MidSouth Shooters SupplyRotoMetals2Lee PrecisionReloading Everything
Titan ReloadingRepackboxLoad DataSnyders Jerky
Wideners Inline Fabrication
Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Lubing Bullets?

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy terryt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Posts
    228

    Lubing Bullets?

    Hi:

    Does anyone lube their bullets while they are still warm "NOT HOT" after coming out of the mold?
    Is their a way to lube a bullet and then put it in the tumble to apply the lube?

    I am looking for a way to lube the bullets without running them though a sizes.


    Thanks,

    Terryt

  2. #2
    Boolit Buddy TMenezes's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    California
    Posts
    295
    Why yes I do. I prefer tumble lubing and shooting as cast. No sizing for the bulk of my shooting. I do have one 429421 mold that casts so big that I feel its better to size.

  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master

    MtGun44's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    eastern Kansas- suburb of KC
    Posts
    15,023
    Never. I size and lube all my boolits, room temp boolit and lube.

    Bill
    If it was easy, anybody could do it.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master



    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Pinehurst, NC
    Posts
    940
    Give it a try and tell us how it worked. Experimenting and sharing is what this site is about.

    EW

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Missouri
    Posts
    1,084
    I've never heard of a tumble lube that requires heat, but there are a lot of tumble lubes out there. One of the foremost examples is 45-45-10.

    I'm not sure I'm following you 100% but if you are just looking for a good tumble lube try that one.

  6. #6
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Charlotte, NC
    Posts
    330
    I'd imagine most if not all tumble lubes will stay on the lead even if it's still cooling... Can't see any reason they wouldn't still stick to a warm boolit.

  7. #7
    Boolit Grand Master

    mdi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    So. Orygun
    Posts
    7,240
    A lot of folks will warm their bullets before tumble lubing. Some like to warm the alox also. Warm bullets and warm alox allows for a much evener coating without applying too much lube (the most common problem with new alox users). I have thinned my alox with mineral spirits for easier application, quicker drying and occasionally warm it for the same reason, but for quite a while I have just "dip lubed" using 45-45-10. I like to cast a bunch of bullets, inspect after cooled, and when I need a batch to load, I'll lube then...

    For me, it all depends on the diameter of the bullet whether I size or not. I know the throat and groove diameters of all the guns I cast for and that and that determines the bullet diameter I need. For tumble lubing/dip lubing sizing isn't a requirement.
    Last edited by mdi; 10-16-2013 at 12:31 PM.
    My Anchor is holding fast!

  8. #8
    Boolit Buddy

    whelenshooter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Middle Tennessee
    Posts
    171
    You don't say whether you're lubing handgun or rifle bullets but I lube most everything I have (rifle and handgun) with liquid Alox at room temp. In cold weather I might thin it a bit (mineral spirits) to get it to flow better. It works whether sizing or not.

    David

  9. #9
    Boolit Master


    williamwaco's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Dallas Texas
    Posts
    4,690
    Terry,

    I think you may be trying to "over think" the issue.

    It is very easy, very common, and very effective.

    The most popular commercial lubes are Lee Liquid Alox and Xlox

    They are EXACTLY the same. I use Xlox mostly because it is less expensive than the major brand.

    You can get Xlox here: http://www.lsstuff.com/lube/order.html

    You do not need to heat either the lube or the bullets.

    See:

    http://reloadingtips.com/pages/exp_111201a_lla_test.htm

    for more information about the effectiveness of this method.
    First reload: .22 Hornet. 1956.
    More at: http://reloadingtips.com/

    "Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the
    government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian."
    - Henry Ford

  10. #10
    Boolit Buddy terryt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Posts
    228
    Hi:

    Thanks to all of you for the information.

    Terryt

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check