Which Lube for cast pistol bullets.

[beshears]

I currently have two lyman lubesizers both with SPG in them. I want to change one of them for cast pistol bullets only leaving the other one for my Blackpowder cast bullets. I cast 9mm, 38 Super, 45 ACP, and 44 Mag. What lube would be best?

[Divil]

I really dig Lyman Orange Magic. It works for me in 9mm boolits 356402 and 356634 sized .356 in my Colt and G17 Wheaton Arms barrel without leading. This is something since 9mm is a persnickety caliber with regard to leading.

[smithnframe]

I've used SPG in everything. I do know they are making a stiffer version of their famous lube.

[DougGuy]

Man, hard to beat SPG. I use that, and Randyrats Tac1 get that here on the forum. Any soft lube is good for what you want it for.

[Larry Gibson]

As mentioned the SPG will work fine with cast bullets in pistols. However, if you want to switch then I suggest Lars White label BAC or the 50/50 lube. If you want something a bit less "sticky" then try the Carnauba Red.

[poppy42]

Ben’s Red! I use it for everything. You can find the formula to make your own in the classic and stickies section

[Hick]

Yes to all the above with the Lyman Lube sizer (I use one too), but at pistol velocities you can also use tumble lube. I use a lot of Ben's Liquid Lube with excellent results for pistols.

[Rex]

I don't know if it's best or even close but I use Lars Carnauba Red for my .38 special and .357.

[Rich/WIS]

The old NRA 50/50 or XLOX 2500 works well. Used 50/50 for for over 40 years and switched to XLOX 2500 as it was a bit less tacky and made the lubed bullets easier to handle. White Label has both and neither needs a heater at room temperature.

[Good Cheer]

Lanolin, olive oil and beeswax, using it for almost everything.
Sometimes I tinker with an adjunct or two but if if works for black it works for 99% of what I do.

[Outpost75]

If you want to mix your own and have something inexpensive which works well in most applications a 40-60 ratio of either:

ATF and beeswax
olive oil and beeswax, or
neatfoot oil and beeswax are all hard to beat.

If you don't have a local source for beeswax, an acceptable substitute is to blend 50-50 by melted liquid volume of Vaseline and Gulf canning wax, or 50-50 of Fougera Lanolin Modified topical lubricant or Bag Balm and paraffin to substitute for the beeswax and then blend with the oils as described.

These work with either black or smokeless.

[marshall623]

The old NRA 50/50 or XLOX 2500 works well. Used 50/50 for for over 40 years and switched to XLOX 2500 as it was a bit less tacky and made the lubed bullets easier to handle. White Label has both and neither needs a heater at room temperature.Add another for 2500+ , works in everything I load from 9mm to 22 Hornet

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[lotech]

About fifteen years ago, I did a side-by-side twenty-five yard accuracy test using five lubes and two revolvers, a Colt .357 Magnum and an S&W in .45 ACP. In the .357 I used the H&G #51 160 grain SWC and #2400 powder. In the .45 ACP revolver, I used the H&G #68 200 grain bullet and Bullseye powder. Agreed, certainly not the most comprehensive testing. There were measurable differences in accuracy, but not much. A 50/50 lube is almost always a good choice, but so are many others from the perspectives of accuracy and minimal or no bore leading. Choosing a lube based on firmness and texture alone might be a pretty good way of making a selection.

[pworley1]

I use BAC or Carnuba Blue

[Went2kck]

Moley lube, No muss no fuss. had good luck and it works for what I do. No heating needed witch is a plus for me.

[fivegunner]

Ben`s RED or start powder coating .

[Bubba w/a 45/70]

When I do it right (no really visible lube on boolits) WLL 45/45/10 has done it all for me, from 357 Mag our of revolvers and leverguns to 45/70 out of leverguns.

I am in the process of now trying it for 9mm out of pistols and carbines. I cannot see why it wouldn't work as long as it is "coated" correctly on the boolits.

And easy???? You can use butter dishes, plastic bags, coffee cans, whatever to coat your boolits. And if you are lucky, you don't have to resize either. I just happen to use a LEE push through sizer...easier for me than the old lubersizer style.

[John Boy]

What lube would be best?
http://www.lasc.us/LubeIngredients.htm
Pick one, they all have been proven ... "best"

[Wayne Smith]

I use a modified Emmett's for both BP and pistol lube. I don't push any pistol boolit fast enough to overwhelm this lube so far. I have that in one lubesizer and Ben's Red in the other and the size dies fit both so I can, if I want, lube my .357 or 44 Mag with Ben's Red if I decide it's needed.

[Larry Gibson]

Was using BAC, as i previously recommended, and it's still an excellent choice. However I ran out and have lots of 2500+ so I thought I'd try it on pistol bullets as it's excellent on rifle bullets. 2500+ is working excellently across the velocity range from 600 fps up through 3000 fps.

[Static line]

With any of my pistol or rifle bullets, I am jumping back and forth between BAC or Carnauba Blue. I can not pick the best one for the job. They both work great but I tend to like the color blue that the Carnauba Blue puts out. I am only casting for the 45-70,44 mag. 45 Colt and 40 S&W.

[gwpercle]

Handguns and 30 cal. rifle @ 2,000 fps ... tested by me over the last 45 years .

Lithi-Bee bullet lubricant . Soft lube . Simple to make .

1 part Lithium Grease (Lucas Red-N-Tacky)
3 parts Beeswax

Amounts can be measured by weight in ounces / pounds ... 1/3 ratio .
Gulf Wax Canning Paraffin can be added if the lube is too soft .
I've never had a lead problem with this lube ... tried many but keep coming back .
Gary

[dverna]

Was using BAC, as i previously recommended, and it's still an excellent choice. However I ran out and have lots of 2500+ so I thought I'd try it on pistol bullets as it's excellent on rifle bullets. 2500+ is working excellently across the velocity range from 600 fps up through 3000 fps.

Good to hear that.

When I was stocking up for SHTF, I bought 20 sticks of 2500+ and 20 sticks of CR. I have 10 bottles of One-Step to make the original BLL.

Doubtful I will ever need cast rifle bullets but being prepared gives me comfort. I figured CR for .223; 2500+ for the .30/30's and .308's; and BLL for the pistol bullets.

I am not into making lubes I will use in the Star or Lyman 45's. Buying from Lars is not expensive and his stuff works.

[Shiloh]

Been using Larsen's 45-45-10 on pistol bullets. Both TL boolits, and traditional lube groove boolits.

Shiloh

[David2011]

Several years ago I went on a search for a lube that produced less smoke. Some wise participants here ostracized me for such blasphemy. Apparently they were single shot rifle shooters; I’m a USPSA shooter. Sucks when you have a good run going and then the target disappears behind the smoke. I learned two things. All lubes smoke and they all were satisfactory for my .40 S&W to prevent leading. I finally started powder coating. The gun runs cleaner and the smoke was eliminated.

Back to the original question, your SPG will work just fine for handgun boolits.