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Thread: Should I re-lubing old cast 308 bullets (old lube flaking off)

  1. #1
    Boolit Mold
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    Should I re-lubing old cast 308 bullets (old lube flaking off)

    Being a nob with respect to casting, I need advice on making some old 200gr GC'd .309 bullets shootable. These are probably 30 years old and the lube is fairly hard and flaking off in some of the grooves. I want to use these in 1903 rifle (new barrel) for low velocity accuracy loads for 100yd only. Should I try to re-lube these bullets before shooting? Was thinking of squeezing Lee's liquid lube in the grooves (over existing lube too) and maybe run through a Lee sizer die when its all dry. Any advice is apricated.

    One additional question: Do you all flare the cases to except GC'd bullets that are sized .001 over (i.e. is it necessary)? I've been shooting an old 30-30 with Laser Cast 170s that are gas checked at .309 and seating with only resizing the case (no flare). They seem to go in OK and shoot fine (low velocity load also). Just wondering if I'm making big mistake and should add the extra step to flare?

    Thanks!

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
    GARD72977's Avatar
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    You will need to flare or enlarge the case mouth. A Lyman M die is the best way I have used.

    When I first started shooting cast rifle I didn't have a way to flare the case mouth. I had ok success but experienced flyers.

    As long as the old bullets have most of there lube I would shoot them as they are

  3. #3
    Boolit Master trapper9260's Avatar
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    If you for now ,able to seat the boolit with out shaven it ok,it is best to flare the mouth of the cast to make it easy to seat the boolit. As for the lube on them. If it flake too much.just redo them. I had some that was that way also for the years ago I cast and lube them and have not used them till I need them some time after. I had relube them after I remove the old lube ,for a peace of mind for how I want to be with out any problem that might show up.
    Life Member of NRA,NTA,DAV ,ITA. Also member of FTA,CBA

  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master


    Larry Gibson's Avatar
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    I'd simply tumble lube the bullets with LLA right over the old lube as per Lee's instructions (use a thin coat and let the LLA dry thoroughly before loading) and use them.

    Flaring/belling the case mouth is highly recommended.
    Larry Gibson

    “Deficient observation is merely a form of ignorance and responsible for the many morbid notions and foolish ideas prevailing.”
    ― Nikola Tesla

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
    barrabruce's Avatar
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    You can put them in a can of water and bring it to the boil.
    The lube should melt off and float on the top.
    When cool scrape off the lube and drain.
    This what I have done when I dropped a couple of hundred in the dirt.
    Hope it helps

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
    Petander's Avatar
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    I use gasoline bath to remove old lube.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master

    Sig556r's Avatar
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    try acetone prior to relubing or better yet, PC

  8. #8
    Boolit Master


    kungfustyle's Avatar
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    https://www.titanreloading.com/unive...niversal%20die and when you are ready http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.p...lb89pe7cdeomt2
    they make the necks uniform and stepped to accept the boolits like a lyman M die but they work with the Lee universal expanding die.
    +1 to just Lee Alox or LLA 45/45/10 tumble lube, let them dry out and use them.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master




    EMC45's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Larry Gibson View Post
    I'd simply tumble lube the bullets with LLA right over the old lube as per Lee's instructions (use a thin coat and let the LLA dry thoroughly before loading) and use them.

    Flaring/belling the case mouth is highly recommended.
    I agree with Larry. I LLA all my bullets, even with conventional lube in the lube grooves.
    You can miss fast & you can miss a lot, but only hits count.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
    Tom W.'s Avatar
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    If you have any LLA just tumble lube and shoot. JPW also works wonders as a tumble lube...



    I bought a case flare die from RCBS to flare my 30 caliber cases.
    Tom
    μολὼν λαβέ


    Did I ever mention that I hate to trim brass?

  11. #11
    Boolit Master


    randyrat's Avatar
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    Sometimes a little heat will reinvigorate the old lube, old beeswax will bloom or get a bit hard. Just enough heat to warm the old lube, but not enough to melt it off.
    Or as stated before, just use a small amount of tumble lube like Lee's Alox or similar

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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