's Rangers 43rd Virginia Cavalry C.S.A. SASS# 19634, ... Admin:http://blackpowdersmoke.com/oldcoots/index.php

May 30, 2009, 05:04 PM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,544	Moose Milk is 10% Ballistol in water, useful as patch lube and for cleaning. When cleaning with Moose Milk, dry, then oil with straight Ballistol. I clean my .38-55 BPCR with Windex + Vinegar, dry, and oil with Ballistol. The main thing is to clean with something with water in it - soapy water is fine, clear water will do - then dry and oil. You need the water to dissolve the potassium carbonate that makes up most of bp fouling. Soap, detergent, or emulsifiable oil that will help the water penetrate the fouling is good, but secondary.

May 30, 2009, 09:18 PM	#6
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	I have quit bothering with the soap and just use plain water. Acids, bases, and salts all have one thing in common, they are highly water soluble. I figure that what water doesn't dissolve, won't rust the barrel anyhow. I have read that "moose milk" was water soluable machinist's oil mixed with water to form a milky emulsion. I'm sure it works well also.

May 31, 2009, 07:56 AM	#9
longranger Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 2008 Location: Buffalo WY Posts: 1,056	Traditional "Moose Milk" has been various ratios of water soluble oil and distilled water. A few drops dish soap helps break the surface tension of the water.Napa stores sell a quart of water soluble oil for $6.00, it will make many gallons.It is used for wiping in between shots as a bore conditioner while some may use it for patch lube as well.

May 31, 2009, 09:36 AM	#10
Noz Senior Member Join Date: February 25, 2009 Posts: 643	Find a printer and bum some press wash from him. It is a water soluable oil. As some one suggested a drop or two of dish detergent helps keep it in solution.

May 31, 2009, 11:25 AM	#11
kwhi43 Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2008 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,393	The correct way is to use a 5% water souable oil mix for a good barrell, and use a 10% mix for a new barrel. You can just mix the oil with plain water. This comes from a master barrel maker who has since passed on. Almost all the top bench rest shooters at Friendship used this before switching over to the Teflon patch in the mid to early 1970's.