Do shallow lube grooves result in more smoke?

[Martin Luber]

ie 38 wadcutters vs 45 swc boolets; one smokes, one does not. Same velocity.

Is it a lube failure that causes the smoke?

Looking for a clean indoor target load in both calibers. Thanks

[Winger Ed.]

The only thing that will make the lube smoke is heat by the resistance of a boolit going down the barrel.

Does one pistol get hotter after firing the same number of shots?
If one has a longer barrel, and/or is firing a hotter load to keep the speed the same with a heavier boolit,
I'd figure it would heat up and smoke before the other.

I don't think you have a lube failure, it's just the nature of the beast.
The best solution might be to powder coat for indoor shooting.

[gwpercle]

Some lubes smoke more than others .
The trick is to use just enough lube to prevent leading ... but no more .
Some boolit designs , Keith SWC's , have one big lube groove ... with todays improved lubes they can simply carry too much ...the excess gets burned and produces smoke .
If you notice , newer boolit designs usually carry two smaller lube grooves or with the TL designs they contain many lube grooves .
To get the least smoke , use the least amount of lube ... just because a boolit has more than one lube groove ... if the modern lube is good you may only need to fill one lube groove .
If the boolit has only one groove ...you don't need to fill it completely .

If you are getting excess smoke ...you are using too much lube ... cut back on lube !
A little experimentation will show you how much lube is actually needed .
I bet you will find a lot less lube is needed on a boolit than you thought .
Gary

[Winger Ed.]

Ya used to hear about it more often, but guys shooting long, large cal. boolits with multiple big lube grooves,
would commonly only fill the bottom groove.

[Wayne Smith]

Some POWDERS smoke a lot more than lubes. You didn't mention your powder.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Some POWDERS smoke a lot more than lubes. You didn't mention your powder.

That is my thought.
The smokiest combo I've found is Unique with a lube with Alox (including TL).

[RU shooter]

Think you need to do a experiment for the group with a TL 38 vs standard groove same for 45 acp using same powder . I know in my rifle 35 Rem a TL design don't smoke any more than a regular using the same lube but that's not really a similar comparison due to barrel length and a lot slower powder . It just maybe that the LLA smokes more or less than the regular lube not really the bullet design ?

[longbow]

"Do shallow lube grooves result in more smoke?" was your question and I'd say no.
,
If same lube then as mentioned could be the powder, assuming different powders in the different calibers, or boolit fit. If there is blow by you will get more smoke.

Are they both gas check boolits? Both plain base boolits?

Is alloy the same? Again, thinking gas leakage.

Just some thoughts.

Longbow

[1hole]

Grooves don't smoke, lube does.

I use the original Allox/beeswax lube and only fill the grooves about 60% full. I have little smoke; it is NOT necessary that lube grooves be fully packed to do their job.

A greasy "star" pattern on the muzzle indicates an excess of lube. Adjust your quantity of lube so the star is faint and you'll probably have very little smoke.

[Martin Luber]

My results were that tumble lube on the exact same batch of previously smokey bullets worked, no smoke. I recall years ago running light 38s with no lube and get tons of smoke but I had no cure for it. Same bullets with more lube ( other grooves filled) had less smoke but not as good as lubed and tumble lubed.

I think the Long bearing surface is the problem with 38 s. And I would agree that at some point your lube smokes too, maybe at higher velocities.

Thanks all

[gwpercle]

That is my thought.
The smokiest combo I've found is Unique with a lube with Alox (including TL).

Right on ...Unique with a big Elmer Keith square bottomed lube groove boolit filled with Alox-Beeswax 50-50 lube ! Talk about "Gunsmoke" on an indoor range !!!
Gary

[Old School Big Bore]

My early .44 loads with Unique and Lyman lube in a Keith prompted one range worker to ask if I was using black powder...
Ed <><

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Humidity plays a role in smokiness also.

[mikeingeorgia]

When I do Steel Challenge with a revolver, I use cast boolits for the Smoke and Hope stage just for the visual effects lol