Lube in Handgun Caliber Leverguns

[marlin35]

I do not have a chronograph (sad face) and reloading books only test handgun caliber velocities out of handgun barrels. Are there any bullet lube considerations I need to keep in mind when considering increased velocities from the longer barrel? I am shooting a 16” Rossi 92 in .45 Colt. My current lube for handgun is 50/50 beeswax/crisco. It is fairly soft and I do not want to run out of lube before the bullet exits the muzzle. Cast bullets will mainly be Lyman 452424 and maybe some 452460’s for small game.

[jeffh]

Crisco? Are you shooting black powder? I've only shot smokeless in mine, and have never shot black powder cartridges.

I shot a lot through a Rossi 92 in 357, 16" barrel.

About all I used was 45-45-10 with all cast, 125 grain to 190 grain, sedate loads to full-magnum loads. I did not get leading. I shot the 190s to 1800 fps in a Ruger 77/357 - no leading.

Making sure the bullet is big enough is likely more important than the lube. The groove diameter on my Rossi was.355" and .358" bullets wouild chamber with ease, so that's what I shot. Some of the bullets were ade for tumble-lube and soe were made for traditional "grease-type" lubes but the 45-45-10 worked just fine and there's so little of it on the bullet that you can't SEE it - you have to SMELL the bullet to see if it's lubed. I shot mostly straight wheel weight metal or 50/50 wheel weight/pure lead. Pretty soft by some standards.

I can't say it'll work for anyone else, but it works for me.



I did shoot some 50/50, Alox/Beeswax for a few bullets but saw no real difference. On the forums regarding cast bullets, may will suggest you need a lot of lube on rifle bullets so you don't run out by the time the bullet gets to the muzzle. Maybe. Maybe not. Never was an issue for me and is not an issue for me in a 24" 30/30 either.

[marlin35]

Dec 9, 2023 17:42:40 GMT -5 jeffh said:

Crisco? Are you shooting black powder? I've only shot smokeless in mine, and have never shot black powder cartridges.

I shot a lot through a Rossi 92 in 357, 16" barrel.

About all I used was 45-45-10 with all cast, 125 grain to 190 grain, sedate loads to full-magnum loads. I did not get leading. I shot the 190s to 1800 fps in a Ruger 77/357 - no leading.

Making sure the bullet is big enough is likely more important than the lube. The groove diameter on my Rossi was.355" and .358" bullets wouild chamber with ease, so that's what I shot. Some of the bullets were ade for tumble-lube and soe were made for traditional "grease-type" lubes but the 45-45-10 worked just fine and there's so little of it on the bullet that you can't SEE it - you have to SMELL the bullet to see if it's lubed. I shot mostly straight wheel weight metal or 50/50 wheel weight/pure lead. Pretty soft by some standards.

I can't say it'll work for anyone else, but it works for me.



I did shoot some 50/50, Alox/Beeswax for a few bullets but saw no real difference. On the forums regarding cast bullets, may will suggest you need a lot of lube on rifle bullets so you don't run out by the time the bullet gets to the muzzle. Maybe. Maybe not. Never was an issue for me and is not an issue for me in a 24" 30/30 either.

Yes, crisco. It’s a simple recipe that I’ve been using for my 45 acp and 45 colt smokeless loads. I don’t push them that hard and I have zero leading, which is more of a statement to proper bullet size than it is lube. Just have to be sure the crisco is the “salt free” kind.

[jeffh]

Never heard of that for smokeless loads, but if it works, it works. Agree on sizing too. Ended up being more of my "problem" in my early years of casting when I THOUGHT I needed "better" lube.

Lots of interesting concoctions out there with numerous ingredients, careful mixing, heating, etc., but I like SIMPLE.

I'd send a few of your revolver loads down that 16" barrel and see what happens.

I still like lubing my 44 Specials with 50/50 Alox/Beeswax, because I love the feel of a warm, dirty, greezy big-bore single action, but if I run out of that lube and can't afford more (it's the only thing I use it in now), I may try your version.

[axman]

I shoot the same load and bullet in my 24” Marlin 45 Colt as I do in a single action.
Works fine. But every gun is different.

[sixshot]

If I were shooting a lever gun, and I'm not, I don't own one, I would be shooting Glenn's Red Label Lube for a conventional lube, it good stuff. Or I would powder coat & see how that worked out. I wouldn't mind having a good plinker lever gun, just to have. Not sure what I would do with it but it would be fun to have one around just to experiment with. I think a good lever gun would help keep the southern border safe.....that is our southern border with Utah, we have a lot of fishermen sneak up here in the summer

Dick

[bigbore5]

RCBS pistol lube is 50/50 lube. I personally use LBT soft blue for everything now, but the 50/50 worked well in most normal pistol//carbine loads.

[marlin35]

I’m not as concerned with the Keith bullet running out of lube as recovered bullets still have lube in the groove when recovered, but the 452460 after being fired in my 1911 never has lube left in the groove which I attribute to its smaller grooves. Thats lubing both lube grooves. I have some thompson’s blue angel that I guess I could try for that particular application. I guess the only real way to tell is to stop typing and get to shooting and find out what’s going to work.

[nicholst55]

I agree on switching to a better lube, even a homemade one. Check out the recipe for Felix Lube; it's mostly beeswax and castor oil and mineral oil. Also, here's a link to the Ballistics By The Inch page for .45 Colt; they chronograph mostly factory ammo through various barrel lengths, from handgun to rifle length:

Felix Lube 

BBTI 45 Colt 

[singleaction]

Dec 10, 2023 8:35:01 GMT -5 bigbore5 said:

RCBS pistol lube is 50/50 lube. I personally use LBT soft blue for everything now, but the 50/50 worked well in most normal pistol//carbine loads.

I use blue soft as well. It can be messy and sticky, but it’s the best I’ve used. I’m about to give powder coating a try. 

[bearskinner]

I powder coat and gas check some fast rifle type cartridges in long barreled handguns and they are clean and perform well. I did try adding Lee Alox to the 375’s at 2200fps, but no change or difference.
I know not the same as in a long rifle barrel, but I hardly ever shoot a rifle. I have a couple Leverguns as novelty toys, but haven’t hunted with one in 40 + years.

[bigbore5]

Dec 10, 2023 13:59:59 GMT -5 singleaction said:

Dec 10, 2023 8:35:01 GMT -5 bigbore5 said:

RCBS pistol lube is 50/50 lube. I personally use LBT soft blue for everything now, but the 50/50 worked well in most normal pistol//carbine loads.

I use blue soft as well. It can be messy and sticky, but it’s the best I’ve used. I’m about to give powder coating a try. 

Tried powder coating handgun bullets. I size in the 4500 anyway,so stopped bothering. I do coat and lube some rifle bullets though. Saved buying gas checks for the 30-30,300 blk,45-70 stuff

[LeverGunner]

I've used the beeswax/crisco lube before in 45 acp and 38 special. I shot it in 357 Magnum, with the Lyman 358156 and 15 grains 2400 out of a Marlin rifle, about 10 years ago. It's been a long time now, but I do not recall any leading. Of course, that's a gas checked bullet and you're able to get by with a little bit lesser quality lube.

[lar4570]

I have a Rossi 45 colt levergun with 24" barrel. I run cast at moderate to high pressures and velocities and have no problems at all.
If you are running higher pressures our Carnauba Red will handle anything you can throw at it.
The Carnauba Blue is a softer version that works better at lower than magnum pressures.
Www.lsstuff.com
Glenn

[LeverGunner]

Dec 10, 2023 19:03:35 GMT -5 lar4570 said:

I have a Rossi 45 colt levergun with 24" barrel. I run cast at moderate to high pressures and velocities and have no problems at all.
If you are running higher pressures our Carnauba Red will handle anything you can throw at it.
The Carnauba Blue is a softer version that works better at lower than magnum pressures.
Www.lsstuff.com
Glenn

I use your 50/50 and I don't have any leading in my Winchester 92 44 Magnum rifle at Special velocities. I haven't tried full bore magnum without a gas check yet, primarily because my only bullet that will feed in magnum cases is a GCed bullet.