A method of making an overbased calcium sulfonate or calcium magnesium sulfonate grease using one or more delay periods between the addition of at least a portion of a facilitating acid, such as DDBSA, and at least a portion of the next subsequently added ingredient. The delay period may be a temperature adjustment delay or a holding delay period. An overbased calcium sulfonate or calcium magnesium sulfonate grease composition comprises 0.5%-5% of a facilitating acid, allows for a reduced amount of overbased calcium sulfonate below 22%, and allows for a reduced amount of calcium hydroxyapatite to provide 10-25% of hydroxide equivalent basicity of the total hydroxide equivalent basicity due to calcium hydroxyapatite and added calcium hydroxide, while maintaining a high dropping point.