Tumble Lube vs regular case
- Thread starter glenn742
- Start date
Some may disagree, but I find that the "Alox" tumble lubes are very smoky. The plus is that it is a much faster process unless you have a lubesizer which sizes & lubes in one stroke. Tumble lubing is step #1 then you size them after, some shooters lube again after sizing. Are you casting for pistol? If you shoot outside the smoke won't be an issue. If tumble lubed and sized properly, you will have accurate and reliable ammunition. I still tumble some on occasion and resize with a LEE sizing die. Some people shoot their bullets "as-cast" then just lube them, which would be a really fast process, but I have had best results if I resize them to make them uniform. Good luck!
Tumble lubbing Vs stick lubes.
Ill try to put it in point form so you can compare.
Tumble lubbbing:
Pro’s
• Lubricate many bullets in a short period of time.
• Do not need a lube sizer or heater to apply lube.
• Need only small amounts for lubricating many bullets, (one bottle lasts a long time).
Cons
• Recommended to wait about 24 to 48 hours after tumbling for lube to dry on the bullets before loading.
• If sizing the bullets than tumble lubbing is an additional step.
• Tumble lube performs well at lower velocities and not so well at high pressure/velocity.
• Some people dislike the smell of liquid ALOX/DRALOX.
Stick lubricants:
Pro’s
• Is designed to fill the lube grooves and not the entire bullet.
• If using good lube than can push pressure/ velocity to jacketed bullet velocities with no leading.
• Do not need to wait after lube application in order to load bullet.
• If using a lube sizer than lubbing and sizing the bullet is done in one step.
Cons
• Takes longer time than tumble lubbing since lube has to be applies to each bullet individually with sizer or by hand
• Some cast bullets drop out of the mold just the right size and passing them through a lube sizer just to lube them is an additional step.
• Need tools such as lube sizers to apply lube, some lubes are very hard and you
may need to use a heater as well.
I’m sure other people will chime in if i missed a few pointers.
Ill try to put it in point form so you can compare.
Tumble lubbbing:
Pro’s
• Lubricate many bullets in a short period of time.
• Do not need a lube sizer or heater to apply lube.
• Need only small amounts for lubricating many bullets, (one bottle lasts a long time).
Cons
• Recommended to wait about 24 to 48 hours after tumbling for lube to dry on the bullets before loading.
• If sizing the bullets than tumble lubbing is an additional step.
• Tumble lube performs well at lower velocities and not so well at high pressure/velocity.
• Some people dislike the smell of liquid ALOX/DRALOX.
Stick lubricants:
Pro’s
• Is designed to fill the lube grooves and not the entire bullet.
• If using good lube than can push pressure/ velocity to jacketed bullet velocities with no leading.
• Do not need to wait after lube application in order to load bullet.
• If using a lube sizer than lubbing and sizing the bullet is done in one step.
Cons
• Takes longer time than tumble lubbing since lube has to be applies to each bullet individually with sizer or by hand
• Some cast bullets drop out of the mold just the right size and passing them through a lube sizer just to lube them is an additional step.
• Need tools such as lube sizers to apply lube, some lubes are very hard and you
may need to use a heater as well.
I’m sure other people will chime in if i missed a few pointers.
I think higher pressure velocity loads should probably be lubed with a luber sizer, and some of the harder lubes.
However for pistol bullets such as .45acp, 38special, 9mm tumble lube seems to be plenty. I used to tumble lube only, but I found that I needed to size my bullets anyway to get consistent feeding.
I can tumble lube, size with a lee sizer and relube still much faster then I can put bullets through my luber sizer. Note that all the bullets I've put through my luber sizer have been gas checked so that might slow me down some compared to what you might do for speed on a luber sizer with a non gas checked bullet for a true apples to apples comparison.
Other downsides to tumble lube bullets, is you lube the entire bullet, so once loaded the lube on the nose is exposed and can collect dirt and debris, so it either needs to be cleaned off, or you need to keep your ammo out of the dust and dirt.
To clean off tumble lube, you can wipe it off with solvent and a rag, contact cement remover works well, but anymore I just run the loaded ammo through a tumbler with a little mineral spirits on the media. 20 minutes or so seems to do the trick quite well.
In the end I use both methods, I tumble lube my 45's 38's etc since speed of making bullets for them is of the most importance to me when shooting 25 yards and large volumes. For 7mm bullets in my pistols such as 7tcu, 7 IHMSA etc, I use a lubersizer because of the higher pressures, and I don't shoot as many in a year, and I shoot at ranges out to 200m and beyond.
For my .45-70 so far tumble lubing a gas checked bullet has been working for me, but I'm considering using the luber sizer on them instead.
However for pistol bullets such as .45acp, 38special, 9mm tumble lube seems to be plenty. I used to tumble lube only, but I found that I needed to size my bullets anyway to get consistent feeding.
I can tumble lube, size with a lee sizer and relube still much faster then I can put bullets through my luber sizer. Note that all the bullets I've put through my luber sizer have been gas checked so that might slow me down some compared to what you might do for speed on a luber sizer with a non gas checked bullet for a true apples to apples comparison.
Other downsides to tumble lube bullets, is you lube the entire bullet, so once loaded the lube on the nose is exposed and can collect dirt and debris, so it either needs to be cleaned off, or you need to keep your ammo out of the dust and dirt.
To clean off tumble lube, you can wipe it off with solvent and a rag, contact cement remover works well, but anymore I just run the loaded ammo through a tumbler with a little mineral spirits on the media. 20 minutes or so seems to do the trick quite well.
In the end I use both methods, I tumble lube my 45's 38's etc since speed of making bullets for them is of the most importance to me when shooting 25 yards and large volumes. For 7mm bullets in my pistols such as 7tcu, 7 IHMSA etc, I use a lubersizer because of the higher pressures, and I don't shoot as many in a year, and I shoot at ranges out to 200m and beyond.
For my .45-70 so far tumble lubing a gas checked bullet has been working for me, but I'm considering using the luber sizer on them instead.
Tumble lubing is cheaper from an equipment standpoint, and alot of shooters use it and it works for them, however, when you look down the results of CBA benchrest (cast bullet benchrest) competition equipment lists, Lee and/or tumble lube are seldom seen. Most cast bullets used for accuracy need very specific sizing routine and sometimes involves sizing the front portion separately from the rear portion. Most good quality molds have std. grooves and are meant to be lubed/sized to suit your barrel. Tumble lube designs are not meant to be sized, but I hear some folks do.
Yeah, some folks do. On the Cast Boolits website, some folks are shooting 30 caliber bullets, tumble lubed, to 2600-2800 fps without leading.
I only shoot tumble lubed boolits in my pistols and they seem to need harder alloy (18+ BHN) in order to avoid stripping.
phishroy said lots of good pro's and con's.
I cast bullets (9mm and 44 mag) out of straight wheel weights, water dropped.
I think I figured out the right mix for me. I tumble lube 2x. After hundreds of rounds of before cleaning with 9mm, I can't say the barrel is anymore dirtier compared to jacketed factory. As for the 44 mag. It looks clean after 100rds. I do two coats within 24hrs of each other and let it dry for weeks. But that's alright. The bullet gets harder over time and as an end result, practically no leading.
No re-resizing. Made very tight clover at 25m (resting on table) with S&W 629 using Lee 6 cavity TL bullet. Good enough for me. I can't shoot that well anyway.
I cast bullets (9mm and 44 mag) out of straight wheel weights, water dropped.
I think I figured out the right mix for me. I tumble lube 2x. After hundreds of rounds of before cleaning with 9mm, I can't say the barrel is anymore dirtier compared to jacketed factory. As for the 44 mag. It looks clean after 100rds. I do two coats within 24hrs of each other and let it dry for weeks. But that's alright. The bullet gets harder over time and as an end result, practically no leading.
No re-resizing. Made very tight clover at 25m (resting on table) with S&W 629 using Lee 6 cavity TL bullet. Good enough for me. I can't shoot that well anyway.
