NRA 50/50 vs. Carnauba Rd

[Arkansas Paul]

Having some leading issues in 9mm with Lee Alox and 45/45/10 tumble lubing, so I'm gonna try pan lubing with either NRA 50/50 or Carnauba Red.

I've never tried either. Which do you prefer? I know they're both well thought of. Just wondering if one is better for my application than the other.

Thanks.

 

[SlowFuse]

Which bullet mold are you using?

 

[Arkansas Paul]

RCBS 124 grain TC.
I also have a 125 grain Lee RNFP.

 

[Uniquedot]

The 50/50 will do better than the red at standard velocities, but if you're loading magnum pressures and velocities the red will likely do just fine.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Standard stuff. 3.5 grains of Bullseye and a 124 grain bullet.
I know the 50-50 is softer and easier to pan lube with. I just didn't know if the Carbauna Red would provide any better performance.

 

[Uniquedot]

You would likely get more leading with the red with those loads than you did with the liquid Alox so the 50/50 is definitely the one to use here. In fact the liquid alox should have worked just fine in that application. I think the leading is likely caused from the alloy or undersized bullets. With that load you need to use a softer alloy.

 

[Russt]

I haven't tried 50/50 but I use a version of the CR from Glen. It's his commercial grade, isn't quite as "sticky" so the boolits don't stick together near as bad when storing in a box. I shoot a Miha 359-125 in my SR9C and Hi Point carbine...just cast & sized some 45's using said lube...works great, no leading, zero, zip, nada, zilch...but I am running a .358 in the 9's.
Just noticed you said pan lube...I tried it once but not with CR...it was a flop. Went to a Lyman 45 and haven't looked back. If you want to try a few of the Miha's sized to .358 that have been water dropped from wheel weights just send me a PM & I'll throw a handfull in a box for you to try.

 

[Sapper771]

What load are you using ? Have you slugged your bore? What diameter are you sizing your bullets to?

I have used Alox and 45/45/10 with decent results. Never used NRA 50/50.
Had better luck with BAC and Carnuba Red. BAC is a bit sticky, so I usually cut it to 50/50 (BAC/Carnuba Red).

 

[Arkansas Paul]

What load are you using ? Have you slugged your bore? What diameter are you sizing your bullets to?

I was using 4 grains of Bullseye. Leading was HORRIBLE. I dropped it to 3.5 and it got better.

Bore is .356

I'm not sizing the bullets at all. They're dropping at .3575

I think seating depth may be playing a part as well. I know 9mm doesn't like much jump, so I prolly need to seat a little longer. Maybe I'll try a slower powder like Unique as well and see if that has any effect.

With that load you need to use a softer alloy.

I'm using air dropped clip on WW lead cut about 60/40 with stick on. I figure BHN is 8-9.

 

[[email protected]]

The part of the barrel that leads can tell you alot about what needs to be changed. The following is based on my expierence and like always YMMV.
*Leading towards the end of the barrel tells me that the lube is failing. I will either need more lube, or a harder lube to last the trip down the barrel.
*Leading down the entire length of the barrel usually means that the bullet is undersized, or the pressure is too much for the alloy.
* Leading at the throat can mean an undersized bullet or A bullet that is too hard for the pressure ( it doesent expand to make a seal)

I have noticed when pushing a cast bullet really fast that somtimes I will get leading on only one of the barrel's lands. After researching and testing I concluded that the land that gets leaded is the one that does most of the work, and the velocity is too high.

Alot of times seating a cast bullet will swage down the bullet. Pull a seated bullet and then measure. The lee FCD takes away any advantage of having an oversized bullet. I load a lot of cast with bullseye in 9mm and 40 s&w, with very little to no leading. I also like HP38 for cast.
If you can provide where the leading is at and your loading routine maybe I can help a little more.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

The part of the barrel that leads can tell you alot about what needs to be changed. The following is based on my expierence and like always YMMV.

Leading is in the last inch of the barrel. I did some research and that's why I was trying to tinker with the lube.
I'm not using a FCD, so I don't think it's swaging the boolit.

 

[mebe007]

I like white labels bac formula for my handguns and 45-70. I also enjoy randyrats tac-1 extreme low smoke formula. I have some carnauba red but don't use it too often

 

[[email protected]]

Sounds good. I tried to pan lube with carnuba red once before. I had to heat the bullets before pouring the lube in, and had to make a "cookie cutter" to get the bullet out. Just pushing from the back side would not work for me. White label will send you a couple of samples for the cost of shipping, so give it a try. You should consider his BAC lube. I have applied it with my fingers when its warm outside, but it and 50/50 can get messy when warm. Just asking, but did you try applying a few coats of the recluse mixture?

 

[A Pause for the Coz]

+1 for the BAC, I am pan lubing some 150 gr rifle bullets and it works surprisingly well.
50/50 will work also just a little more sticky.

 

[918v]

I pan lube with 50/50. You will need to use a tool to pull the bullets out of the cake, as it is too soft to allow you to push them out by hand. I use needle nose pliers and grab them by the nose. They pull out easily with just a teeny mark on the nose. I like the 50/50 better than the hard lubes because the accuracy is just better. It is fantastic, in fact.

I run 125's over 3.5grs of Bullseye at 1000 FPS from a 6" barrel. No leading. Don't size yours. You want that bullet as big as possible, as long as the round chambers fine.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Thanks guys.
I will order some 50-50 from White Label this evening.
I saw a Youtube video of Larry Potterfield from Midway pulling them out of the cake with needle nose pliers. I'll try that.

 

[USSR]

+2 for BAC.

Don