Low Tech Lubing for Dummies...

Since I've recently taken up bullet casting, (on the cheap natch...) I've run across the delights of lubricating bullets in a low tech manner...

I've run across and tried the Lee Liquid Alox and that's a sticky mess while tumble lubing. Quick and easy granted, but still smelly and tacky. I've not had a chance to go to the range and try any of these loads out yet, just concerned about the variable coverage they get... Some batches are very lightly coated, others rather heavier. What would be the correct amount of coating with this stuff... They all run through the Lee sizing dies without problem other than tackiness.

After seeing more than a few of the cavities of the cast SWC HP's I've been casting for my .357 diameter bullets clogged with the liquid residue I tried some pan lubing. About all I've found locally has been the classic beeswax/alox mixtures. The stuff is just too damn sticky to come out of the pan. Using a slightly crumpled .41 Magnum case as a cutter works to some extent but was very slow and messy. (Still cleaning lube out of my fingernails I think...) Fastest way I found with it was to do a dip method in the molten wax. Running that lube through the Lee sizers works, but man is it messy. About every four bullets you have to scrape off the gunk that builds up on the ram and the base of the die. (Though the pop the bullets make coming up out of the sizer is slightly amusing the first few times...) Fortunately I live alone so nobody complains about the box of lubed bullets stored in the fridge till it's time to use them... And of course there's the grand fun of cleaning off the surplus that made its way into the crimp groove that squeezes out on seating and crimping operations...

The experiment on pan lubing some 9mm conicals with Orange Magic wasn't exactly an outstanding success either. I suppose I let the lube get too cool before getting it out and trying to press out the bullets. Most of the time the wax just cracked away leaving at best a partial lube job in the grooves. Haven't remelted the orange stuff to try the dip method yet.

Have been thinking about thinning down the Lee liquid a bit and trying a dip method to see how it would work.

Anybody got some tips for a beginner who can't afford a lubrisizer and assorted paraphernalia at present?

Brian Nolen

Dear Brian: When you do get going with a lubrisizer (Lyman or RCBS, for example), you'll need to rethink the lube question. The types appropriate for lubricating bullets in a pan are not the same as the ones for a sizer.

Personally, I like relatively soft lubes that don't need a heater. I started out with NEI 10X but they quit making it so now I use Lyman Moly lube which works fine. Genuine bullet casting aficianados are very picky about what kind of bullet lubes they use. See the CBA web site for connection to their world. I'm convinced choice of bullet lube makes a big difference in accuracy, smoke, leading and general cleanup. Just part of the overall mystique of bullet casting, the ultimate in reloading, IMO. - CW
http://www.castbulletassoc.org/

snip # I've tried the Lee Liquid Alox and that's a sticky mess while # tumble lubing. Quick and easy granted, but still smelly and tacky. I've # not had a chance to go to the range and try any of these loads out yet, just # concerned about the variable coverage they get... Some batches are very # lightly coated, others rather heavier. What would be the correct amount of # coating with this stuff... They all run through the Lee sizing dies without # problem other than tackiness. # #snip # Have been thinking about thinning down the Lee liquid a bit and trying a dip # method to see how it would work. # # Anybody got some tips for a beginner who can't afford a lubrisizer and # assorted paraphernalia at present?

I use Lee Liquid Alox thinned down about 50%. I tumble them around in an old coffee tin and then let them dry for a day or so. All the excess lube will run to the bottom of the can so I just tumble them again, and again, until the stuff dries. You can never get an even coating but it never hurts my groups. With my single shot pistols, one a 308 and the other a 44, I get 4' groups at 200 meters. Work real good with my 44 revolvers and 45 autos also. The instructions included with the Lee Liquid Alox state less is better than more.

There's a couple of things you can do.

One is to fork out the dough for a true lubrisizer like an RCBS or Lyman, I was lucky enough to pick up my RCBS at a gun show for $25. Used dies usually run $5-10.

If your mold is casting true to your desired size, try thinning the Lee lube with a little mineral spirits. I use plastic frosting containers for this, about a pound of bullets followed by a squirt of Lee lube and a dash of mineral spirits. I put the lid on and roll them around until all are coated. They then get dumped onto a sheet of waxed paper and set upright on their bases to dry. For cleaner handling, I then dump them into another frosting container with about a tablespoon of Motor Mica and roll them around until they're coated with that. They then can be handled without getting hands all gooped up, although your seating die is still going to need cleaning from time to time.

I use a heavy duty zip lock bag with the Lee liquid lube. Dump the bullets in the bag, dump in a couple of drops of lube shake for a minute and they are all coated.