Lubing Lee REAL bullets?

[guzma393]

Black powder neophyte here, I been messing around with Lee REALs as of late, and even got them to shoot fairly well out of my traditions hawkins woodsman. I didn't know what to make of the lubrication process, so I just brought a can of crisco with me and lubed them on site. It worked well, I wasn't sure if I was getting enough lube on the lee REALs.

I also had some homemade patch lube made from 1:1 mix of olive oil and beeswax. I preferred the patch lube more, as it was a more thicker consistency, and seemed like it wanted to fill in the grooves when packed on. After I came home, i figured i try pre lubing the bullets so i dont have to lube them on the field. I whipped up a fresh batch of homemade patch lube, and attempted to lube the lee reals using the dip method. Since it was my first time, I dipped the bullets when they were cold just to see what would it do, and it glazed the bullet with a nice thick layer. I tried pre heating the bullets, before dipping them, but I did not like how inconsistent the grooves were filling. Further, I noticed that the dip method probably is not the best method to lube the lee REALs, since they do not really have a nose to grasp on with pliers.

I resorted to simply dipping a cold bullet in the melted lube as that atleast got the best coverage. The excess lube along the base and the nose can then be wiped off, resulting in thick bands of lube packed along the grooves of the lee REAL bullet. I'm not exactly sure if the pan lube method would work for the lee REAL either, since the driving bands are tapered.

Does anyone else have experience with lubing lee REALs? I have not gotten to trying out wads yet - would a lubed wad be enough or do I still need to lube the lee REALs?

 

[Coehorn]

Look up a recipe called 45-45-10. Greatest lube ever invented for coating lead bullets.

It's waxy and sticks to bullets with no sticky slimy residue.

A little bit goes a long way too. Put some bullets in a plastic container, drizzle on some 45-45-10 and gently tumble by hand. Just use enough until a sheen develops. Don't drown the bullets.

Good luck.

 

[Blacksmith101]

An "edumcation" in bullet lube and lubing:
Link to the Bullet Lube section of Cast Boolits forum, over 4,000 posts:

Boolit Lube !

The area for discussion of recipes, ingredients, home-made and commercial offerings.

castboolits.gunloads.com

 

[John from MD]

Almost every BP shooter comes up with some kind of concoction. There are a couple of basic rules. 1, use only natural oils/fats and 2, you need a different mix for winter and summer months. Have fun.

 

[guzma393]

Almost every BP shooter comes up with some kind of concoction. There are a couple of basic rules. 1, use only natural oils/fats and 2, you need a different mix for winter and summer months. Have fun.

I'm finding myself using used motor oil as a storage oil for ML's to address surface rust issues caused by trace moisture after cleaning. I run a dry patch down the bore to wipe off the oil before I shoot it to make sure I am not burning off any synthetic oil (I heard it leaves a stubborn residue). Should I be switching more towards something more natural, or is it fine for storage purposes? I've got plenty of used motor oil to "repurpose" and been using it as storage oil for all my firearms

 

[guzma393]

Look up a recipe called 45-45-10. Greatest lube ever invented for coating lead bullets.

It's waxy and sticks to bullets with no sticky slimy residue.

A little bit goes a long way too. Put some bullets in a plastic container, drizzle on some 45-45-10 and gently tumble by hand. Just use enough until a sheen develops. Don't drown the bullets.

Good luck.

Interesting, I'll keep that in mind. The reasoning for getting maximal coverage on the lube grooves is that I had an instance of hard bp fouling caking forming. The lee REAL has some deep grooves in them, so I figured I try to fill them in with lube. It could also be user error, and I am getting more unburnt powder fouling that usual, due to bp contamination from when I was lubing bullets on the field. Lots of variables to test. Funnily enough, I think I had more success running straight olive oil as patch lube on PRB's out of my jukar 45 rifle. I will have to revisit that.

 

[Doco Overboard]

I'm finding myself using used motor oil as a storage oil for ML's to address surface rust issues caused by trace moisture after cleaning. I run a dry patch down the bore to wipe off the oil before I shoot it to make sure I am not burning off any synthetic oil (I heard it leaves a stubborn residue). Should I be switching more towards something more natural, or is it fine for storage purposes? I've got plenty of used motor oil to "repurpose" and been using it as storage oil for all my firearms

I use clean heavy but unused motor oil.
Sometimes grease for longer storage.

 

[John from MD]

I'm finding myself using used motor oil as a storage oil for ML's to address surface rust issues caused by trace moisture after cleaning. I run a dry patch down the bore to wipe off the oil before I shoot it to make sure I am not burning off any synthetic oil (I heard it leaves a stubborn residue). Should I be switching more towards something more natural, or is it fine for storage purposes? I've got plenty of used motor oil to "repurpose" and been using it as storage oil for all my firearms

Use Ballistol for wiping down and it will keep your metal from corroding. It does not react with BP residue like petroleum based oils.

 

[guzma393]

Use Ballistol for wiping down and it will keep your metal from corroding. It does not react with BP residue like petroleum based oils.

Ballistol is good stuff, it's just expensive. I'll probably resort to buying a whole gallon to stock up on the stuff and have it as my go-to lube again.

 

[Doco Overboard]

Never used it in over 40 years.
But then I leave absolutely no fouling after cleaning so I wouldn’t know.

 

[John from MD]

Ballistol is good stuff, it's just expensive. I'll probably resort to buying a whole gallon to stock up on the stuff and have it as my go-to lube again.

EVERYTHING is expensive these days unfortunately.

 

[Archeryrob]

If your beeswax was too runny at 1:1 use less oil. I shot them unlubed with a lubed felt wad for a better seal.

 

[guzma393]

If your beeswax was too runny at 1:1 use less oil. I shot them unlubed with a lubed felt wad for a better seal.

I think i came across your videos about it. Ill eventually get to making my own wads and trying out unlubed lee REALS with lubed felt wads acting as a gascheck.

 

[Archeryrob]

I cut them with a 9/16" punch and if you want the lube thick you can lube the entire sheet, let it dry and punch it. I would punch them dry and dip in hot lube with tweezers and toss in a tin foil ball and bake at 200 to even out.

 

[John from MD]

I used to cut my wads out while watching TV then put them in a hot pot of bullet lube. I then poured them out through a strainer. After they stopped dripping, I put them in a coffee can for storage.

 

[guzma393]

I cut them with a 9/16" punch and if you want the lube thick you can lube the entire sheet, let it dry and punch it. I would punch them dry and dip in hot lube with tweezers and toss in a tin foil ball and bake at 200 to even out.

Where do you get your wad material? Will 1/8" 100% wool felt work?

 

[John from MD]

There is a woman on line from somewhere in the Middle East who sells excellent felt. She knows the exact texture and thickness needed for BP shooting. I will see if I can find you her web address.

Sorry. Their name was Durofelt but their web address is dead so I guess they went out of business.

 

[Archeryrob]

I used to buy Durafelt and it looks like they are not around any more. Wonder wads if you don't want to make them.

1/8" should be fine and I think it is what I have.

 

[Coehorn]

Try different combinations of everything until the required accuracy is achieved in YOUR barrel.

There are no shortcuts.

 

[guzma393]

I used to buy Durafelt and it looks like they are not around any more. Wonder wads if you don't want to make them.

1/8" should be fine and I think it is what I have.

I cant seem to find 1/8" thick 100% wool felt easily. Looks like I will need to source some wads just to try out. Should the wad be .05"-.06" overbore for best seal, i.e. 45 cal uses a 50 cal wad, and 50 cal uses a 56 cal wad?