What lube do you use for plain base boolits?

[Bigscot]

When I started casting I was casting a Lee 150 gr 30 cal boolit and using liquid alox. Have never had a problem with the liquid alox on gc boolits. I then tried some Leadhead 250 gr Keith (of course plain base) boolits in my SRH and they worked great with minimal to no leading.

As I expanded in casting I bought an RCBS 250 gr K and a Lee 200 gr plain base and used FWFL. I have not been able to shoot these without some leading with the Lee being so bad I got rid of it. I have slugged the bores and sized appropriately. No joy. The FWFL works great on anything gc'ed.

I have tried adding tin and water quenching to no avail.

Do some lubes work better for plain base boolits than for gc'ed. I recently ordered and received but have not shot some of Lars45's 2500 and Carnuba Red. Would either of these work better on plain base boolits.

Thanks for any input.

Bigscot

[44man]

Your boolits are too soft and skidding in the rifling, opening gas paths or you are shooting them too fast, same result.
The gas check is better able to take the twist. 200 gr is awful light and compounds the trouble.
Nothing to do with the lube.

[runfiverun]

the red does fine, i seem to get powder fouling with it though.
mixing his 50-50 and the red seems to help.

[stubshaft]

Your boolits are too soft and skidding in the rifling, opening gas paths or you are shooting them too fast, same result.
The gas check is better able to take the twist. 200 gr is awful light and compounds the trouble.
Nothing to do with the lube.

+1 - Boolit too soft.

[SciFiJim]

Ok, a question for my personal application. Using the TL358-158-SWC in a Marlin .357 lever rifle. How hard would the boolit have to be to run it at mag velocities (1400-1600 fps) using LLA? The bore slugs at .3575 so bore seal is good to go.

[Bret4207]

Scot- what is "sized appropriately" and what alloy are you using? Bet it's a combination of size and alloy.

[Junior1942]

Ok, a question for my personal application. Using the TL358-158-SWC in a Marlin .357 lever rifle. How hard would the boolit have to be to run it at mag velocities (1400-1600 fps) using LLA? The bore slugs at .3575 so bore seal is good to go.

I use that bullet in my Rossi 357 lever action @ 1620 fps with air cooled wheelweight alloy and two coats of LLA. There's never been a trace of leading.

[Bigscot]

44Man,

On the 200 grainers I am loading only plinking loads. Six to 9 grns of Bullseye or Unique. With the Keiths I was shooting 19 grns of 2400 and I don't recall off hand but 20-22 grains 296.

Bret,

I have sized 1-2 thou over bore dia. The alloy is plain ww or plain ww with tin, air cooled and quenched.

Bigscot

[swheeler]

BigScot; don't under estimate the power of C RED, it stopped a PB leading problem for me several years ago and now is the only lube I use for PB, GC, hard alloy, soft alloy, oven heat treated or whatever I shoot. Get a heater for your lube sizer, or atleast the wifes blow dryer, it's worth a try, GOOD STUFF!

[1Shirt]

What all of the rest have said, but will add that in all probability what you were shooting was undersized for the bore. Sized "approximately" I also do not understand. Better bigger and better than small and leading the bore. I use Lar's Red for everything now for consistancy, and have no problems.
1Shirt!:

[44man]

Lar's red is good stuff and might help but the light boolit is kicked in the butt and picks up speed fast. It will still skid. Stay with Unique instead of Bullseye. Maybe even a tad slower powder like Herco or Blue Dot.
I never shot anything that light so you have to depend on others to tell you.

[Bret4207]

Scot- Check your boolits after sizing and make sure they are that +.002 and that the sizer isn't making them smaller despite the markings. Try some as cast (unsized) if they'll chamber. I'd also check my fording cone and make sure my barrel was nice and smooth and clean. Your loads don't sound exceedingly hot. I'd try to get them a bit larger first off. That RCBS is a good design up to full bore magnum speeds.