I've been using, off & on, Lee TL bullets .39 Cal 148 WC/158 SWC .41 Cal 210 SWC, .44 Cal 240 SWC, .45 ACP 230 RN. In the Mag calibers I keep load to about 1,100 FPS. I used to use XLOX alone . I found that I'd get some leading and that the gunk would quickly accumulate on the seating stem; with each subsequent seated bullet, they'd be driven deeper into the case. They were every bit as accurate as any "regular" cast bullet. I then tried a new technique. I would TL the bullets with the XLOX. Then do another TL with a dab of some Liquid Car Wax...just enough to cover the bullets. I did not coat the bullets "too heavy" with the XLOX. I would then place the TL bullets in a shallow pad and let them sit for a few days to "dry". That stopped the seating stem issue and I found that the (minor) leading issue was greatly reduced. I do know that one can buy/make 45-45-10/Deluxe XLOX. However I bought 32 ounces of XLOX. 32 ounces lasts a very long time. Can anyone share their thoughts & experience using TL bullets and whatever lube that you use? BTW I never size the TL cast bullets and have never had any "too big to chamber" issues.
How about we discuss using Lee Tumble Lube cast bullets?
- Thread starter Wallyl
- Start date
Bret4207
At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
I've used Lee's "Mule Snot" lube for a variety of bullets deigns and calibers for many years. I don't think I've ever used a TL bullet though. So this isn't really on topic to your specific question, but it's not a bad lube for lower end cast shooting. Push it too hard and it seems to give problems where the same bullet with a different lube didn't...but that's my guns, my alloy, my loading, etc.
Not sure that helps?
Not sure that helps?
I've never used TL bullets but have used all of the above lubes plus White Label's CR and my own personal mix. I've a feeling that if your barrel is going to lead, it will lead no matter what lube. I have a S&W 686 and it leads some with all lubes I have tried.
If you pan lube and use a cake cutter to remove the bullet you will get some lube on the seater stem. Personally, my mix of Bees Wax and Vaseline works as well as anything I've tried and, yes, it will leave some lead in the barrel of my Smith with bullets fit to the throats.
If you pan lube and use a cake cutter to remove the bullet you will get some lube on the seater stem. Personally, my mix of Bees Wax and Vaseline works as well as anything I've tried and, yes, it will leave some lead in the barrel of my Smith with bullets fit to the throats.
JonB
Halcyon member
I use to use two coats of 45-45-10 ...until Ben introduced us to BLL.
So now I do the following with a variety of Lee TL pistol bullets and one Lee 30 cal TL rifle bullet.
I preheat the bullets (with heatgun) and tumble unsized bullets in a bowl with a dab of 45-45-10
Since they were warmed up, they dry quickly (20 min).
Then I size them with a push through sizer on a inverted reloading press.
Then I tumble lube again with BLL (no heat needed)
They dry in an hour or so if humidity isn't too high, but in high humid summer days, they may need to dry overnight. I don't use a fan like Ben recommends, but the Fan is surely a great idea.
That's how I do it...and it works for me.
I am lucky to have the ingredients for BLL.
So now I do the following with a variety of Lee TL pistol bullets and one Lee 30 cal TL rifle bullet.
I preheat the bullets (with heatgun) and tumble unsized bullets in a bowl with a dab of 45-45-10
Since they were warmed up, they dry quickly (20 min).
Then I size them with a push through sizer on a inverted reloading press.
Then I tumble lube again with BLL (no heat needed)
They dry in an hour or so if humidity isn't too high, but in high humid summer days, they may need to dry overnight. I don't use a fan like Ben recommends, but the Fan is surely a great idea.
That's how I do it...and it works for me.
I am lucky to have the ingredients for BLL.
Bret4207
At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
12-15 years back there was a GB design on The Site Which Shall Not Be Named called the "30 Plinker". It was a sort of TL PB design of about 160grs that was supposed to be a TL only design. At that time we were really getting into the possibilties of a cheap, easy PB plinker for "low node" shooting. I bought a 6 cav mould and cast a mess up. Results were just awful. IIRC they dropped at about .312 in my alloy and should have done okay as they were a very parralell sided RN design. Maybe I just pushed them too hard, probably used the old 13.0 Red Dot load which was also all the rage at the time. If I ever get time I'd like to go back and see if that bullet won't do better in the 850-900 fps range.
fiver
Well-Known Member
I only tumble lube a few bullets.
I use pretty much the same method as Jon.
heating the bullets about too hot to touch, and I also melt down the lube to the consistency of water.
my 45/45 lube is bumped with about 10% beeswax and more like 50% mineral spirits since that's how I was making it before it became 45/45 lube.
lube/size-check/lube, the second lube coat might be only a little bit of mineral spirits.
I use pretty much the same method as Jon.
heating the bullets about too hot to touch, and I also melt down the lube to the consistency of water.
my 45/45 lube is bumped with about 10% beeswax and more like 50% mineral spirits since that's how I was making it before it became 45/45 lube.
lube/size-check/lube, the second lube coat might be only a little bit of mineral spirits.
CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
No usage of the Lee TL bullet designs per se. I have used LLA as paper-patch lube from time to time. The closest things I have to TL bullet designs are Lyman Loverin rifle bullet designs--in 22, 24, 30, and 9.3mm calibers. I have always thought a PB Loverin would be a natural for TLing or dip & size, and now with the #366408 on hand it might get a test-drive. The other Loverins are all GC designs, so they get H&I'ed to seat GCs.....might as well lube them while that's under way.
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CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
Are these plain-base bullets, or gas-checked? 1800 FPS is honkin' right along for a plain-base.
Rick H
Well-Known Member
They are checked...and yep they are moving right along out of that short guide gun barrel. (Not the ported one). I haven't taken game with either of them, been using a bunch of 300gr. Remington JHPs at 1880 fps...(same as the old factory 33o Gould load out of a full length rifle). That bullet is devastating on our whitetail deer.
CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
I still have some life left in my 2-banger Lee 40-175 TC, it has had A LOT of casting but I baby the Lee tools to keep them running. If/when it expires, it will be replaced by a 4-cav of very similar design by one of the semi-custom mould makers. Those Lee TC designs do a lot of things very well in 9mm, 40/10, and 45 ACP.
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Spindrift
Well-Known Member
When I started casting my own bullets for my rifles (5 years ago, maybe?), I used LLA exclusively. Then, I started diluting it with «Boat wax», a liquified hard wax of some sort, in heptane solvent. It worked reasonably well, no problems with leading. Below is a target I shot with the Lee c309-180 bore rider and the LLA/boat wax, and 32 grs imr4198 giving 2130 fps. 5- shot group at 100m, shot from prone with support on a bag; roughly 2 MOA. At the time, I was very happy with this 
Now, I mostly use TL as a top coat, but sometimes I use it as a stand-alone lube. For quick-and-dirty bullet prep, you can’t beat tumble lubing PB bullets. If it gives you the results you desire, all is good.
Now, I mostly use TL as a top coat, but sometimes I use it as a stand-alone lube. For quick-and-dirty bullet prep, you can’t beat tumble lubing PB bullets. If it gives you the results you desire, all is good.
Ian
Notorious member
I have to say that powder coat has supplanted any and all needs for liquid lubes at my house. I still use conventional lube for some things. It isn't that BLL or Fiver's thinned snot with JPW and beeswax doesn't work for anything a plain-based bullet would need, it's that PC is so much better.
I started TL with a N.O.E. .432-240-RF almost 3years ago. Cast them up for My Chiropractor who Cowboy Shoots. Has worked great with WLL 45/45/10.
Clean , no leading in his Win Trapper or Vaquero's.
Switching it to PC for this next batch.
Want to try some TL when I break the Old Lyman #358495 2cav out of retirement.
Clean , no leading in his Win Trapper or Vaquero's.
Switching it to PC for this next batch.
Want to try some TL when I break the Old Lyman #358495 2cav out of retirement.
Doesn't anybody use the LEE TL bullet molds...maybe I am, the only one that is doing so.
I understand the PC deal and its benefits ...however TL is far easier and cheaper. Shooting .38 Specials with 3.5 Bullseye with a Lee 158 SWC-TL bullet vs. a Lyman 358477, I have found no difference in accuracy. Same with the Lee 148 WC-TL vs any regular lubed 148 cast bullet and 3.0 grains of Bullseye.
I understand the PC deal and its benefits ...however TL is far easier and cheaper. Shooting .38 Specials with 3.5 Bullseye with a Lee 158 SWC-TL bullet vs. a Lyman 358477, I have found no difference in accuracy. Same with the Lee 148 WC-TL vs any regular lubed 148 cast bullet and 3.0 grains of Bullseye.