Wiping noses of alox reduces smoke?
When I restarted casting a couple of years ago after a long hiatus, I couldn't find my old RCBS Lubrisizer in the garage attic with all my old Lee molds and pot. Based on reports here, I took up using Lee alox and sizer and was surprised to find I liked the process and outcome quite a bit.
For me, there's one downside: the smoke during firing. It seems to be bothering me, acting as a respiratory irritant. This is outdoor shooting, too. I just go back to plated Berry's indoors, on the rare occasion I shoot indoors (such as winter PPC).
I wiped off the noses of the loaded Lee 158gr round-nose TLs I used in an IDPA match a couple of weeks ago and I swear it was far less smoky on the firing line. Understand, I was more focused on beating the Glockers with my old wheelgun than the environmental conditions in the moment, but it just seemed better.
Wiping off two or three hundred rounds at a crack takes time and could be a bit annoying, but reducing smoke and lung irritation would be worth it.
Am I correct in thinking that wiping the noses helped?
How about rubbing the bases on a dry cloth just before they are placed in the case mouths?
Thanks
Bill
Wiping noses of alox reduces smoke
While wiping alox off boolit noses can reduce smoke, which is desirable, I take issue with a members advice that he removes alox by tumbling loaded rounds. I don't believe you can get ANY tumbler manufacturer to say that such a practice is safe, nor advocate such practice. Tumbling loaded rounds can have a detrimental affect on the powder, by causing it to become finer, which can change it's ballistic properties.
Wiping noses of alox reduces smoke
OK, I'll take my medicine and backwater on tumbling loaded cartridges. You guys that
like to do it, go right ahead, but I won't do it. I didn't make what I said up, I read it in some publication a long way back, but I've forgotten what the publication was. Go
ahead & laugh, I can take it.