Sticky brass from boolit lube... need suggestions

[webby4x4]

After reloading about 500 rounds of .45 ACP , I find that my brass and boolits are sticky, due to the boolit lube.

I haven't shot any of my reloads just yet (), but I can imagine that the boolit lube will not only make my hands sticky/dirty when loading the magazines, but it will get all over my gun, inside the breach and in the magazines too.

I thought about using non-chlorinated brake cleaner to clean all of my reloaded rounds, but I wanted to get some feedback about what you guys (and gals) do to clean your rounds before you go shooting.

Thanks,
Rick

[Edward429451]

Nothing beats a clean soft cotton cloth.

You do wipe your boolit bases before seating them into cases don't you?

[webby4x4]

You do wipe your boolit bases before seating them into cases don't you?

yup, right after they come out of the resize/lube die, I drag them across a cloth. But between my hands being sticky from handling all of the rounds and the residue that gets onto the top of the boolits, it makes its way to the brass too. The brass is NOT sticky when I'm seating the bullets (so I'm not worried about it getting into the die and malforming the brass), but from general handling afterwards, it does get sticky.

I agree on the soft cloth, but that tube/stick lube I use in my lyman resize/lube press is REALLY sticky and nasty :barf: and makes it pretty hard to whipe down 500 rounds. OK, I'll stop whining now.

[Dingoboyx]

The case & bullet lube will make the cases all powdery if you tumble them later too If you have carbide dies, dont bother using case lube in future is my advice. Just keep the inside of the dies clean and a little oil (run a wad or 2 up the inside of the die before and after a run to keep them clean and stop them rusting) Just put a tiny bit of bullet lube on the seat of the bullet that goes inside the case mouth. Try some bullet wax lube rather than the sticky brown liquid alox (which I presume you are using, I did, had the same problem)

I reload .44 mag and .44-40, 9mm & .32 ACP & S&W without case lube & use molly/teflon/colored projectiles, so I dont use bullet lube. Takes all the mess out of reloading

[Dingoboyx]

Is great for wiping down bullets before putting them in the containers to take 'em to the range. I cut the legs into about 10" lendths so I have an endless rag, then can throw them in the washing machine when the missus aint lookin'

[webby4x4]

Try some bullet wax lube rather than the sticky brown liquid alox (which I presume you are using, I did, had the same problem)

Great feedback - I am indeed using the brown alox (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tnumber=785628 - 50% beeswax / 50% alox). Which brand of wax lube are you using?

But... What do I do with all of the loaded, sticky rounds that I have now? That's the million dollar question.

[snuffy]

Denatured alcohol will cut that lube easily. It's all I use, a little on a paper towel or rad will clean 25-30 rounds, then use some more on another area of the towel. It's available at paint stores or any hardware store. Also it don't stink like mineral spirits which will also work.

If you're getting the alox all over your shells, you're probably not belling your case mouths enough. The case is scraping the lube off the boolit.

[webby4x4]

Fantastic - thanks snuffy!

[Dingoboyx]

The last one I used was called Black Powder Gold, It was a yellowish off white color with consistancy of about boot polish. Not as messy as that brown alox from lee. I buy teflon (molly) coated projectiles factory made, I dont size them, I just put them in dry now. Makes it all very clean and civilised.

[Cloudpeak]

I put around 10 rounds in a row on a towel, roll them to inspect the case mouths for cracks and for any lead shaved ahead of the case mouth. I then use a "micro fiber" towel & press down on the row of loaded rounds and roll them back and forth. The micro fiber towel does a good job cleaning the LLA off the cases (and takes some LLA off the bullet noses, as well.)

Cloudpeak

[webby4x4]

Great suggestions - thanks folks!