sheep tallow

[Michigan Flinter]

I cooked down thirteen  pounds of sheep fat this afternoon and have a few pint jars of grease. I use bearfat for my patch lube and to coat the bore after cleaning.In your opinion how does sheep tallow compare to bearfat for patch lube and lubing the bore after cleaning. Also what other ways do you use the sheep tallow? Thank You for your reply.

[Hungry Horse]

 Totally different animal. Bear fat is loose, and hard to keep track of, makes good pie crusts though. Sheep, and venison, tallow is the bomb. it has a flash point well beyond where black powder will ignite it. I used venison tallow for years for hunting out here in California where setting the forest on fire is way too easy.

                 Hungry Horse

[Dogshirt]

You can use it to grease your boots too, works well. But the dog might find them tasty!

[WadePatton]

I made venison tallow with the last few deer.  Plan to lube patches with it for hunting and have made some dandy shaving soap with it.

[frogwalking]

Dixie's Old Zip patch lube was reportedly made from mutton tallow and bees wax.  I think I have some around here somewhere.

[Dan'l 1946]

  "Old Zip" is still available from Dixie. A 4 oz. tin is $3.50.
                                                                   Dan

[Jerry V Lape]

Do you use deer or sheep tallow alone or is there some portion of beewax added to stiffen it some?

[Hungry Horse]

I never use bee's wax in my patch lube mix. Its flammable, which is why I quit Crisco, and replaced it with venison, or mutton tallow. I also had two different custom Hawkens brought to me because the flash channel was solidly plugged, after debreeching them I found the channels plugged with hard goop that turned out to be 90% bee's wax. I suppose it got forced into the flashhole with either the cleaning patch, or the successive loads.
 I do use a little bee's wax in the lube I use on my shotgun wads. But, I just dip the wads enough to completely wet one side of the wad. My shotguns are either direct ignition, or flintlocks, that aren't bothered by the bee's wax.

                     Hungry Horse

[T*O*F]

Do you use deer or sheep tallow alone

If you render it correctly, it will be almost as hard as beeswax.
Use only the hard tallow usually found in the rump area.
Chop it finely for maximum rendering.
Use the lowest heat possible, you ain't frying bacon.
Pour the rendered oil into a pot of boiling water.  This clarifies it.
Let it harden and press into suitable containers.
It will last forever, even uncovered and will contain no impurities that could cause it to spoil or go rancid.
Be ever vigilant.........MICE LUV IT!!!!

[Vomitus]

   If you sight in at the range with spit or a water based lube,your rifles point of impact may change with tallow. My .50 shot low with bear grease and I found it a bitch to clean. After @$#%&*@ around with grease based lubes,I found I liked neetsfoot oil better then anything I've tried.Cleanup was a snap. Accuracy was good but needed to jack up my charge 5 grains or so due to the added viscosity of the oil.
  I don't think I'll use bear grease on my moose hunting boots,lol!

[WadePatton]

Do you use deer or sheep tallow alone

If you render it correctly, it will be almost as hard as beeswax.
Use only the hard tallow usually found in the rump area.
Chop it finely for maximum rendering.
Use the lowest heat possible, you ain't frying bacon.
Pour the rendered oil into a pot of boiling water.  This clarifies it.
Let it harden and press into suitable containers.
It will last forever, even uncovered and will contain no impurities that could cause it to spoil or go rancid.
Be ever vigilant.........MICE LUV IT!!!!

I pour it into jelly jars, then invert the jars and let it cool.  Open the jars to check for any water-which will now be on top.  Pour that off and/or let it evaporate.  Put the lid back on, no mice no moisture.  keep long time.