Originally Posted by
geargnasher
Valve packing grease is made of all sorts of things depending on what it needs to do and the chemicals the valves handle, and the working temperatures and pressures. Look at the list in that link, all sorts of stuff. Polyglycols are used where petroleum solvents are present because of hydrophobia, the two won't mix and wash out the packing. Some of them might prove to be very effective bullet lubricants at a wide range of temperatures, but we haven't tested them all, by any means!
What we HAVE tested, quite a bit, is my little theory on "non-melting" lubes. That's pretty much a no-go. We've actually come up with some stuff and while it didn't lead, bore consistency was terrible and accuracy universally sucked until some sort of wax was added. I even used a straight oven grease with a 2k F. working point, all it did was leave a clay wash in the bore and shoot huge groups. That's why they call them "theories" until adequate testing is done to reach some sort of conclusion. My conclusion is that cast bullet lubricant needs to contain at least 1/3 wax.
Gear