2 Part lube question 1. LBT soft or/vs Ben's red. 2. BLL

Dimner

Named Man
Welcome aboard Spudwrench.

I'd forego the bee's wax. Ben fiddled around and created a pretty darned good tumble lube as it is. I don't think the bees wax will dissolve and blend into the liquid. But do drop a small round ball or ball bearing into your container to help agitate the lube. I noticed some settling years ago and an agitator ball eliminates that.
You made my day. I have never thought of a few bbs in my BLL bottle to help agitate.... this is going to save me lots of shaking
 

Spudwrench

New Member
Thank you for the replies. I am not trying to solve any problems, I made my 1st batch of Ben's liquid lube last week using Lundmark. I cast around close to a thousand bullets yesterday and was just curious if a piece of beeswax would dissolve and help. I am here to learn more than the knowledge I possess now, but I do appreciate the responses. Hope I get out to shoot today.
 

JonB

Halcyon member
Spudwrench,
I hope what I posted (and what I'm about to suggest) doesn't discourage you from lube experimenting, But I suspected you hadn't shot any bullets coated with BLL yet. The Question: Will a small percentage of added Beeswax help BLL? Maybe, or maybe not...it might even create a problem that would have been avoided if you didn't add beeswax. Each application/situation (caliber-load-gun-weather) is different and a specific Lube may work or it may have an issue (issues typically arise from extreme situations). The thing with BLL, it's a "tried and true" recipe that should work well in any typical application, but of course there "might" be some extreme condition in your shooting situation where BLL might need a bit of modification. Anyway, I wouldn't start experimenting with a tried and true recipe, until I had an issue.
>>> There is so much to read about Bullet Lubes. Some understanding may help for your future reference.

What does bullet lube do?

Chapter 5 cast bullet lubrication

Bullet Lube Ingredients
 
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Spudwrench

New Member
I asked the question because I know folks here know more about bullet lube formulas than I do. After casting yesterday I lubed some 124 grain 9mm and and 230 grain 45 caliber truncated cone bullets with the BLL using Lundmark. Checked on them this morning and they were still a little tacky, but humidity in the SC lowcountry is 86% right now, my bullets are out in my shop. I cannot see the lube but I can feel it. Yes, this is my first time using this lube and that is the reason my curiosity. Thanks again for the advice.
 

L Ross

Well-Known Member
I asked the question because I know folks here know more about bullet lube formulas than I do. After casting yesterday I lubed some 124 grain 9mm and and 230 grain 45 caliber truncated cone bullets with the BLL using Lundmark. Checked on them this morning and they were still a little tacky, but humidity in the SC lowcountry is 86% right now, my bullets are out in my shop. I cannot see the lube but I can feel it. Yes, this is my first time using this lube and that is the reason my curiosity. Thanks again for the advice.
I use the original formula with Johnson's One Step and I can often feel tackiness. I have always assumed it is because I typically size and fill the bottom grease groove, (if more than one is available), with Ben's Red lube, then tumble lube the BLL very lightly, (10 drops per 50 bullets), as an over coat. I think the BLL and the swirling in the Cool Whip tub spreads a little of the Ben's Red all over on the bullet and that's what I am feeling. Whatever is happening, it works.
 

popper

Well-Known Member
Next time, try just a couple drops per maybe 25 bullets. Let dry and do again. Thick coat sometimes takes a long time to 'dry'. I use a short piece of weed wacker line to 'dip' and gives me a real 'drop'. I store in a small cola bottle. Change the cap once it gets too stiff to open. Mine is just 50/50 O.S. and LLA. Works well in rifle too.
 

JonB

Halcyon member
There is a couple common sense tricks to dry tumble lubed bullets.

1. a simple fan, to blow air over them...while I don't do this, Ben has posted photos of his fan setup.

2. what I do, is preheat the dry bullets with a heatgun.
put a few drops of BLL on the warm bullets, swirl in bowl, and dump onto waxy paper.
The heat speeds up the dissipation of the solvents, even in humid weather, they are dry to touch in less than 20 minutes.
I do let them cure (get extra dry) overnight, before I load any. This technique has never given me lube build up in a seater die, which is a common occurrence with Tumble lubes, if they are tacky to touch during loading...Yes, I have had this problem in the distant past and gives inconsistent COAL.
 

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
I use the original formula with Johnson's One Step and I can often feel tackiness. I have always assumed it is because I typically size and fill the bottom grease groove, (if more than one is available), with Ben's Red lube, then tumble lube the BLL very lightly, (10 drops per 50 bullets), as an over coat. I think the BLL and the swirling in the Cool Whip tub spreads a little of the Ben's Red all over on the bullet and that's what I am feeling. Whatever is happening, it works.
I think you've read my " play book ".

Ben
 

Wasalmonslayer

Well-Known Member
If all you are using is BLL no regular lube I actually dry them in my toaster oven for 20 min at 175 between coats and it sets the coating like a varnish and shoots clean with zero residue. You want to go light on the coating it’s like brill cream a dab will do ya…
I use this lube and method on all my gas checked rifle loads with superb accuracy and mirror bright bore with no leading.
I use two coats with a “cure” in the oven on each coating.
Nothing comes off on my loading dies and they are slick and sticky free during handling.

The calibers I shoot this way are 7.62x39, 45-70, 44 mag, 357 mag, 30-30, 308.

Not shooting super velocity loads but good enough accuracy to cleanly harvest game to 200 yards with the appropriate cartridge.

I size all of the bullets 1 thou over bore diameter any more than that and I start to get leading. My theory on that is it’s not compressing the bullet to fit at that point it’s scraping it down to size and I am loosing my lube layer. Not 100% sure on that but if it works don’t fix it :)

My 7.62 ruger will boringly ring a 6” steel plate all day at 300 yrds with my 13 year old son shooting it.

Hope this helps you out!
 
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Dimner

Named Man
My wife was in the right place at the right time. When the one step floor wax was being discontinued, my wife found 6 bottles for me. At something like $1.39 per bottle. I hope it has a good shelf life. I have only used up one and a half so far, and that is with giving a friend about 12oz of BLL to play with.
 

Ian

Notorious member
I paid $5/can for the last eight that Lowe's had on red-tag sale. No, I didn't leave any for the next guy, but did give away at least two of them to friends who actually will use it to make BLL.

Once I switched to powder coat I never looked back.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I have 4-6 cans on hand. Have used very little as I went all in on PC.
If I could ship it they would be listed here.
 

waco

Springfield, Oregon
I have a partial batch I’m still working on and one unopened bottle. At the rate I use this stuff I’m set for life. PC takes care of most of my shooting needs now. I do like a BLL overcoat on my lubed HV rifle rounds though.
 

Ian

Notorious member
When I first started PC'ing for mach 4+ rifle loads I thought for sure I'd need a film lube to keep the plastic from melting and sticking to the barrel. BLL seemed the obvious thing because it works so well with bare lead, however that proved completely unnecessary since the limiting factor isn't the PC itself but the lead alloy softening near the muzzle of a hot barrel. Not a problem unless firing very, very rapidly for an extended period of time.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I just assumed they couldn’t be shipped as they are flammable liquid? Anyone know for sure?
 

JonB

Halcyon member
I researched shipping a flammable liquid via USPS flat rate.
They have 3 or 4 different levels that is allowed, some have additions fees, some don't. It all depends on the flash point of the liquid. My local postal clerk got the post master involved on a slow day, they spent an hour helping me figure that out. I was researching Lee liquid Alox. I realize many will ship Alox USPS, but it needs special labeling, ship fees were same. I believe that happened the same time Lee quit selling sizer dies with Alox. I suspect the Johnson's liquid One Step has a lower flash point, so there is likely a addition fee.