mink oil

Hello in the camp. I have a question for you guys that use mink oil as a patch lube. Years ago I bought a tin from Track of the wolf. Lubed up some patches loaded them up and shot them. That smoke was the nastiest smell I've smelled. I have been shooting muzzleloaders for thirty years. I don't think burning old socks would be that bad. Anyone have the same experience?

never had that experience while shooting them, but opening the container certainly stinks. Not the best smell in the world.

Not me. I never even notice the smell, unlike some of the stuff I've concocted myself using deer tallow. There's a difference between black bear oil and brown/grizzly oil, with the latter having a sharp, almost bitter smell to it. Both the bear oils are dandy lubes, but I don't prelube patches and little jugs of the stuff in your shooting bag always seem to leak.

Always meant to try using the bear oil rather than olive oil for softening deer tallow, but just haven't got there yet. What stops me is the temperature sensitivity of deer tallow based lubes and the need to have 2 or 3 of them for different seasons of the year. Mink Tallow from TOTW is impressively stable over a wide range of temps, odor free compared to deer tallow and the bear oils, and just flat loves to be shot out of my guns. Yeah, bottom line is that I'm lazy. The TOTW mink tallow is so good and so cheap, I choose to bypass the folderol of the others.

I mix it with a little non-hardening coconut oil and use the same mix year round. I use one of those coffee cup warmers that the can will sit on without overheating. The musky smell isn't bad and will wash right off your hands with no residual odor.

I’ve never noticed an unpleasant smell while using mink oil as patch lube.

Pioneer flinter said:

Lubed up some patches loaded them up and shot them. That smoke was the nastiest smell I've smelled.

Click to expand...

Just how much are you putting on your patches? Honestly can’t even tell you what it smells like when shooting it, as there was nothing remarkable about it’s odor .

I noticed the smell when rubbing it onto patches, mild odor to me but nothing too bad. When I shot them I could still smell the mink oil when handling the patches, but couldn't smell anything but the BP when I shot them.
Were you shooting a different kind of powder or sub that you aren't real used to?

That's my go to lube for cold weather.
I never noticed any smell when lowering the sights on an 8 pointer.

I've been using mink oil for years and have not noticed anything like what you're describing.

As an old man mink oil smells like money to me!

I like it and have used it for years and never thought it smelled bad. The grandkids love it. They tell me it makes their mother nauseous.

While I'm not convinced TOW mink oil (more like a grease) has any measurable amount of mink anything in it, I use it and thunk it's a great lube for those who don't want to bother with making their own patch lube. I've never noticed any foul odors either.

Compared with Ballistol, mink oil smells like perfume.

Patocazador said:

Compared with Ballistol, mink oil smells like perfume.

Click to expand...

You got that right. Ballistol will take my breath away.

Boomerang said:

You got that right. Ballistol will take my breath away.

Click to expand...

Let’s me know I have been shooting blackpowder. Like Hoppe’s 9 and smokeless. Love the aroma of both and the associated memories.

I've never noticed any bad smell from firing mink oil lubed prb. The smell of the stuff in the can seems (to me) mild.

thank you all for your replies. i didn't mind the smell in the can, it was when i shot it. Does it go rancid? Like i said it was years ago. Maybe i should give it another go?

Pioneer flinter said:

thank you all for your replies. i didn't mind the smell in the can, it was when i shot it. Does it go rancid? Like i said it was years ago. Maybe i should give it another go?

Click to expand...

Back to to my previous question, how much are you using on your patch? If the smell from it overcomes BP I have got to believe you are using way to much on your patches. Or you have a super sensitive sense of smell tuned into mink oil.

Anyone use mink oil for a cast bullet lube?

to soft for that unless you add more beeswax to it.