Author Topic: Bullet Lube-soft or hard? (Read 725 times)

flintman · « **on:** April 22, 2003, 08:02:34 AM »

A friend had a good arguement on using a hard lube in a rifle(.30/06 with 22" barrel,Lyman #311284 and maybe #311041),he feels that a hard lube will last and perform better in longer barrels.I have bought some Lyman Super Moly lube for my 45 sizer.My request for advice is this;I can use the Lyman Super Moly for a .45 Long Colt revolver,so it is not a wasted deal,but what do you guys think?Maybe some insight here can help out black powder cartridge shooters? :?

richp41 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 22, 2003, 11:05:38 AM »

Any good quality lube will get the job done IF the bullets match the bore properly. I've used the Lyman Moly and it worked fine. I just didn't like the moly mess. I've had hard lube fail miserably when the bullets were undersize for the bore and I've had it work okay when the bullet fit was correct. I use NRA 50/50 lube on all my machine lubed bullets and Lee Liquid Alox on bullets that don't get sized. Never have any leading because all my bullets are matched to the bore. I've shot lead bullets for nearly 35 years and the 311284 is my favorite .30 caliber bullet. Groups have been as small as 1" with the iron sights on my 03A3 at 100 yards and normal accuracy is about 1.5". Never any leading nor poor accuracy. When I got a Beretta 92 FS 12 years ago it leaded so badly with 125 gr lead bullets and hard lube that after 20-25 rounds the bullets were keyholing and the rifling had disappeared under the layer of lead. These bullets were also very hard which is another subject for discussion.What I discovered was that the Beretta bore was oversize-- .358" and the bullets were .356". Voile-- instant leading. Same bullets were sized to .358" with soft lube and leading no longer occured. You just have to understand the relationship between bullet size, hardness and lubrication. It isn't new science. The old timers knew the secrets back in the late 1800's when match shooting was more popular than most other sports. Rich P

Ka6otm · « **Reply #2 on:** April 23, 2003, 10:02:40 AM »

I go with John Linebaugh's statement on lubes:

"Bullet lube, anything that is soft and gooie. If it resembles a crayon, that's all its good for."

Check it out at http://www.sixgunner.com/linebaugh/dissolving.htm

Ka6otm

Turk · « **Reply #3 on:** April 23, 2003, 10:21:52 AM »

I agree with Ka6otm. I use LBT Blue for all my needs and shoot cast in .357, .410, 429, 452. When I shoot rifle 30 Cal I use the NRA 50/50 fourmla. I shots thousands of cast bullets only time I've had a leading problem with handgun was when I really pushed some swaged WC out of my 357.

The worst leading I ever saw was friend of mine shooting cast 9mm out of his Mac 10. (This weapon is legal and stamped). I told him not to do it but he thought he'd save a few $ in reloading costs.

Turk