Cast bullets, whats the blue ring?

[philc]

been thinking about switching to cast bullets to save a few extra $$$. Whats the colored ring cast bullets? Heard it was some kind of lube?

[chim-chim7]

Yep, it's nothing more than lube for the bullet.

[philc]

And most come pre-lubed?

[chim-chim7]

Yes, I have seen unlubed cast bullets but they are hard to find. Unless you want to lube them yourself, just buy them pre-lubed.

[gunboat]

Commercial cast bullets are generally sold sized to a specific diameter and with a lube of some nature applied.
Often private casters selling bullets will sell them "as cast" letting the buyer size and lube to his likes.
For example, some shooters like their 30cal cast bullets to be sized .311 while others may like .308-.309 or .310. depending on their bore diameter.

[QuarterBoreGunner]

And then you've got casters like Bear Creek that use a dry film lube.

Which, when I was reloading a lot, preferred as the blue waxy type lube got every where and is sort of sticky.

[Whiterabbit]

till you try to get it out of your barrel. Never again with the moly lube.

[QuarterBoreGunner]

till you try to get it out of your barrel. Never again with the moly lube.

Really? Huh, I never had that problem, but then, I just loaded them up for plinkin' and such, mostly powder puff loads.

[CSACANNONEER]

I prefer Jake's red lube. No blue ring for me.

[Whiterabbit]

Don't get me wrong, cleaning became a breeze. Couple wet patches then everything was "clean." But the barrel would have a coating in it, like someone colored the inside with a pencil. I could mark that with a sharp object, so the coating was certainly soft. But never came out. Was not lead, looking for good alternatives I know what leading/antimony wash looks like now!

I just don't want it in my barrel. Maybe if I had a blued gun that was a workhorse beater, but mine is stainless. And a workhorse . But not a beater. Dunno. Personal choice I guess.

[vortec_cruiser]

Don't get me wrong, cleaning became a breeze. Couple wet patches then everything was "clean." But the barrel would have a coating in it, like someone colored the inside with a pencil. I could mark that with a sharp object, so the coating was certainly soft. But never came out. Was not lead, looking for good alternatives I know what leading/antimony wash looks like now!

I just don't want it in my barrel. Maybe if I had a blued gun that was a workhorse beater, but mine is stainless. And a workhorse . But not a beater. Dunno. Personal choice I guess.

Did you ever try cleaning it up with some jacketed bullets?

[philc]

Did you ever try cleaning it up with some jacketed bullets?

Does that really work?

[ireload]

Keep in mind Phil that colored lubes are not created equal. They have different melting points. The harder the lube, the higher velocity you can push the bullet but it also has to match the brinell hardness.

[Whiterabbit]

I don't agree with all of the above but that's not really important. I just wanted to make sure to mention that lube color is a lot like threadlock compound color: meaningless.

With lube, it COULD mean the brand (like LBT blue soft), or it COULD mean that's the color crayon that lube mixer decided to use that day.

or in other words, color does not equal physical properties. (kinda like which color hardener you use in your bondo)