Lube and cast bullets query?

[Matabele]

Hi all,

Ive got a .44 Super Blackhawk on the way and have bought a couple of molds to shoot some cast bullets through it, a 250gr Keith type and 320gr LBT. Thing is I have never shot cast bullets in anything and this is my first revolver. So...what the heck is going on with regards to lube? Whats a good one to use?, how do you apply it? Do I need to be sizing the cast bullets, how do I do that? My plan is to shoot plain base bullets if I can.

I think I read somewhere Lee Liquid Alox is a good lube for shooting cast bullets and easy to apply, this true?

Any input appreciated, thanks.

 

[BIgMuddy]

You are in for a whole new level of fun....both shooting Big Bore revolvers AND casting your own bullets.

I am relatively new to bullet casting after shooting commercial lead bullets for 30 years. I am really enjoying it as it has added something new to learn about my favorite hobby.

Your questions could be answered with entire books. Sometimes it seems so complicated (when it really isn't).

To answer your main question..you will need to also get a sizer/lubricator. You do need to size the bullets, and they will be lubed at the same time. What kind of lube is a question you ask 5 people and you get 6 answers. I did not know until I started casting, but it is an important part of the process. I have used two different lubes that both have worked well. I started with LBT Blue Soft and now use Red Rooster. If you use the Red Rooster you have to also have a heater for your sizer. I have not tried the Lee Liquid tumble lube. I am pretty sure you have to use it with the Lee molds designed for that method, and I think sizing is not necessary with them. I just don't know that much about them.

The best thing I did to start casting was having a good teacher that had been doing it for years. You can also get some great information and get a lot of questions answered at;

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/

Also some good information at:

http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletNotes.htm

Good luck and enjoy!!

Dan

 

[FergusonTO35]

For the beginner, the Lee Lube & Size die is the way to go. It costs way less than all the others and no nose punches are needed. Just use it with whatever lube Lee recommends and you'll get good results. The advantage to tumble lube is that you can use the bullets as cast which is helpful if you're shooting a gun which is somewhat overbore or has worn rifling.

 

[gregs45auto]

Lee sizer and liquid alox is the way to start. Sizer should be .001 larger than bore diameter. ie: .358 or 430. Cut a plastic milk jug in half. Rinse-clean. Dump some bullets in and squirt a little alox on them. Stir and size add more lube to coat. Allow to dry on wax paper etc. Next day can load. hth greg

 

[Snyd]

First things first. Learn about bore diameter, throat diameter and how that determines boolit diameter. Then learn about alloys, hardness and how they relate to velocity. Get some wheel weights, separate the pure lead stick-ons from the clip on wheel weights. Learn about "smelting" them down (not really smelting but close enough), separating the zinc weights and clips, casting technique, temperature, mold care, etc. Once you get some boolits cast then you can start with a Lee Push through sizer die and you can tumble lube or pan lube. Cheap but effective I started with Lee push through/tumble lube, then made my own lube and pan lubed (several techniques for this as well), I now use a Lyman 4500 and prefer that method. But, I'm glad a made the progression.

Welcome to the addiction!!

 

[DeletedMember275]

I would recommend that you do two things; 1) buy the 4th edition Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook and read it, and 2) join the Cast Boolits forum and do a bit of lurking.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/index.php

 

[flhr62]

You do not have to size your bullets. This is kind of a general statement, but more or less, if can seat them with out a big bulge in the case and they will go in the chamber of your gun, your probably good to go. I think liquid Alox is a good lube. I am the opposite of Snyd, I have a RCBS lubrisizer, but mostly I use the Lee sizers. Straight clip on wheel weights are a good mixture just as they are as long as you do not try to push them real fast. I would say much over 1200fps.

 

[Olsherm]

I put several cast bullets(any kind or wgt) in a heavy cotton sock and dribble a little Lee Liquid Alox (after thinning with mineral spirits)on them,work them around vigoursly with your hand on the outside of sock until coated with a(light coat) of the liquid,spread on wax paper overnight and good to load. Does not have to be a tumble lube bullet type. I coat all of my bullets with it. Shoots great and reduces leading with just a very light coating like the old 22 bullets had on them,as long as you stay with cowboy type loads. I even shoot pure lead bullets coated with it in 44/40,38/40,45 colt and so far have not had as much leading as i had with commercially lubed bullets. I am now coating my commercially cast and lubed bullets with it as well.However it is a little "messy to deal with). Not so much if you thin it and only apply a light coating.

 

[Bushrod]

Lube can be homemade by melting 50% beeswax and 50% vaseline is what I use.Or you can melt down sticks of commercial lube. Use a double boiler and don't scorch the lube. Then I pan lube with the bullets un-sized or as cast. Go on YOUTUBE and pull up videos on pan lubeing it's very easy. The last die in my press is the Lee factory crimp die which finish sizes the cartridge and puts a factory crimp on them. I dont load anywhere near max loads.And I shoot a Super BH which is a very strong revolver and I keep my cast bullets rather on the soft side.Hope this helps!

 

[FergusonTO35]

Thanks for the tip Bushrod!!

 

[Pa]

Hi all,

1. What's a good [lube] to use?, how do you apply it? I think I read somewhere Lee Liquid Alox is a good lube for shooting cast bullets and easy to apply, this true?

2. Do I need to be sizing the cast bullets, how do I do that?

3. My plan is to shoot plain base bullets if I can.

1. As others have noted, Lee Liquid Alox is excellent & easy to apply. One caution is that since it covers the entire bullet, it rubs off on to everything they touch if you don't allow them to dry thoroughly (say 24-hours) Also, the lube will build up inside the seating die and, unless removed every couple hundred rounds, push the bullet progressively deeper into the case.

2. It depends. Slug both your bore and the throat of each chamber. The ideal is for the throats to be the same or slightly (.001 -.015") larger than the bore. That way, the bullet will be larger than bore dia.; will seal the bore, preventing leading & fully engage the rifling. If your pistol measures OK, cast bullets will work fine. If your bore is larger than the throats, bullets can not fully engage the rifling & powder gas will leak along the sides, causing leading. Bullets no larger than about .015" above throat dia. should work OK. If your as-cast dia. exceeds throat dia. by .002" or more, size them to .001" over throat dia. Lee's sizer dies work great as well - they fit in a regular loading press & do not require a separate press like RCBS or Lyman.

Different lead alloys will drop from the mold at different diameters so if your bullets exceed .002" over throat dia., an alternate to sizing is to change alloys.

3. If you keep velocities below about 1100 fps, plain base bullets work fine. Gas checks are a needless expense & effort.

 

[Matabele]

Some awesome info here, thanks for posting everyone, its appeciated!

 

[Gelder]

For just getting started cast bullet loads, soft lead works just fine, any good commercial lube will work or in a pinch for low velocity stuff I have used parafine. The para fin is melted and you dip the bullets in only as far as the grease ring, if you hold the bullet there for a few seconds it will heat up enough to leave only a light film of wax on the bullets.

There a lot of different lubes out there, but in the beginning it is nice just to keep things simple.

 

[Bucks Owin]

FWIW, I used this method with "some" success: (Stand in a dish of Lee alox then dry on wax paper)

This method with "better" success: (Cookie cutter from a .458 case)

But this is what you'll want once you get your feet wet. This leaky old 450 (with a .358" size die/top punch!) cost me $40 as I remember, and an O-ring kit and heater from Lyman, and rattle can of "RCBS green" freshened it right up and it has since sized/lubed thousands of fine projectiles.. :wink:

 

[gramps]

Yep, need to find out your throat size, and then your bore size, and boolit size(cast lead). That will let you know if you need to change the size of your boolit to fit your gun. Tumble lube is easy. Get a plastic jar of peanuts from Wal-mart ($2.88). Eat them as you read your manuals. When finished(eating the peanuts) get a tbsp of Johnson Paste Wax (JPW)(Also found at Wal-mart), put it in your empty plastic jar with 50 or so cast boolits and place in a sunny area to melt the JPW (approx 20 minutes) then gently roll around, remove and place on wax paper, aluminum foil etc with the nose up and let dry 24 hrs if you can wait that long! (size if needed before lubing). Load and have fun!
gramps