Cast bullet lube

[Dead Eye Duck]

I recently picked up 2 bags of 45 Colt 200 grain cast bullets. I have noticed that some of the lube has fallen off on the bullets. Do I need to relube them or just shoot them as they are. Limited on brands of powder so any suggestions on loading them. Using a 45 Colt Ruger New model Vaquero.
thanks for the help

 

[SlowFuse]

This is fairly common especially as the cast bullets get older and the lube dries out. Are these commercial cast or from an individual?

If you're not pushing these very fast it becomes less important. If pieces of lube are still in the bag/box ive taken these little strips that have fallen out and pressed them back into the lube groove with finger pressure. I do this right before I seat the bullet. If you don't have a lube sizer and you're about pan lubing or some other method I think it may be more trouble than necessary.

What powders do you have on hand? I like just light to mid range loads for this cartridge using Unique and HS-6 with cast bullets. HP38, Universal, RedDot/Promo and Titegroup have all produced decent loads for me as well.

The less bulky, dense powders take closer attention like titegroup for example. You could easily double charge with fast powders like this.

 

[dgod]

As long as most of the lube is present, shoot them. They will shoot just fine.

Dan

 

[mdi]

Depending on how much lube is left, I believe at least 3/4 should remain. What many cast shooters do in this situation is dip the bullets in alox or 45-45-10 up to the crimp groove and load, I mentioned dip lubing because I don't care for the brown noses from tumble lubing. Just recently I "relubed" some bullets I cast and lubed 2-3 years ago. just thinned some 45-45-10 and dipped them...

Most of my hand gun loads have become Universal powered, but for the 45 Colt, Bullseye, W231, Unique and 700x are used a lot with cast bullets...

 

[Dead Eye Duck]

have Titegroup, trail boss and few other pistol powders

 

[SlowFuse]

Never tried trailboss but lots of people seem to love it for light loads.

Titegroup is a little fast for this but will work. Something a little slower burning than TG into the mid range pistol powders will likely work well.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Just did some up with Titegroup and Trailboss, 250gr bullets though. I like both powders well in the LC, Titegroup gets better velocity if that matters for you. Trailboss is more forgiving and I also like it in large cases like the LC.