Deep Six
08-18-2013, 05:55 PM
I started casting about a year ago. My first lube recipe was a mixture of roughly 2/3 paraffin to 1/3 Vasoline, plus a couple green crayons for color. This results in a pretty hard lube that has served me well, with no leading in .44 Spl, .45 ACP, and mild .45 Colt loads. I had no problems with it melting and contaminating the powder charge and accuracy was as good or better than with any commercial bullets I tried. Unfortunately, it just wasn't cutting it in my .44 Magnum (A 7.5" Redhawk). This revolver would lead up bad enough to ruin accuracy in somewhere between 50-100 rounds of 250 Gr Keith Bullets over 18 Gr of #2400. This despite the fact that the bullets are sized at .431 to match the .430 bore and .432 chambers.
The other day I made a new batch of lube. This batch is about 50% paraffin, 35% high-temp moly EP grease, 10% Vasoline, 3% Carnauba paste car wax, and 2% mineral oil. I had to heat it up HOT to get the moly grease to melt, but once it did everything combined nicely (there were no grease fires either!). At room temperature it's much softer than my old lube - you can shape it with gentle finger pressure. At 50% paraffin it liquifies enough for use as a pan lube.
I just got done lubing and loading a batch of the 250 Gr Keith bullets. Hopefully I'll get a chance to test it in the next couple of weeks. I'm hoping this will cure the leading problem.
I know there are some pretty accomplished lube experts around here. How does this recipe sound? Did I make any major mistakes? I know a lot of people like beeswax but that stuff is $$$$ around here and paraffin is free if I collect the remains of my wife's candles.
The other day I made a new batch of lube. This batch is about 50% paraffin, 35% high-temp moly EP grease, 10% Vasoline, 3% Carnauba paste car wax, and 2% mineral oil. I had to heat it up HOT to get the moly grease to melt, but once it did everything combined nicely (there were no grease fires either!). At room temperature it's much softer than my old lube - you can shape it with gentle finger pressure. At 50% paraffin it liquifies enough for use as a pan lube.
I just got done lubing and loading a batch of the 250 Gr Keith bullets. Hopefully I'll get a chance to test it in the next couple of weeks. I'm hoping this will cure the leading problem.
I know there are some pretty accomplished lube experts around here. How does this recipe sound? Did I make any major mistakes? I know a lot of people like beeswax but that stuff is $$$$ around here and paraffin is free if I collect the remains of my wife's candles.