WidenersRepackboxRotoMetals2Titan Reloading
Reloading EverythingInline FabricationLee PrecisionMidSouth Shooters Supply
Load Data
Results 1 to 17 of 17

Thread: 45-45-10 still sticky…..help.

  1. #1
    Boolit Man nagantino's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Ireland
    Posts
    79

    45-45-10 still sticky…..help.

    Just discovering 45 45 10. I used LLA for years but have been powder-coating with success for years now. I wanted to reload some .303 for my Lee Enfield using a cast bullet with greatly reduced powder loads…I’ll use Red Dot probably. I made up a small batch of 45… and lubed a few bullets last night but the result is still a little sticky. Not nearly as bad as LLA though. Can I revisit the mix by adding more wax or more spirit to get a non sticky finish on the bullets?

  2. #2
    Boolit Grand Master
    Ben's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Cleveland, AL
    Posts
    9,255
    Most likely needs more mineral spirits.

  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy

    Join Date
    Sep 2021
    Location
    Eastern North Dakota
    Posts
    465
    How much are you using? I noticed that too much does not dry (sticky) If I can actuallysee bullets look brown , I have over coated. Generally I use 2 TBSP on 1500 38's Feel it but not see it. GW

  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master

    gwpercle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Baton Rouge, Louisiana
    Posts
    9,251
    Dust them with Motor Mica , a fine dry powdered lube , some say it is "white" graphite powder but it is actually Hexagonal Boron Nitride ... a dry high temperature lubricant used in the automotive industry .

    If you don't have any lying about ... sprinkle the sticky boolits with a little "Baby Powder" and roll them around . If the powder is old it is Talcum powder ...the new stuff is cornstarch ...
    either will eliminate the sticky and shouldn't harm the rifle barrel .

    45-10-10 is best applied in extremely thin coats to dry ... due to the viscoscity of the alox you might need to thin the mix with additional mineral spirits .
    The coating should be very thin and of a slight golden hue and they should dry to the touch .
    Apply a thin coat and let dry ...if additional is required add another thin coat and let it dry .
    Two thin coats will dry better than one thick coat .
    Gary
    Certified Cajun
    Proud Member of The Basket of Deplorables
    " Let's Go Brandon !"

  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master

    gwpercle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Baton Rouge, Louisiana
    Posts
    9,251
    Quote Originally Posted by Ben View Post
    Most likely needs more mineral spirits.

    LIKE
    Certified Cajun
    Proud Member of The Basket of Deplorables
    " Let's Go Brandon !"

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master popper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Posts
    10,572
    Just make some Ben's Liquid Lube.
    Whatever!

  7. #7
    Boolit Grand Master

    gwpercle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Baton Rouge, Louisiana
    Posts
    9,251
    Quote Originally Posted by popper View Post
    Just make some Ben's Liquid Lube.
    Can you post the "New Improved" recipe ?

    I have the old one calling for the discontinued Johnson's Liquid Wax ... I found a 22 oz. can ... but the price is $103.00 ...for one can ... That's a bit much ... has another product , of affordable cost , been found .

    The old one was 60% LLA and 40% Johnson's One Step (#00125) ... but J. One Step ain't Happening at over a hundred bucks !
    Gary
    Certified Cajun
    Proud Member of The Basket of Deplorables
    " Let's Go Brandon !"

  8. #8
    Boolit Master

    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    WNY
    Posts
    1,519
    Quote Originally Posted by nagantino View Post
    Just discovering 45 45 10. I used LLA for years but have been powder-coating with success for years now. I wanted to reload some .303 for my Lee Enfield using a cast bullet with greatly reduced powder loads…I’ll use Red Dot probably. I made up a small batch of 45… and lubed a few bullets last night but the result is still a little sticky. Not nearly as bad as LLA though. Can I revisit the mix by adding more wax or more spirit to get a non sticky finish on the bullets?
    nagantino,
    IF you mixed the 45-45-10 properly, and IF you didn't let it sit on the shelf for six months before you used it, and your bullets are now sticky, then you used too much lube! When properly applied, the lube should appear as a barely visible amber wash. That is, BARELY visible. It doesn't take much to properly lube a bullet! When you mix up a batch of 45-45-10, store it in an airtight container, like a small canning jar, the 1/2 pint size. Keep airspace to a minimum. The solvent, mineral spirits, will eventually evaporate so don't be afraid to add a little more if you've not used that bottle of lube in a while. As was mentioned, dust your bullets with a little motor mica to eliminate the stickiness.
    "We take a thousand moments for granted thinking there will be a thousand more to come. Each day, each breath, each beat of your heart is a gift. Live with love & joy, tomorrow is not promised to anyone......"

    unknown

  9. #9
    Boolit Buddy

    Divil's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Location
    NW Lancaster County PA
    Posts
    222
    You could always give your boolits a light final coat of Rooster Jacket. I use it as my final coat when I tumble lube. First somewhat heavy coat of LLA, drying, push through sizing, second lighter coat of LLA, drying, then a coat of Rooster Jacket to cancel out the tackiness of the LLA, drying, then non sticky tumble lubed boolits are ready to load. In your case a final light coat of Rooster Jacket on your 45-45-10 lubed boolits might remove the tackiness and while preserving the good properties of the lube.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
    405grain's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Modesto, Ca.
    Posts
    1,213
    When I'm swirl lubing with 45-45-10 I'll put about 100 boolits in a quart ziplok bag, then add two or three drops of lube. It doesn't take much. I'll swirl the boolits around inside the bag until everything has been coated, then dump the boolits into a paper bowl. I'll let them dry overnight and the next day they will be ready to load. If your 45-45-10 isn't drying it's usually because your using too much.

  11. #11
    Moderator Emeritus


    JonB_in_Glencoe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Land of 10,000 Lakes
    Posts
    15,832
    it's so easy to apply too much alox. The thing about adding JPW and MS to LLA is to help you apply less. As Ben said, add more MS.
    Another helpful hint, is to apply heat to the boolits and the bowl.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    “If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”
    ― The Dalai Lama, Seattle Times, May 2001

  12. #12
    Boolit Grand Master GhostHawk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Fargo ND
    Posts
    7,075
    A I'll bet on Ben, and I'll do it every time.

    B 1-2 % Carnuba wax melted into the mix helps put a hard shell on it.

    C Needs more drying time, or a bit warmer temp.

    D Spread them on a cardboard flat and put the flat in front of a fan for an hour.
    Can make a huge difference in drying time.
    I truly believe we need to get back to basics.

    Get right with the Lord.
    Get back to the land.
    Get back to thinking like our forefathers thought.


    May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you
    and give you His peace. Let all of the earth – all of His creation – worship and praise His name! Make His
    praise glorious!

  13. #13
    Boolit Grand Master


    GregLaROCHE's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    Southern France by way of Interior Bush Alaska
    Posts
    5,286
    You said you did them last night. They could just need a bit more time to dry. I put mine on waxed paper and forget about them for a week.

  14. #14
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    NE Kansas
    Posts
    2,421
    For anyone interested in the new formula made with the Lundmark product look here.

    https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...id-Lube/page58

    post #1143

  15. #15
    Boolit Grand Master

    gwpercle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Baton Rouge, Louisiana
    Posts
    9,251
    Quote Originally Posted by Dusty Bannister View Post
    For anyone interested in the new formula made with the Lundmark product look here.

    https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...id-Lube/page58

    post #1143

    Thank You Dusty Bannister ...
    post #1143 was very helpful !

    I printed out the sheets with recipe and instructions , to keep and notice the drying rack / tray that Ben uses ... now that is a neat way to dry them .

    A Big Thanks to Ben also
    Gary
    Last edited by gwpercle; 06-25-2022 at 06:09 PM.
    Certified Cajun
    Proud Member of The Basket of Deplorables
    " Let's Go Brandon !"

  16. #16
    Boolit Master
    405grain's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Modesto, Ca.
    Posts
    1,213
    It's been my experience that the Lundmark liquid paste wax never dries. I've swirl lubed boolits in a few drops of it, then left them to dry for three weeks in summertime temperatures, and they would still be wet to the touch. The only way I was able to dry the Lundmark was to bake the boolits in a toaster oven at 300 degrees for 30 minutes - twice: because it didn't dry the first time. I no longer use that produce on anything. It didn't work out for me as a bullet lube ingredient, and is beyond me how it could ever be used for it's intended purpose as a floor or furniture wax. Johnson's paste wax, alox, and mineral spirits is much better.

  17. #17
    Boolit Grand Master
    Shiloh's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Upper Midwest
    Posts
    6,763
    Keep the lube on the bullets THIN!!
    Doesn't take much at all.

    Shiloh
    Je suis Charlie

    "A society of sheep must in time beget a government of wolves."
    Bertrand de Jouvenel

    “Any government that does not trust its citizens with firearms is either a tyranny, or planning to become one.” – Joseph P. Martino

    “If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert , in five years there would be a shortage of sand.” – Milton Friedman

    "Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our enemies have guns; why should we let them have ideas?" - J. Stalin

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check