Liquid Alox vs. Alox (tube) (lubing cast??)

[Hiaboo]

I don't get this part --

I am familiar with the solid lube method, filling in the lube grooves, etc etc.. But what's the Liquid Alox? Can I just do the liquid alox instead of the solid lube method? Or..? I'm just looking for abit of an explaination on this.

 

[rcmodel]

With the liquid lube, you just tumble lube the bullets in a butter tub and set them out to dry.

That gets lube all over the bullet, including the pointy end, and is kind of messy compared to applying stick lube in the grease grooves only the old fashoned way!

rcmodel

 

[Griz44]

The liquid lube was designed to be used with the LEE TL series cast bullets. Many use it for all cast, and seem to like it. I use it on all my cast, and get close to zero leading with my 40 and 45 acp, which is the only ones I currently cast for. I works, but like already mentioned, even coats the nose of the bullet. After it dries, it is still a touch tacky, which some find objectionable. For me, it is not an issue, and I shoot 2-5 hundred a week.

 

[Hiaboo]

Hm. So this does not fill in the lube grooves that this is really not necssary because it just lubes the whole thing?


Also, If I'm looking to resize the bullets as well I should go with the "old fashioned" lube method with a resizer (note like the lyman 4500 with resizing dies if so)

 

[rcmodel]

Lee makes a sizer die set-up for TL bullets that fits in your reloading press and they are very cheap.

They push the bullets through point-first, and it might be argued they are more accurate then sizing base-first in a Lubrisizer.

Guess it really depends on how much money you want to spend.

I use a Lubrisizer because that's what I have always used. Lee hadn't invented the tumble-lube system yet when I bought mine.

rcmodel

 

[Walkalong]

Rooster Jacket film lube is also good stuff for tumble lubing. It dies a bit harder than the Lee Liquid Alox and is easier to handle.

 

[Hiaboo]

Up to the top? Still looking for info.

 

[Win52D]

Hiaboo, if you don't mind the tacky bullets then Lee tunble lube is for you. I have been using it for 18 years with no issues...I used to shoot 300 rounds a week with it. To this day I don't have a lubrisizer. I'm looking for one but am in no hurry to find it.

 

[rcmodel]

What more can we tell you?

rcmodel

 

[CBS220]

Both work.

I used to lubrisize, but now I just use Liquid Alox for 99% of my cast shooting- which is .45, .44, .357, and several .30s.

I get less leading, and I'm not a good enough shot to be able to tell you if it makes it any more or less accurate.

A sizing kit from lee, with a tube of LLA, costs below 20 bucks. Get one to see if it works for you, and THEN spend the bucks on a real-deal lubrisizer.

EDIT: You will occasionally have to clean your dies out if you use the LLA, though. It can be a bit messy, although it's not a deal breaker for most people.

 

[Win52D]

Amen to the die cleaning...especially the seating die. I se LLA for 45ACP and 357Maximum. This weekend I am going to see how it works for .223 loads at roughly 1900fps

 

[AgentAdam]

Do you have to use a lubing sizer to apply the hard wax lube or is there another way to get it in the lube rings?

Can you wax lube the rings and then tumble lube them for less leading at higher velocities in rifles?

 

[rcmodel]

You can melt solid lube in a pan, then set the bullets in it until it hardens.
Then cut them out with a cut-off case like a cookie-cutter.
Then size them.

There would be no advantage to lubing with stick lube, then lubing again with tumble lube.

Stick lube will give all the necessary lubrication needed and then some extra with any good bullet mold design.

Often at low to medium velocity, you only need to fill one or two grease grooves out of the two or three on the bullet to get the job done.

rcmodel

 

[AgentAdam]

Do you lube at all with a gas check/

 

[rcmodel]

Most certainly!

All the gas-check does is prevent blow-by or base melting, which helps prevent leading.

They provide no lubrication at all.

Without lube, gas check bullets would lead just as bad as any other lead bullet without lube.

rcmodel