Just wondering...
Is there a FPS limit for pure Beeswax Lube, with Cast Boolits?
Just wondering...
Is there a FPS limit for pure Beeswax Lube, with Cast Boolits?
It's a multi variate problem, so, no, there is no honest answer you will get as to max fps.
What does it really involve? At least: Pressure experienced (peak & curve), bore roughness, barrel length, lube groove volume and shape, bullet alloy content, BHN of the bullet (not just dependent on alloy), bullet fit to bore (dia), taper in bullet if any, existence of a GC or not, etc. etc.
I used to experience leading in pistols long time ago using commercial bullets, so I thought what's all the bother worth?
Then I started to learn things, bought my first Linebaugh gun (pretty much had to use a cast bullet), and many years later experienced the old bummer years (starting 2008...) where to afford shooting rifles I went to cast bullets in them.
Now I shoot cast in rifles over 2000 fps and experience no leading, even in a Very pitted old 24-47 Yugo that was my learning vehicle under old bummer. No, I don't guess it's pitted, I bought a borescope and poked it in there. The bore condition would have horrified me years ago...
No … but some good reading material …
https://www.wikihow.com/Melt-Beeswax
Regards
John
For many complex reasons ... bullet lube can be complicated ... pure beeswax doesn't have everything needed to make a decent lubricant .
There is a simple additive , better than the the latest formulations of Alox, that can be added to beeswax to make it a decent Lubricant that I've used in magnum handgun loading , 1250 fps or so and loads in 30-30 Winchester at 1600 fps .
take : 1 part Lithium Grease ( Lucas Red-N-Tacky is my grease of choice) and blend with
3 parts Beeswax
This was known as Lithi-Bee , I got the recipe from a commerical Lube maker , Garth Choate , when he informed me they no longer made and sold boolit lubes .
After 50 years of cast boolits I keep coming back to Lithi-Bee ... it works , I've NEVER had lead deposited in a barrel when using it ... Never !!! The formula can't be any easier ...
... 1 part Lithium Grease to 3 parts - Beeswax ... that's all there is to it .
Gary
Certified Cajun
Proud Member of The Basket of Deplorables
" Let's Go Brandon !"
The British .577-450 and .455 cartridges used pure beeswax, but it is not the best lube for keeping BP fouling soft. Works very much better with 1 part tallow, olive or neatsfoot oil to 3 parts of beeswax. For smokeless loads use 1 to 4 or 5 ATF and beeswax.
The ENEMY is listening.
HE wants to know what YOU know.
Keep it to yourself.
Thanks for the Smokeless lube recipe . I'm a big believer in ATF ...
... will Dexron GM Spec.D-20265 or later be good to use in the boolit lube ?
I have a feeling mixing / blending ATF into beeswax will be a lot easier than mixing / blending the Lithium Grease (which doesn't melt) into the beeswax ... I want to try the ATF-Bee Lube ...it sounds interesting .
Thanks
This rounds on me !
Gary
Certified Cajun
Proud Member of The Basket of Deplorables
" Let's Go Brandon !"
The ENEMY is listening.
HE wants to know what YOU know.
Keep it to yourself.
Do a search for Ben’s read here on the forum! Best stuff I’ve ever used! Quite easy to make just follow the directions!
Long, Wide, Deep, and Without Hesitation!
I make the old NRA lube with bees wax and ATF and other things added to it and I use it in all the smokeless cartridges I load from handgun to rifle and no problems with leading, I have many years ago bought some factory ammo with lead bullets for my RH 44mag and when I shot them , my barrel leaded up so bad that it made me sick then , when I got back into casting and all, I do not have that problem anymore and make my own lube. Also with the help and reading I got from you all on here.
Life Member of NRA,NTA,DAV ,ITA. Also member of FTA,CBA
I've been using the simple lube recipie from the sticky in the the lube section . Beeswax, vasaline, atf and 2 stroke oil. Been working extremely well and works great unheated through my lube sizer. Shot some 275 grain boolits yesteday out of my SBH over 18.5 grains of H 110 for about 1200 fps. Alloy was 20/1, good accuracy and no leading. I have a pyrex beaker of it that I heat in boiling water on the stove and i pour it into the lube sizer.
ED; Gary: While transfering dad's trouble box from one car to another, I looked at the contents. Pliers, screwdriver, road map, first aid kit, brake fluid, and a quart of GM type A ATF that was vintage 1960. Had to look that one up. Guess what the predecessor to Dexron was. Sperm oil. Saved it all , carefully.
It was made of OIL from a SPERM WHALE. I doubt that ANY product of a cetacean's PROSTATE has advanced the automotive industry in any way.
For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Ecclesiastes 1:18
He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool become servant to the wise of heart. Proverbs 11:29
...Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:40
Carpe SCOTCH!
Sperm oil… whale sperm… I just laughed until I cried.
What is "ATF"?
I use beeswax and olive oil at 65/35 for black powder, but it's only going maybe 650-700 fps. For any other things, read how to make Ben's Liquid Lube. It will handle almost anything you want to shoot it in.
KE4GWE - - - - - - Colt 1860, it just feels right.
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 |