which lube to use

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Last Post 23 March 2022
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sluggo posted this 19 March 2022

Hello: I normally use lyman No.2 alloy for most of my casting. I wanted to try to get my hollow point .357 and .44 rounds to expand better. I mixed up some 30 t0 1 alloy. it is a lot softer than the no.2 alloy. Both rounds have gas checks so I hope this will help against leading. I would like to push them at near jacketed velocity. Should I use a hard lube or soft? My hard lube needs to be heated to flow properly. The soft lube I have is 1/2 bees wax and 1/2 Vaseline. any thoughts on which way to go? Thanks in advance for any help. I would also like to thank all the members that have helped me save a lot of time on my other projects.

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Boschloper posted this 19 March 2022

Powder coat. Leave the gas check off.

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Little Debbie posted this 19 March 2022

Magnum velocity revolver loads have always worked best for me with soft lube. Gas checked or not and I’ve always had best luck with a softer alloy too, generally 20:1 or so. The more lube the better. I like the Kieth type “square” grease grooves. You can find them more or less replicated in most RCBS, Saeco, and NOE molds in the Kieth style and a few others. There seems to be the least (if any leading) and all the fouling in the cylinder face and frame is pretty easy to remove. Turns your hands black and is not good indoors. Your .44 bullet looks to have sufficient grease capacity!

I’ve seen bullets laying on back stops with the hard lube intact in the grooves including rifling marks on occasion. Don’t think it did much lubricating. Makes handling and storing them easier and doesn’t gum up seating dies.

Since you can live lube either way do some experimentation and see what works best.

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sluggo posted this 19 March 2022

I have not tried powder coating yet. New territory for me. Would the coating effect expansion? Also, does the powder coating act as a gas check? Thanks for the idea of using PC.

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MP1886 posted this 19 March 2022

Look at what Elmer Keith used, I believe it was 16 to 1. I feel 30 to 1 is too soft. Would be good for such things as the 45-70.

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Lee Guthrie posted this 19 March 2022

COWW plus 2% tin should work fine at .357 and .44 mag velocities, but if too hard for the expansion you want, change to 2/3 COWW, 1/3 Pb, plus 2% tin.

I don't think that you could go wrong for lube if you use LBT Blue - soft.

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Eutectic posted this 21 March 2022

You did not say which hard lube you use. A good hard lube will work probably with maximum 357 and 44 loads. It may not work with lighter loads. The soft lubes will work with both light and maximum loads.

My choice for a homemade soft lube is beeswax and jojoba oil, your beeswax/Vaseline is pretty good. For a commercial soft lube ALOX 50/50 cant be beat.

Steve

If you give politicians more power in an emergency, they will create more emergencies to get more power.