versifier
04-26-2007, 12:52 PM
I am a big fan of tumble lubing and push-through sizing, and, like many, I don't enjoy the mess of LLA on the tips of my boolits. I dip my rifle boolits, but for pistol bullets, I can't grab them to dip properly without getting it all over my hands, so I'm still tumble lubing them. I read with interest the threads from those who were experimenting with White Lightning Chain Lube, and figured I'd order some and do some experimenting with my handgun boolits. So far, I have had great results with it in revolvers and .357 boolits, good accuracy and no leading. It dries quickly and cleanly, doesn't stink, and doesn't attract a coating of lint/pet hair. I think it's fairly user friendly, but....
I got a new Glock 21 .45ACP about a month ago and have been working up loads for it. I started testing with boolits I cast last summer and lubed with LLA for my 1911's. No problems with them at all, and to keep the mess at minimum, I wiped them after loading with a cloth and mineral spirits, SOP. I should mention at this point that while I may let cleaning of my bolt rifles wait until they really need it, I am fanatical about keeping my semi-auto pistols squeaky clean and do them just as soon as I return home after a shooting session. This one was no different - after the session testing LLA lubed boolits, I cleaned it until it was perfect, no big job with a Glock to be sure. I decided that this is going to be a really fun shooter, so I got a 6cav mould and started casting in production mode.
The latest batch of RN boolits from the new mould I lubed with WLL, loaded them up for testing. Yesterday was my first serious range session with them. Accuracy was acceptable, and approaching decent with a couple of combinations.
At about 150rounds, I experienced a failure to return to battery. A hard push on the back of the slide got it the rest of the way, and I fired the round. (This was the 5th round of a 10shot group and it was looking to be the best load so far, all five of them in a nice round, small group.) Again, the pistol failed to return to battery. Hmmm. I says to myself, "Self," I says, "something's not right here." So I stopped shooting and took the pistol apart to see what was going on. At the front of the chamber was a ring of crud, just like what happens in some muzzle loaders with Triple7. It was solid, and hard, and with the patches I had with me, I could do nothing to it. I went home and there I scraped a little out to figure out what it was. It was not lead fouling. It was black and came off with great difficulty in small chunks. Six different solvents had no effect on it whatsoever, nylon bore brush was a waste of time. The bronze brush finally removed it after about twenty passes.
I am going back today to finish the tests I started yesterday, (about 90rds) and I will be examining the barrel carefully after every thirty shots. I am reasonably certain that the problem is the lube. I'll repost today's results on this thread after I get it cleaned tonight.
As I said, there have been no problems at all in my .357mag revolvers, I have not yet shot any in my .357 Contender, and probably won't until I get done testing loads in the new-to-me .30-30 carbine barrel it's wearing now. But if I am right, I expect to see a similar problem in it when I do.
Has anyone else noticed any problems with this lube in their pistols? Random thoughts, serious feedback, strange speculations, and wild ravings on this topic are all welcome.
I got a new Glock 21 .45ACP about a month ago and have been working up loads for it. I started testing with boolits I cast last summer and lubed with LLA for my 1911's. No problems with them at all, and to keep the mess at minimum, I wiped them after loading with a cloth and mineral spirits, SOP. I should mention at this point that while I may let cleaning of my bolt rifles wait until they really need it, I am fanatical about keeping my semi-auto pistols squeaky clean and do them just as soon as I return home after a shooting session. This one was no different - after the session testing LLA lubed boolits, I cleaned it until it was perfect, no big job with a Glock to be sure. I decided that this is going to be a really fun shooter, so I got a 6cav mould and started casting in production mode.
The latest batch of RN boolits from the new mould I lubed with WLL, loaded them up for testing. Yesterday was my first serious range session with them. Accuracy was acceptable, and approaching decent with a couple of combinations.
At about 150rounds, I experienced a failure to return to battery. A hard push on the back of the slide got it the rest of the way, and I fired the round. (This was the 5th round of a 10shot group and it was looking to be the best load so far, all five of them in a nice round, small group.) Again, the pistol failed to return to battery. Hmmm. I says to myself, "Self," I says, "something's not right here." So I stopped shooting and took the pistol apart to see what was going on. At the front of the chamber was a ring of crud, just like what happens in some muzzle loaders with Triple7. It was solid, and hard, and with the patches I had with me, I could do nothing to it. I went home and there I scraped a little out to figure out what it was. It was not lead fouling. It was black and came off with great difficulty in small chunks. Six different solvents had no effect on it whatsoever, nylon bore brush was a waste of time. The bronze brush finally removed it after about twenty passes.
I am going back today to finish the tests I started yesterday, (about 90rds) and I will be examining the barrel carefully after every thirty shots. I am reasonably certain that the problem is the lube. I'll repost today's results on this thread after I get it cleaned tonight.
As I said, there have been no problems at all in my .357mag revolvers, I have not yet shot any in my .357 Contender, and probably won't until I get done testing loads in the new-to-me .30-30 carbine barrel it's wearing now. But if I am right, I expect to see a similar problem in it when I do.
Has anyone else noticed any problems with this lube in their pistols? Random thoughts, serious feedback, strange speculations, and wild ravings on this topic are all welcome.