bullet lube

Shadow9mm · September 29, 2021, 04:18 PM

I am venturing into lubing my cast bullet and am doing some reading and learning. Figured I would share what I have learned and what I am trying so far. loading for 38spl and 357mag smokeless powder.

From what I read during the American civil war a 50/50 mix of bees wax and tallow was used.

I found a LOT of mixtures and concoctions using everything including, bees wax, motor oil, petroleum jelly, paraffin, olive oil, crisco, and ATF.

I'm trying to keep it simple. I am using bees wax and TC bore butter.

So far I have mixed up 2 small test batches using bees wax ratios of 1:1, 2:1 and 4:1 mixed by weight.

So far I have gotten some rough data on the wax using my infared thermometer. the mixes seem to fully melt around 165F in the microwave. They seem to solidify around 135F. they tear rather than snap, so they are not brittle. under 115F tap water they do not melt.

I am also looking to try this experiment with frog lube paste in the near future. but that is for another day.

so far the 1:1 feels pretty slick and soft. the 2:1 is a bit stiffer and less slippery, very mildly tacky. the 4:1 is much stiffer but still soft not brittle and is mostly tacky feeling.

dahermit · September 29, 2021, 04:40 PM

It sounds like you are trying to reinvent the wheel all by yourself.

It would be a whole lot easier if you just looked here:
https://castboolits.gunloads.com/for...-Boolit-Lube-!

Shadow9mm · September 29, 2021, 04:53 PM

I have looked there, more than a little. Read all the recipes. however I dont want to use ATF, motor oil, automotive grease, olive oil, or crisco..... so most of those wont work for my needs.

My understanding of bullet lubes is as follows. They all use a wax. The wax itself however though is just there to hold the lubricant. and other additives to harden or soften the wax itself.

so bore butter and frog lube are both softer and thinner than the bees wax and both are lubricants.

so far the frog lube goes a LOT further than the bore butter in terms of lubrication. in a 2:1 ratio of bees wax to bore butter the frog lube mix is significantly more slippery. so that is what I am leaning towards at the moment. so far I have the bees wax to frog lube mix down to a 5:1 mix and it still seems nice and slick. Going to add more wax slowly until I get a good ratio since frog lube is the expensive part of the mix.

USSR · September 30, 2021, 08:42 AM

My take on this. You save a lot of money by casting your own bullets; you save little to nothing making your own lube. For great and affordable lubes, go here: https://lsstuff.com/.

Don

dahermit · September 30, 2021, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USSR

My take on this. You save a lot of money by casting your own bullets; you save little to nothing making your own lube. For great and affordable lubes, go here: https://lsstuff.com/.

Don

Yeah... also, pretty much has already been tried and documented when it comes to home made lubes.

reddog81 · October 3, 2021, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USSR

My take on this. You save a lot of money by casting your own bullets; you save little to nothing making your own lube. For great and affordable lubes, go here: https://lsstuff.com/.

Don

That’s the route I go. I’ve gone through dozens of tubes of their lube without having to clean bores. The stuff works great and they’ve done all the testing.

I’m all for saving some coin reloading and casting but saving fractions of pennies on lube per round isn’t for me.

Deltadart · October 5, 2021, 07:56 AM

Pretty good info here.
http://marvinstuart.com/firearm/Manu...yxell_Book.pdf

Pathfinder45 · October 9, 2021, 11:47 PM

I mainly use toilet sealing wax rings; the cheapest ones at Home Depot, etc.

gwpercle · October 12, 2021, 09:48 AM

Might look at Coconut Oil ... Frog Lube has a Coconut oil base with a bunch of highly refined addives to it . I don't know your objections to automotive lubricants but Frog Lube is pricey and the Coconut Oil might work .

After 50+ years of fooling around with lube ...the one I keep coming back to is 1 part Lithium Grease (Lucas Red-N-Tacky) and 3 parts Beeswax ...
...Good old fashioned Lithi-Bee Lube !
Haven't found anything better for cast bullet lube in handguns .
Gary

Clone · October 21, 2021, 08:11 AM

Pathfinder45

Are you just using the wax ring strait or mixing it with something?

September 29, 2021, 04:18 PM	#1
Shadow9mm Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 3,974	bullet lube I am venturing into lubing my cast bullet and am doing some reading and learning. Figured I would share what I have learned and what I am trying so far. loading for 38spl and 357mag smokeless powder. From what I read during the American civil war a 50/50 mix of bees wax and tallow was used. I found a LOT of mixtures and concoctions using everything including, bees wax, motor oil, petroleum jelly, paraffin, olive oil, crisco, and ATF. I'm trying to keep it simple. I am using bees wax and TC bore butter. So far I have mixed up 2 small test batches using bees wax ratios of 1:1, 2:1 and 4:1 mixed by weight. So far I have gotten some rough data on the wax using my infared thermometer. the mixes seem to fully melt around 165F in the microwave. They seem to solidify around 135F. they tear rather than snap, so they are not brittle. under 115F tap water they do not melt. I am also looking to try this experiment with frog lube paste in the near future. but that is for another day. so far the 1:1 feels pretty slick and soft. the 2:1 is a bit stiffer and less slippery, very mildly tacky. the 4:1 is much stiffer but still soft not brittle and is mostly tacky feeling. __________________ I don't believe in "range fodder" that is why I reload.

September 29, 2021, 04:40 PM	#2
dahermit Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2006 Location: South Central Michigan...near Posts: 6,501	It sounds like you are trying to reinvent the wheel all by yourself. It would be a whole lot easier if you just looked here: https://castboolits.gunloads.com/for...-Boolit-Lube-! Last edited by dahermit; September 30, 2021 at 10:17 AM.

September 29, 2021, 04:53 PM	#3
Shadow9mm Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 3,974	I have looked there, more than a little. Read all the recipes. however I dont want to use ATF, motor oil, automotive grease, olive oil, or crisco..... so most of those wont work for my needs. My understanding of bullet lubes is as follows. They all use a wax. The wax itself however though is just there to hold the lubricant. and other additives to harden or soften the wax itself. so bore butter and frog lube are both softer and thinner than the bees wax and both are lubricants. so far the frog lube goes a LOT further than the bore butter in terms of lubrication. in a 2:1 ratio of bees wax to bore butter the frog lube mix is significantly more slippery. so that is what I am leaning towards at the moment. so far I have the bees wax to frog lube mix down to a 5:1 mix and it still seems nice and slick. Going to add more wax slowly until I get a good ratio since frog lube is the expensive part of the mix. __________________ I don't believe in "range fodder" that is why I reload. Last edited by Shadow9mm; September 29, 2021 at 05:17 PM.

September 30, 2021, 08:42 AM	#4
USSR Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2017 Location: Finger Lakes Region of NY Posts: 1,442	My take on this. You save a lot of money by casting your own bullets; you save little to nothing making your own lube. For great and affordable lubes, go here: https://lsstuff.com/. Don __________________ NRA Life Member NRA Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor

October 5, 2021, 07:56 AM	#7
Deltadart Senior Member Join Date: April 26, 2015 Location: Washington State Posts: 286	Pretty good info here. http://marvinstuart.com/firearm/Manu...yxell_Book.pdf

October 9, 2021, 11:47 PM	#8
Pathfinder45 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2008 Posts: 3,224	I mainly use toilet sealing wax rings; the cheapest ones at Home Depot, etc.

October 12, 2021, 09:48 AM	#9
gwpercle Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2012 Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana Posts: 1,752	Might look at Coconut Oil ... Frog Lube has a Coconut oil base with a bunch of highly refined addives to it . I don't know your objections to automotive lubricants but Frog Lube is pricey and the Coconut Oil might work . After 50+ years of fooling around with lube ...the one I keep coming back to is 1 part Lithium Grease (Lucas Red-N-Tacky) and 3 parts Beeswax ... ...Good old fashioned Lithi-Bee Lube ! Haven't found anything better for cast bullet lube in handguns . Gary

October 21, 2021, 08:11 AM	#10
Clone Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2005 Posts: 234	Pathfinder45 Are you just using the wax ring strait or mixing it with something?