Wad Cutter Lube?

[mraymiller]

Is it necessary to lubricate wad cutters? I just loaded a bunch of 38 specials, and when I was shopping for more components, I noticed bullet lube for use in black powder and smokeless loads. I need wisdom from a higher source.

 

[Quoheleth]

If the wadcutters are pre-lubed, no. Lube is usually either a "ring" of grease-like substance around the bullet, a thin coating of grease all over the bullet, or a graphite-like powder all over the bullet.

If you bought the bullets without lube, then - yes, you'll have to do it yourself.

Chances are, your bullets have a lube of some sort.

Q

 

[ar10]

what about lead bullets? Is there a special lube for them?. I've got 500 lead SWC, 158gn for a .38spl, Hornady, with no pre-lube.

 

[dardascastbullets]

Yes, it is necessary to lubricate cast bullets. The lubricant provides the bullet safe passage through the bore without depositing alloy onto the bore. It is important that the lubricant have sufficient properties to withstand the heat and pressure during the bullet's passage through the bore. Without a proper lubricant, leading is sure to occur.

 

[Quoheleth]

The Hornady has waffle-like texture around the bullet, right? They use a dry, graphite-like lube that is all over the bullet - sort of a "tumble lube".

http://www.hornady.com/store/38-Cal-.358-158-gr-LRN/

From their site:

Hornady lead bullets are pre-lubricated and cold-swaged for total uniformity and balance. Our exclusive knurling system retains lubricant over the entire bearing surface to reduce leading in your barrel.

If it were me, I would keep these at mild .38 Special velocity, ~800fps.

Other cast bullet mfgs (such as Missouri Bullet) use the lube ring:
http://www.missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=52&category=5&secondary=9&keywords=

Lee liquid alox-lubed bullets look something like this: (note: this is a THR photo, and not mine!)
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=95512&d=1238766894



Q

 

[Ed Harris]

Easy way to lube bullets is with the Lee Liquid Alox. You don't need very much, just enough to uniformly coat the bullets so that they are a light brassy color all over. Don't worry about filling the grooves. About 1/3 cup will lube 1000 .38 Special wadcutter bullets.

 

[ar10]

They're Hornady 10408. and have some type of powdery coating.
I'll post on a separate thread later. (don't want to hijack this one), when I start reloading them.
7th ed of Hornady shows 800 fps as max load for that bullet.

 

[rcmodel]

All Hornady lead bullets are dry-lubed and ready to shoot right out of the box.
No additional lube is needed or necessary.

Being soft swaged lead, they are not suitable for high velocity or high pressure loads.

rc

 

[ar10]

Thanks RC
I was wondering why the max velocity was low. This is my first time with lead bullets, everything I've been loading is jacketed and starting around 850.