Lead bullets - wax ring?

[23 Blast]

Newbie question, since I've so far just loaded copper plated bullets before - on lead bullets, what is that red or blue wax ring on them and what exactly is its purpose?

[mif_slim]

To keep the barrel from lead fouling. Kibf of like Oil to piston to keep cylinder from messig up.

[Germz]

When I first started casting I did a candlewax/vaseline/STP lube. now I powdercoat.

[Win231]

Bullet Lube. It's usually made of wax. Keeps the barrel from leading.

[23 Blast]

Ah - thanks everyone.

I just bought a box of 500 bullets. 158gr. lead round nose for loading .38spl and .357. There's none of that wax stuff on them. Do I need to do something to them to prevent leading?

[BigBronco]

Ah - thanks everyone.

I just bought a box of 500 bullets. 158gr. lead round nose for loading .38spl and .357. There's none of that wax stuff on them. Do I need to do something to them to prevent leading?

OP, Where did you buy them and a picture would help. Many lead bullets have a lube coating on them that would be kind of tacky to the feel. That would most likely be alox. Then I have seen Hornady swagged bullets with a powdery graphite kinda lube on them. Are they hard cast or softer lead swagged?

[Whiterabbit]

If you bought commercial and there is no wax ring, they are very likely moly coated.

Commercial bullets are very rarely sent unsized or unlubricated. If they were, it would likely be because you were looking for that specifically and bought them as such.

In either case, you should be good to go to load and shoot.

[NapalmCheese]

OH, I almost forgot. Even easier to do is to tumble lube them, but I do not care to tumble lube lead boolits. I prefer to PC them, but you can certainly use Lee Alox on them.

PM inbound.

I would just tumble lube them with Lee Liquid Alox.

Before I did that however I'd make sure they were sized correctly as most commercial caster lube and size their bullet in one operation, so that if your bullet is unlubed it may be unsized too.

[JagerDog]

If you bought commercial and there is no wax ring, they are very likely moly coated.

Commercial bullets are very rarely sent unsized or unlubricated. If they were, it would likely be because you were looking for that specifically and bought them as such.

In either case, you should be good to go to load and shoot.

^^^^this.

Pic/ID what you bought.

[23 Blast]

[IMG][/IMG]

Bought these at Turners. They do feel slick to the touch, not like uncoated, raw lead.

[Win231]

They look like they're coated. Interesting that they have a groove for regular wax lube. Remember to crimp in the top smaller groove (cannelure) not the larger wax groove near the bottom.

[23 Blast]

Thanks everyone. Yeah - I figured the cannelure near the top was where to crimp it, since crimping it in the wider channel would male it longer than the maximum COAL.

[croue]

Are the moly-coated less smoky than the was lubed bullets?

[davek8s]

Bear Creek bullets are great. They're all I use for 9, 38, and 45. Load them up and shoot them.

[Whiterabbit]

bear creek makes good bullets. you'll like them.

Keep in mind they will leave a moly coating in your barrel, this is NOT the same thing as leading. The best rule of thumb is, if you have to question it, it is not leading. Leading will leave nothing to the imagination.

Enjoy, and happy shooting.