Lube, with graphite

thebigmac · 11-03-2009, 03:31 PM

I ACQUIRED 18+ LBS OF LUBE USED BY A COMMERCIAL RELOADER. HE SAID IT WAS NRA'S RECIPE WITH ADDED GRAPHITE. I ALSO KNOW HE USED QUITE A LOT OF IT OVER THE YEARS. QUESTION: DOESN'T GRAPHITE CAUSE EXTRA WEAR ON THE BARREL? IS IT SAFE TO US? I HATE TO THROW IT OUT, BUT......NEED ADVICE...
THANKS, Mac

sargenv · 11-03-2009, 04:53 PM

Um.. I'm curious why graphite would cause barrel wear? It's just a form of carbon and I thought it acted as a lubricant? Doesn't the LBT lube also contain graphite?

sheepdog · 11-03-2009, 05:50 PM

I have seen bags of graphite coated commercial wadcutters for match loadings.

Ricochet · 11-03-2009, 06:02 PM

Graphite's been used in all sorts of machinery greases. ARCO used to sell motor oil with graphite suspended in it. I don't think it'll wear your bore out.

beagle · 11-03-2009, 06:06 PM

Other than the mess caused by handling, I see nothing wrong with using it. When we first started back in the late 50s, the Lyman graphite was all that was available commercially that I knew of and I used a lot of it. I never noted any appreciable wear on any of my handguns or rifles but maybe I was ignorant in those days (maybe still am).

But.....it gets all over everything on the bench and the management especially complains about fingerprints on the light switches and refrigerator.

If you don't have anything else and want to use it, go ahead./beagle

Casting Timmy · 11-04-2009, 04:11 AM

I would say to use some and sell some of it. Unless you do enough shotting that you think you can use over 18 lbs. In that case I would have to say I'm jealuous of how much you get to shot.

Just out of curiousity, is it the old NRA formula or the new NRA formula?

thebigmac · 11-05-2009, 02:50 PM

it had to be the old one. This stuff came to me back in the early 70's. I lost it when i moved in '89. Recently found it when rooting.. Just in time too, i'm using my last tube.

HORNET · 11-06-2009, 06:19 AM

You misplaced 18 pounds of lube for 20 years??? Why does that sound familiar?

gidgaf · 11-07-2009, 12:51 PM

Like a lot of things ... it depends.
Graphite has come up every so often, here and everywhere.
Some of the WW2 German machine guns used an occasional round of a gunpowder and graphite mix to kinda clean and lube the barrel. Then again, their barrels were expendable.
;+}
Some of our old(er) guns have soft(er) metal barrels- the ones that shouldn't use clads- and supposedly the rifling corners can eventually become rounded in these.
I wouldn't know- I haven't used it for that.
BUT- here in LALALand, some folk use graphite in their vehicle paint as a radar/ lidar absorber. They call it a "satin" finish.
ANYway, you could always mix it with something else. Maybe 50/50 this stuff and Felix?

thebigmac · 11-07-2009, 06:24 PM

o.k. Fellows, thanks a lot for your information. I knew i'd find the answer in this forum..... Bigmac

John Boy · 11-07-2009, 06:29 PM

Graphite lubes have been around for a 100 years:
H.M. Pope, about 1900 - 3 mutton tallow, 2 bay wax, 1 beeswax, 1 steam cylinder oil, .2 of 1 acheson graphite. The bay wax could be omitted.

sundog · 11-07-2009, 07:58 PM

Steam cylinder oil. Whale oil maybe?

Ricochet · 11-07-2009, 08:02 PM

No, even back then it was a very heavy mineral oil.

gjemba · 11-12-2009, 04:20 PM

I coat 2 times with LLA and then drop a very small amount of graphite powder in and swirl it until the boolits are nicely coated. This dries completely and after sitting for a couple of days, I have very little, if any rub off on my hands during loading. This is for my .45 acp and I am happy with the lack of leading in the barrel and the accuracy. I am using almost pure lead. I found a full 10 - 12 lb. can at work. We used this years ago for lube and don't need it with our current business.

The drying of the LLA is a very nice benefit and graphite allows me use pure lead without a lot of adding or searching for tin and antimony.

I would highly reccommend giving it a try if you have the opportunity. The barrels clean up nice and shiny with no real effort.

Gary

Jim · 11-12-2009, 05:23 PM

Been using graphite as boolit lube in various methods for years.

1917 · 11-12-2009, 07:38 PM

Graphite coated patch run through a cold barrel is an old benchrest shooters trick. Works good, mumm good.

Bad Water Bill · 11-14-2009, 11:50 PM

Graphite is a great lubricant. I went to open a door lock last week and I had to push the key forcefully past each tumbler. One shot of the black stuff and you have to pay much attention to feel any tumbler movement. Slick as owl *@# on an old hickory limb.

thebigmac · Yesterday, 10:51 PM

OK guys, I guess I'll be casting lube for a while. 4" solid for my Star, and
4" with a hole for my Lyman... THANKS AGAIN... Mac

11-03-2009, 03:31 PM	#1
thebigmac Boolit Man Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Parkville,(Baltimore) Maryland Posts: 119	Lube, with graphite I ACQUIRED 18+ LBS OF LUBE USED BY A COMMERCIAL RELOADER. HE SAID IT WAS NRA'S RECIPE WITH ADDED GRAPHITE. I ALSO KNOW HE USED QUITE A LOT OF IT OVER THE YEARS. QUESTION: DOESN'T GRAPHITE CAUSE EXTRA WEAR ON THE BARREL? IS IT SAFE TO US? I HATE TO THROW IT OUT, BUT......NEED ADVICE... THANKS, Mac

11-03-2009, 05:50 PM	#3
sheepdog Boolit Master Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: In the US occupied nation of Texas Posts: 577	I have seen bags of graphite coated commercial wadcutters for match loadings. __________________ "Then there are sheepdogs," he went on, "and I'm a sheepdog. I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf." On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs - Dave Grossman

11-03-2009, 06:02 PM	#4
Ricochet Boolit Master Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA Posts: 5,189	Graphite's been used in all sorts of machinery greases. ARCO used to sell motor oil with graphite suspended in it. I don't think it'll wear your bore out. __________________ "A cheerful heart is good medicine."

11-03-2009, 06:06 PM	#5
beagle Boolit Master Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Perryville, Ky,USA Posts: 1,798	Other than the mess caused by handling, I see nothing wrong with using it. When we first started back in the late 50s, the Lyman graphite was all that was available commercially that I knew of and I used a lot of it. I never noted any appreciable wear on any of my handguns or rifles but maybe I was ignorant in those days (maybe still am). But.....it gets all over everything on the bench and the management especially complains about fingerprints on the light switches and refrigerator. If you don't have anything else and want to use it, go ahead./beagle __________________ diplomacy is being able to say, "nice doggie" until you find a big rock.....

11-06-2009, 06:19 AM	#8
HORNET Boolit Master Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South of Vandalia, Michigan Posts: 755	You misplaced 18 pounds of lube for 20 years??? Why does that sound familiar? __________________ Rick ____________________________ If it looks plumbous, I'll probably try making bullets out of it. Dean Grennell

11-03-2009, 04:53 PM	#2
sargenv Boolit Master Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 205	Um.. I'm curious why graphite would cause barrel wear? It's just a form of carbon and I thought it acted as a lubricant? Doesn't the LBT lube also contain graphite?

11-04-2009, 04:11 AM	#6
Casting Timmy Boolit Mold Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 17	I would say to use some and sell some of it. Unless you do enough shotting that you think you can use over 18 lbs. In that case I would have to say I'm jealuous of how much you get to shot. Just out of curiousity, is it the old NRA formula or the new NRA formula?

11-05-2009, 02:50 PM	#7
thebigmac Boolit Man Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Parkville,(Baltimore) Maryland Posts: 119	it had to be the old one. This stuff came to me back in the early 70's. I lost it when i moved in '89. Recently found it when rooting.. Just in time too, i'm using my last tube.

11-07-2009, 12:51 PM	#9
gidgaf Boolit Mold Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: LA County Posts: 1	Like a lot of things ... it depends. Graphite has come up every so often, here and everywhere. Some of the WW2 German machine guns used an occasional round of a gunpowder and graphite mix to kinda clean and lube the barrel. Then again, their barrels were expendable. ;+} Some of our old(er) guns have soft(er) metal barrels- the ones that shouldn't use clads- and supposedly the rifling corners can eventually become rounded in these. I wouldn't know- I haven't used it for that. BUT- here in LALALand, some folk use graphite in their vehicle paint as a radar/ lidar absorber. They call it a "satin" finish. ANYway, you could always mix it with something else. Maybe 50/50 this stuff and Felix?

11-07-2009, 06:24 PM	#10
thebigmac Boolit Man Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Parkville,(Baltimore) Maryland Posts: 119	o.k. Fellows, thanks a lot for your information. I knew i'd find the answer in this forum..... Bigmac

11-07-2009, 06:29 PM	#11
John Boy Boolit Master Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: South Jersey Posts: 843	Graphite lubes have been around for a 100 years: H.M. Pope, about 1900 - 3 mutton tallow, 2 bay wax, 1 beeswax, 1 steam cylinder oil, .2 of 1 acheson graphite. The bay wax could be omitted. __________________ Regards John

11-07-2009, 07:58 PM	#12
sundog Boolit Master Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Koweta Mission, Oklahoma Posts: 2,941	Steam cylinder oil. Whale oil maybe? __________________ It ain't rocket science. It's BOOLIT science. Safety first.

11-07-2009, 08:02 PM	#13
Ricochet Boolit Master Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA Posts: 5,189	No, even back then it was a very heavy mineral oil. __________________ "A cheerful heart is good medicine."

11-12-2009, 04:20 PM	#14
gjemba Boolit Mold Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 17	Graphite and LLA I coat 2 times with LLA and then drop a very small amount of graphite powder in and swirl it until the boolits are nicely coated. This dries completely and after sitting for a couple of days, I have very little, if any rub off on my hands during loading. This is for my .45 acp and I am happy with the lack of leading in the barrel and the accuracy. I am using almost pure lead. I found a full 10 - 12 lb. can at work. We used this years ago for lube and don't need it with our current business. The drying of the LLA is a very nice benefit and graphite allows me use pure lead without a lot of adding or searching for tin and antimony. I would highly reccommend giving it a try if you have the opportunity. The barrels clean up nice and shiny with no real effort. Gary

11-12-2009, 05:23 PM	#15
Jim Boolit Master Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Smalltown, USA Posts: 1,789	Been using graphite as boolit lube in various methods for years. __________________ May you be in heaven three days before the devil knows you're dead.

11-12-2009, 07:38 PM	#16
1917 Boolit Mold Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northern Nevada Posts: 13	Graphite coated patch run through a cold barrel is an old benchrest shooters trick. Works good, mumm good.

11-14-2009, 11:50 PM	#17
Bad Water Bill Boolit Master Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 642	Graphite is a great lubricant. I went to open a door lock last week and I had to push the key forcefully past each tumbler. One shot of the black stuff and you have to pay much attention to feel any tumbler movement. Slick as owl *@# on an old hickory limb.

Yesterday, 10:51 PM	#18
thebigmac Boolit Man Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Parkville,(Baltimore) Maryland Posts: 119	OK guys, I guess I'll be casting lube for a while. 4" solid for my Star, and 4" with a hole for my Lyman... THANKS AGAIN... Mac