Hi, I've been lurking for quite a while and reading everything I could find on lube after I got my first bullets cast up. Loading up Lee 405 gr Hollow Base from WW with a little solder for my Marlin 45-70. After doing some load work ups, I thought I had my round with 40 grs of Re-7. Put 5 rounds in a nice group, right in the center at 100 yds. So I went back, loaded up a bunch at that combo, and went back to the range to see what the drops were at various ranges. Out after those elusive elk, don't you know, and I know the 45-70 has a reputation for rainbow shaped trajectories.
My first lube recipe was 50/50 beeswax/Vaseline (by weight) with a tablespoon of Marvel Mystery Oil and a couple of small red crayons. It mixed up VERY tacky, VERY messy and a general pain. Looking at the lube on some commercial pistol bullets I had, I decided to add some more wax, which I did and while it isn't nearly as hard as that blue stuff in the commercial rounds, it was much easier to use and made much neater rounds. Which also shot 8"high at 100 yds. 8 INCHES!!
WHAT THE HECK? I had loaded up some rounds at 42, 44 and 46 grs as well, and I had flyer problems like crazy. The fastest these things got was the mid 1800's, with no signs of leading. Can one of you more experienced guys help me out? Can stiffening up the lube a little cause this kind of problem, or should I be looking elsewhere? While I am not leading I just wonder if this bullet should be kept around 1300 or 1400 fps? I had some cowboy rounds with me and they printed well, a keyhole and a third shot about 1"away, and the LeveRevolution stuff did so as well.
Don't make me go back to shooting factory ammo, the casting is too much fun.
Greg