Anyone using Lee Micro groove and Alox tumble lube

[Lovesbeer99]

I'm looking to cast bullets and buy molds. I see that Lee has an unusual Micro groove cast used with a tumble lube Alox. This is not the traditional sizing and lubing type of bullet.

Anyway, this looks interesting and less expensive than the traditional method.

The question is, is it any good? Are the bullets accurate? Does this cause extra leading or less leading?

Thanks in advance.

 

[ants]

I don't know if we've had a thread dedicated to this subject before, but we have discussed it on and off for years.

I like Rooster Jacket much better than Lee Liquid Alox. MUCH better.

I don't find Lee's TL bullets very accurate in my 9mm or 45acp pistols, but your pistols may shoot them perfectly well. I absolutely hate the way those bullets seat in the case. The round nose is rebated at the shoulder with a very very narrow top band, so there is only one OAL I can load. It works, but it gives me no flexibility to try different cartridge lengths.

I've also used liquid bullet lubricants (did I mention that I like Rooster better?) on traditional bullets, and it works just fine thank you. From my perspective, if you have a lube-sizer it is better to use wax lube, but if you don't have a lube-sizer you can use liquid lube very nicely. Rooster works better than Lee, did I mention that?

 

[scrat]

i had good luck on 40SW with allox

 

[armoredman]

I use the TL356 124 Lee mould, and the bullet drops at .360, get's resized for both the 38Spl and the 9mm, works just fine in both with Lee Liquid Alox (LLA), no problems.
It's easy, and cheap.

 

[easyrider604]

The question is, is it any good? Are the bullets accurate? Does this cause extra leading or less leading?

1. Good, yes. The best? Can't say for sure because I've only cast Lee TL .357 158 grain RN and SWC from wheel weights and water quenched, but they work good enough for me.

2. 3" groups at 25 meters with 4.3 grain 700X under said bullets, fired from 6" S&W 686. Similar groupings to commercial cast bullets with traditional wax lube.

3. I have less leading with my home cast bullets, compared to commercial. After casting/quenching, tumble lube with LLA, size to .357, tumble lube with slightly more generous helping of LLA.

Am I happy? Of course.

 

[NuJudge]

Lots of people using them

If you are going to use TL bullets in microgroove barrels, make sure they are .001" or .002" larger than groove diameter, cast hard, and gas checks will help a bunch. On the Cast Boolits boards, there are a lot of discussions regarding these, especially concerning "Ranch Dog" molds:
http://www.ranchdogmolds.com/
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=31253&highlight=Tumble+Lube+Micro-groove
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=20972&highlight=Tumble+Lube+Micro-groove

To get bullets to cast hard, use at least some scrap wheelweight metal in them (this will give some Tin and Antimony), and drop them from the mold into a bucket of water.

CDD

 

[MMCSRET]

I use Lee Liquid with Lyman, Ohaus, RCBS and Lee molds that are NOT the tumble lube design as long as the bullets mature to a diameter that is compatible with the gun I am shooting them in. Works well and a whole lot easier than running them thru a lubrisizer. good product, but I need to try Rooster jacket.

 

[Walkalong]

They work great. As ants said, Rooster Jacket is another option over Lee Liquid Alox, both both will work. I am partial to Rooster Jacket because it is less messy. Dries harder.

 

[tiger rag]

Load a 200 grn swc in 45 acp like it ! very accurate by my standards ,no leading , A little messy.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

I've had very good luck with these molds, getting good accuracy and finding the Lee lube easy to use.

regards,

Dave

 

[theotherwaldo]

I use Lee microgroove molds and liquid alox in all of my cast centerfire pistol loads. This includes .32s&w long, .38s&w, .38spl, .357mag, 9mm, .40, .44spl, .44mag, and .45. All are at least adequate, although I'm not satisfied with any of the .45acp loads that I've worked up so far.

 

[tackstrp]

i have Lee tumble molds for 9 MM and 38/357. Also use white label Alox. So pleased with tumble lube that I may as well put my Lyman lube sizer in storage, or sell. Wish Lee made a 100 grain tumble lube mold in .355

 

[Lovesbeer99]

I could be mistaken but I believe you can use your Alox on any bullet. It does not have to be a tumble lube design. This design just helps with the extra groves.

This is an old post but I eventually did get a .358 mold and lube. I ran a test with about 25 rounds and it was great. My only concern is the use of this lube in my dies. I'm afraid it will clog them up.

 

[kelbro]

Most people tend to over-lube when using the Alox. I cut mine 50/50 with mineral spirits and add a little Johnsons Paste Wax. Just enough lube to coat them. Works well on TL bullets or regular style cast bullets. No leading, no stickiness, no mess in the dies. Just don't push them too fast (over 2K fps).

 

[Remo-99]

My only concern is the use of this lube in my dies. I'm afraid it will clog them up.

The Lee alox does tend to build up in the seating dies if you don't watch for it, not a great problem to scrap out the build up after loading several hundred rounds, if you know to look for it.

I use it on non-TL style bullets as well as TL style and in several micro groove firearms, be sure you size at least 0.001" above your barrel groove size and you should get good results.

Currently I'm using a Lee .311 TL hardcast ungaschecked in a .308 microgroove barrel with no issues at all.

 

[mcdonl]

I use the TL356 124 Lee mould, and the bullet drops at .360, get's resized for both the 38Spl and the 9mm, works just fine in both with Lee Liquid Alox (LLA), no problems.

Armored man, what size sizing dies do you use for these two casts? I have a .356 9mm mold and a .358 mold for my 38spl/.357.....

Lovesbeer... I lovescasting

 

[ThomasT]

I have been useing the TL bullets for many years. I have about twenty molds and all but one are Lee molds.

I use the Lee alox when the bullets are first lubed and then after sizing I tumble with rooster jacket. That way they are not sticky and don't smoke as much plus they leave less residue in the seater die. For my 32 mag bullets i just use straight rooster jacket. That stuff is really good. Dries a lot faster too.