Can I use lee tumble lube in a bullet that is not a lee tumble lube bullet? Is there more leading?

Genericly speaking, I would say "yes you can". There might be exceptions. I can't think of any right now though.
Cheezywan

Can I use lee tumble lube in a bullet that is not a lee tumble lube bullet? Is there more leading?


What are you loading?

Have used tumble lube with tradtional cast bullets for standard handgun loads (up to .41mag. 210gr. full charge) without any problems and for some rifles loads up to 1600fps without a problem. Depending on the bullet, might have trouble past that point.,,might not.

I've been using Lee tumble lube with 44 mag and 45 colt cast bullets up to 1500 fps with no problems. I just got a 175 grain 32 cal bullet mold and am going to see how it works in a rifle. I'll let you know.

I use the Lee Liquid Alox a lot on my 45-70 loads. I lube and size them in a lubrisizor and then tumble them in the product. I have had very good luck and no signs of leading.
I sure don't think it can hurt and I personally like it.

I use the Lee Liquid Alox a lot on my 45-70 loads. I lube and size them in a lubrisizor and then tumble them in the product. I have had very good luck and no signs of leading.
I sure don't think it can hurt and I personally like it.

I read your post that you are lubing twice? Once in the lubrisisor and then tumble lube. Yes? No?
Cheezywan

I read your post that you are lubing twice? Once in the lubrisisor and then tumble lube. Yes? No?
Cheezywan


Odd as it sounds, have done that for barrels that are a bit "seasoned" (peppered with lite pits) and it does seem to help them shoot accurately longer. Haven't had to resort to that kind of thing with barrels in good shape, but if accuracy is good, can't see much harm in it.

Odd as it sounds, have done that for barrels that are a bit "seasoned" (peppered with lite pits) and it does seem to help them shoot accurately longer. Haven't had to resort to that kind of thing with barrels in good shape, but if accuracy is good, can't see much harm in it.

Hmmm? I am wondering if there might be an advatage in doing so?
My bores are fine. I have a large inventory of commercial cast stuff that shoots fine but tends to make clean-up more difficult than my own cast/ tumble lubed fodder.
I don't care to melt and recast, so I am thinking of tumble lubing on top of the blue crayon lube. Does anyone have any thoughts on that? This is not my thread. It is Rabristols.
Cheezywan

Cheezywan if I were you I would put you bullets in a pot of boiling water to get the old lube off then relube them with alox I did the same thing once only I took some of the bullets and left the old lube on and some off the ones that I lhad left on my gun was harder to clean than the ones that I had not cleaned :cool: Forest Punch

Cheezywan if I were you I would put you bullets in a pot of boiling water to get the old lube off then relube them with alox I did the same thing once only I took some of the bullets and left the old lube on and some off the ones that I lhad left on my gun was harder to clean than the ones that I had not cleaned :cool: Forest Punch

Good idea on the boiling water Mr. Punch. Thanks.
Cheezywan

Plans have changed. I tumble lubed a batch of home grown stuff tonight and had leftover in the tub. I am a cheapskate so I threw in some commercial cast stuff "as is" to use up the lube. Then I needed more lube to coat them. Then had to add more bullets. I now have 200 double lubed bullets. I will try them out in .38 special next loading session.
Cheezywan

Cheezywan, as a matter of course, when I buy a batch of bullets, especially those with crayon lube, I just dump as many as I can can handle in a freezer grade zip bag along with several big squirts of Lee Alox and a several tablespoons of rubbing alcohol and roll it all around. After the whole batch is coated and dried, they go back in their box for storage until use. Always helps, never hurts, costs very little, works great.

Cheezywan, as a matter of course, when I buy a batch of bullets, especially those with crayon lube, I just dump as many as I can can handle in a freezer grade zip bag along with several big squirts of Lee Alox and a several tablespoons of rubbing alcohol and roll it all around. After the whole batch is coated and dried, they go back in their box for storage until use. Always helps, never hurts, costs very little, works great.

Is also a good tip Blackhawk 44. I really like liquid alox.
It is cheap. It works.
I question alcohol as a solvent? It works over time. Lacquer thinner is right now!

Try a ball of dried up left-over.
Cheezywan

Well, I don't think I care to do that again. I loaded up a batch of .38s today with those double-lubed bullets. I ended up with Alox in my die and smeared on the outside of the cases. I had to seat all bullets a little long and then stop and clean all cartridges and bullet seating die with lacquer thiner.

Then I seated all to correct length and crimped. I know they will shoot fine. Perhaps they will foul less? I don't care. I would rather clean a gun than than spend that much time cleaning cartridges and a die. I might try Forest Punch's idea of boiling the lube off next time.

No harm done to anything here. It was just more work than it needed to be. It was an experiment and I learned from it. I thought I would share my results with all of you.
Cheezywan