megasupermagnum
01-12-2020, 08:33 PM
I finally got around to the first part of a lube comparison. I make no claims that results will be the same in any other gun, but it was interesting in mine. The test gun was my Sig P220 4 1/2" barrel 45 ACP. No modifications at all. I replaced the rear sight, otherwise it is exactly as it left the factory. The ammo was a load I had worked up a while ago, actually worked down to. This load is under most published starting loads, but on recommendation of a Bullseye shooter, I found it worked much better. It's interesting to note I worked out this load with the Lee bullet and lee Alox lube in the middle of summer.
The load is 4.5 grains American Select with a Federal 150 large pistol primer and sorted Federal brass. The brass is unimportant, I just sorted to remove variables. All brass was sized, and expanded with the Lee powder through expander die. I've tried NOE plugs in both .450" and .451", neither works well in 45 ACP. All powder was measured on a scale.
The bullets were two h&g 68 clones. One the Lee 452-200-swc, the other the Arsenal molds h&g 68. All were cast on the same day, of the same alloy, and hand sorted for perfection. They were sized .452" and aged about a month. Both were loaded to a cartridge OAL of 1.250". Alloy was old clip on wheel weights+2.5% tin. They run about 13 BHN.
The lubes were WLL Deluxe Xlox, and RandyRat's TAC-1. The Xlox was first applied, then bullet sized, and then a second coat. I got good, thin, even coverage. TAC-1 was applied with the lubrisizer. Both were sized in the same die.
I fired off of a bench, with a pistol rest. I wish I had a Ransom Rest, but it works if I take my time. I fired from 50 yards, 5 shots at a time. Before each test I removed the barrel, and gave a few passes with a patch soaked in Hoppe's #9. I then fired 5 fouling shots. The actual group test were five individual 5 shot groups for a 25 shot average.
The results (not fired in this order):
Lee bullet-Xlox
Avg. group 6.65"
Min. 6 1/4"
Max. 7 3/8"
Lee bullet-TAC-1
Avg. group 4.8"
Min. 3 3/4"
Max. 6 3/4"
Arsenal bullet-Xlox
Avg. group 3.8"
Min. 3"
Max. 4 1/2"
Arsenal bullet-TAC-1
Avg. group 3.41"
Min 2 3/8"
Max. 4 7/8"
Honestly I did not expect to see TAC-1 do better than Xlox in such a low pressure round. I plan to do this test again with the 327 federal, where I expect more of a difference. I also did not expect the Lee bullet to do so bad. Oh well, I have both molds, and 3.41" average at 50 yards is pretty dang good for to me. The other factor could be the weather. Today was a relatively warm January day at 18 degrees, but that's still colder than most of the year. It could be that Xlox does much better in warm weather. TAC-1 is designed specifically for our weather, RandyRat lives straight east of me, not too far away.
So there it is. I plan to do this test with the 327 federal to compare in a high pressure handgun. I will also do this test in 308 winchester, although I need to pick a standard load for that first.
The load is 4.5 grains American Select with a Federal 150 large pistol primer and sorted Federal brass. The brass is unimportant, I just sorted to remove variables. All brass was sized, and expanded with the Lee powder through expander die. I've tried NOE plugs in both .450" and .451", neither works well in 45 ACP. All powder was measured on a scale.
The bullets were two h&g 68 clones. One the Lee 452-200-swc, the other the Arsenal molds h&g 68. All were cast on the same day, of the same alloy, and hand sorted for perfection. They were sized .452" and aged about a month. Both were loaded to a cartridge OAL of 1.250". Alloy was old clip on wheel weights+2.5% tin. They run about 13 BHN.
The lubes were WLL Deluxe Xlox, and RandyRat's TAC-1. The Xlox was first applied, then bullet sized, and then a second coat. I got good, thin, even coverage. TAC-1 was applied with the lubrisizer. Both were sized in the same die.
I fired off of a bench, with a pistol rest. I wish I had a Ransom Rest, but it works if I take my time. I fired from 50 yards, 5 shots at a time. Before each test I removed the barrel, and gave a few passes with a patch soaked in Hoppe's #9. I then fired 5 fouling shots. The actual group test were five individual 5 shot groups for a 25 shot average.
The results (not fired in this order):
Lee bullet-Xlox
Avg. group 6.65"
Min. 6 1/4"
Max. 7 3/8"
Lee bullet-TAC-1
Avg. group 4.8"
Min. 3 3/4"
Max. 6 3/4"
Arsenal bullet-Xlox
Avg. group 3.8"
Min. 3"
Max. 4 1/2"
Arsenal bullet-TAC-1
Avg. group 3.41"
Min 2 3/8"
Max. 4 7/8"
Honestly I did not expect to see TAC-1 do better than Xlox in such a low pressure round. I plan to do this test again with the 327 federal, where I expect more of a difference. I also did not expect the Lee bullet to do so bad. Oh well, I have both molds, and 3.41" average at 50 yards is pretty dang good for to me. The other factor could be the weather. Today was a relatively warm January day at 18 degrees, but that's still colder than most of the year. It could be that Xlox does much better in warm weather. TAC-1 is designed specifically for our weather, RandyRat lives straight east of me, not too far away.
So there it is. I plan to do this test with the 327 federal to compare in a high pressure handgun. I will also do this test in 308 winchester, although I need to pick a standard load for that first.