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Grease Hole Filling?

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I recently built a southern styled barn rifle and installed a teardrop shaped (I believe the term is Gillespie style) grease hole in the stock. Because I did not want the patch lube melting and dribbling al over the place I made up a mixture of TOTW mink tallow with a generous amount of bee’s wax melted into it. The stuff is almost as hard as a crayon at room temperatures and I fear in cold weather it will be useless as a patch lube. So with this failed experiment done I have to ask what would be the right grease to pack into one of these holes?
 
"I have to ask what would be the right grease to pack into one of these holes?"

Make some and place as below:

1. Room temperature in your house
2. Ambient temperature of August on your porch.
2. Put some in the refrigerator.
3. Put some in the freezer.

Test it to see what you are happy with.
 
Use a stiff beeswax mix for summer and a lighter creamier mix for winter. I use beeswax and olive oil.

I mix it up and let it fully cool overnight...If the mix has the consistency I like, I re-melt it and pour it into the grease hole. If the consistency is wrong, I re-melt and adjust.

In summer I like a mix with a lot of beeswax. I rub the patch against the lube with my thumb, the heat from my thumb and friction warms the mix and gives me a perfect application. This also works in the winter too.
 
Colorado Clyde said:
I mix it up and let it fully cool overnight...If the mix has the consistency I like, I re-melt it and pour it into the grease hole. If the consistency is wrong, I re-melt and adjust.
Clyde,
Put a dollop on a piece of foil and place the sample in the freezer for 15-20 minutes. Remove and allow to reach room temperature (shouldn't take long), then test your consistency and adjust as needed. Quicker...
 
Black Hand said:
Clyde,
Put a dollop on a piece of foil and place the sample in the freezer for 15-20 minutes. Remove and allow to reach room temperature (shouldn't take long), then test your consistency and adjust as needed. Quicker...

I'm in no hurry.... :wink:
 
Colorado Clyde said:
Use a stiff beeswax mix for summer and a lighter creamier mix for winter. I use beeswax and olive oil.

I mix it up and let it fully cool overnight...If the mix has the consistency I like, I re-melt it and pour it into the grease hole. If the consistency is wrong, I re-melt and adjust.

In summer I like a mix with a lot of beeswax. I rub the patch against the lube with my thumb, the heat from my thumb and friction warms the mix and gives me a perfect application. This also works in the winter too.
Educate me please. Are you referencing the patchbox on the stock? So the bottom of the patchbox is for patch lube?
 
I was posting about the blind hole found in the stocks of some Southern rifles. This hole was filled with patch lube “grease” and took the place of the patch box, saving the owner some money when purchasing the rifle. I’ve read that these rifles were not exactly cheap the owners simply believed in putting their money into the lock and barrel rather than the stock and a lot of fancy trim.
 
No!...Not a patch box, a grease hole.



DSCN5433_R_Sells_patchbox.jpg
 
The stuff is almost as hard as a crayon at room temperatures and I fear in cold weather it will be useless as a patch lube.

Well as suggested, put some in the freezer, then try to use it.

In cold weather in the field after dropping a main charge of powder into the barrel, I'd be taking my ball and placing it into the patching material, then by pushing on the ball on the patch material, I'd apply pressure to the surface of the grease, and gouge up a little onto the patch material around the ball. Then I'd use my bare thumb to rub the grease into the material, the heat from my thumb would soften the grease some, and I'd spread it around. Then I'd take the ball and patch, center the geased part of the patch over the muzzle, place the ball on top of the patch, and push it below the edge of the muzzle, cutting off the remainder of the cloth. Ram it home and I'd be loaded.

With grease holes I didn't have trouble in cold months..., I had trouble keeping grease/lube in the hole in warm months when the heat index was over 95 degrees.

LD
 
Loyalist Dave said:
With grease holes I didn't have trouble in cold months..., I had trouble keeping grease/lube in the hole in warm months when the heat index was over 95 degrees.

LD

Add more beeswax to prevent melting in the heat....That said, I did have lube fall out once because it was too hard, it came out as one solid piece.

Like anything to do with muzzleloaders, there is a learning curve. Once you find the right mix/consistency, your good to go. You can then look back and say "that was easy".
 
Where I am from, it was known as a "taller" (tallow) hole. The melting point of beef tallow is as follows: 108”“113°F / 42-45°C Beef tallow melts

I got this from Google...mutton tallow has a slightly higher melting point.
 
A buddy bought a used 'poor boy' rifle and decided (against my advice)to install an "authentic" tallow hole. I personally don't like the look, and after his experience, advise to avoid it - he loaded his rifle into the carpeted area behind his truck seat. The summer temp was high enough to melt the tallow, which dribbled out all over the stock & into the carpet - made a big mess.

I suppose if you're loading up your rifle onto the mule, a tallow hole is authentic & OK, but for todays' transportation and handling, it's impractical.
 
he loaded his rifle into the carpeted area behind his truck seat. The summer temp was high enough to melt the tallow, which dribbled out all over the stock & into the carpet - made a big mess.

That fault is entirely on the owner and is not a grease hole problem.

I too once knew a guy who placed a can of spray paint behind his truck seat. When the can was punctured by him moving the seat, the result was the entire interior being replaced.
It wasn't the fault of the paint, just stupidity on the part of the owner.

It's good to share such stories though... :thumbsup:
 
Back when I used bore butter and similar goo's to "seal" my cylinders I once elected to leave my unfired pistol loaded. Month later I retreived it to take afield only to find a pistol sealed with goo in april melts real well in May. GOO all over holster :shake:

I too once inhaled a can (WD-40) in my truck, with other "stuff" in the back occasionally pressing on the spray nozzle (cap long gone) as I hit a bump or took a sharp turn. I would say neither incident makes me stupid, I am now not a slob with manure in the truck and learned about messy goo being an unnecessary item for the revolver, felt wads easier and work as well or better and dont spray goo all over everything with each shot.
 
azmntman said:
I too once inhaled a can (WD-40) in my truck, with other "stuff" in the back occasionally pressing on the spray nozzle (cap long gone) as I hit a bump or took a sharp turn. I would say neither incident makes me stupid, I am now not a slob with manure in the truck and learned about messy goo being an unnecessary item for the revolver, felt wads easier and work as well or better and dont spray goo all over everything with each shot.

Funny, it happened to me too only not so bad. Years ago went out shooting. Had an ammo can with cleaning supplies and a can of WD-40 along with my 22s. Going down a bumpy major gravel road, every time time I hit a bump, I could hear the WD-40 spray. Ruined a whole box of 22s that way. The reason I said "major gravel road" was because the person that gave me directions said to turn down a major gravel road. :rotf: I didn't know what one was until I got there.
 
azmntman said:
I would say neither incident makes me stupid,

That is not the sentiment I was expressing.

Bore butter is well known for separating and becoming a gooey mess.

Again, this is why I Make my own lube and make different mixes for the seasons. Those of you in the hotter regions of the country will undoubtedly have problems.
 
I don't, but I would. If you're concerned about sand the wipe the patch and turn it over and wipe again. There has to be a good reason why they were used, since it's historically correct.
 
Smokey Plainsman said:
I wouldn't use one.

They can collect debris such as sand and dirt that will get on the patch when loading.

Yep, I wouldn't use one either if I lived in Nevada....They were developed and intended for use in the woodlands....Primarily for small game I suspect.

I him-hawed for a long time about putting one in a stock...I have no regrets, it works great for squirrel hunting.
 
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