• This community needs YOUR help today. We rely 100% on Supporting Memberships to fund our efforts. With the ever increasing fees of everything, we need help. We need more Supporting Members, today. Please invest back into this community. I will ship a few decals too in addition to all the account perks you get.



    Sign up here: https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/account/upgrades

Cast my first projectiles

Muzzleloading Forum

Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

CapPopper

40 Cal.
Joined
Jan 5, 2017
Messages
554
Reaction score
339
Got a couple molds some lead a ladle and a hot plate and well I guess that's all you need lol cast a few 360 grain minie balls and a few .490 round balls just cause I could probably used 3 pounds of lead so now the question is what is a good minie ball lube?

20171216_232035.jpg


20171216_231851.jpg


20171216_231820.jpg
 
I have have shot thousands of grease grooved bullets and I use a home made lube of equal parts Crisco, bees wax and a tablespoon of olive oil.

Heat it slowly in the microwave in a one pound plastic coffee can.

I get very good accuracy with my combination.

Fleener
 
Is that equal by weight or volume? I figure by volume but I was thinking Crisco and beeswax would be decent at least
 
I use the volume approach. When I mix up my olive oil and bee's wax, I pour 7 ounces of olive oil in a cup. I add small chunks of bee's wax to get to 8 ounces. The cup measure goes into a sauce pan of near boiling water (double boiler method). The wax will melt into the oil for a softer cold weather lube. Pour the mixed lube onto an empty margarine container. When the lube cools, it will solidify into a soft paste for wiping into the grooves or while the mix is still melted, the bullets can be dipped in the lube.

More bee's wax results in a stiffer lube.
 
Would dipping then while the lube is liquid be preferable? If so what do you use to dip them?
 
CapPopper said:
Would dipping then while the lube is liquid be preferable? If so what do you use to dip them?
I dip them whilst the lube is liquid, using a small pair of needle nose pliers and I dip 'til just past the highest lube groove. Then I size them through my 0.578" sizing die and excess lube that gets scraped off goes back into the tub for next use. I fill the base with wonder lube.

My lube is a 50/50 mix of olive oil and beeswax, but may go to a 3-to-1 ratio for Winter use.

One point about Crisco as a lube, after I got my 58-cal Zouave, I spent several weeks reading through other Civil War era BP Arms and/or No-So Skirmish Assoc forums, for load info, and those who reported "cook offs" whilst loading were using Crisco as a lube ingredient.
 
I got to be honest, I just do it by look.

I break off a piece of bees wax, and try to grab a spoon full of Crisco to match. I also have never measured the olive oil.

You would think that a guy that weighs his powder to the tenth of a grain, uses custom made molds, weights and discards bullets would be more precise on the lube mixture. However, I have not noticed any accuracy differences.

Fleener
 
fleener said:
I got to be honest, I just do it by look.



Fleener

Same here....It's not rocket science. Beeswax is very forgiving I use beeswax and olive oil, you can re-mix and re-melt over and over to get whatever desired consistency you want . You can make lube to wipe on, or you can make lube to dip or pan lube.
 
Well guess I need to order some beeswax seems to ve hard to find on a shelf. I got a little disc that was intended to use for sewing so that I could lube my molds and such but its not enough to make a lube....
 
One other thing....I notice the stove in the background. The kitchen is not the best place to be casting bullets or handling old balls covered with highly toxic lead oxide. That's that white coating.
Think of lead and lead oxide as if it where dog poo, you don't want it anywhere near your mouth or food.
I would do it outside and wash your hands real good when done.
Good ventilation is also necessary. while the lead itself may or may not give off toxic fumes, the impurities in it can.
Lastly, keep water and moisture away from melting lead...The result can be a lead explosion.
 
You can just use straight Crisco or regular patch lube. A little messy but I don't shoot conicals often any more. If they sit around long the lube can dry up or get dirt stuck to them. I just have a rag handy to wipe my hands with.
You can adjust the mixture of bees wax and whatever according to the climate you live in and time of year to make it harder or softer. Craft stores usually have bees. The wax on cheese and wine bottles is bees wax.
 
I use lard (no salt type), beeswax, & olive oil in a ratio of 75% beeswax,20% lard, & 5% olive oil. I adjust this combo as I feel necessary. I use a double boiler method on the stove and place the minies in a pie pan then pour the melted mixture into the pan to cover the grease grooves. I made a nylon tube that has a I.D. to go over the minies and press the minies into it. This removes the minies from the pan with enough lube in the grooves. Once removed you can add lube into the base if you want.
Yg81MFc.jpg

3NDwlbT.jpg
 
Hi Zug,Same method I do for the sharps nice even coating in the grooves an find it less messy when handling the bullets. R.C.
 
The stove was just where I had the best light I did my casting outside on a hot plate out of an old iron skillet thanks for the concern though. Also I know that while lead itself isn't that bad at all the lead oxide is the real issue. That turned into a big hubaloo on another form im on lol I've been reloading since I was old enough to pull the handle on a press so lead precautions are second nature by now thanks for the concern though just didnt want you to worry about it. I thought about the pan method and figured id keep them in that blue buffalo bullets box just stood upright so they don't get dirty or dry out too much. So is the main function of the lube to ease loading or reduce leading? I know hardcast in pistols is only about minimizing leading.
 
I don't know if ill really shoot the minies that much but I figured the mold didn't cost that much and I may be able to sale a few or trade for lead....that and the nose profile looks lije it would smack the heck out of anything....
 
CapPopper said:
Well guess I need to order some beeswax seems to ve hard to find on a shelf. I got a little disc that was intended to use for sewing so that I could lube my molds and such but its not enough to make a lube....

Beeswax is easy to find. And often available free. Most folks do not realize beekeeping is a big avocation. Go to your county extension agent and ask him for a list of beekeepers in your area. Contact some and ask if you can buy some wax. Some will give you free. It might need cleaning or might be ready to go. And, BTW, if you buy some honey from them that is a good way to sweeten the deal.
 
I might just buy a pound for now but there is a place fairly close that my wife buys honey at so next time we do that ill ask. Thanks for the good idea
 
Back
Top