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Big Lube bullets
Posted: Tue May 31, 2022 1:40 pm
by Jelwyoming
I have been researching Dick Dastardly's Big Lube bullets. Can I get feedback on them from someone that has used them? I like the idea of carrying the huge load of soft lube to keep the fouling soft. Real experience with that? I am contemplating buying a set of the molds. My sharps on order will be my first BP rifle, so forgive my ignorance with this. i've reloaded SL for 40 years plus, so this made sense from my perspective.
Re: Big Lube bullets
Posted: Tue May 31, 2022 2:05 pm
by Don McDowell
I shot some of the Big Lube 500 gr bullets. The thing isn't anything more than a Lee 500 3r with lube grooves really deep. Carries a lot of lube, but hitting a the side of a barn , from the inside with both doors closed is quite the feat for that thing.
There are a number of good bullets available that carry enough lube to get the job done, and are proven match winners.
Re: Big Lube bullets
Posted: Tue May 31, 2022 2:58 pm
by Dennis Armistead
What caliber is your new rifle and what type of shooting will you be doing with it?
Dennis
Re: Big Lube bullets
Posted: Tue May 31, 2022 6:35 pm
by Jelwyoming
It's a 45-70. I have a number of smokeless rifles in 45-70, so I liked the utility of being able to shoot either in the Shiloh. Suggestions for a long range target round for that? The others of mine are lever actions, so I am limited up to about 405grn bullets before it reach COL limits for them.
Newbie question, do you use gas checks for any BP loads, maybe on rounds over 1600fps like smokeless lead cast?
Re: Big Lube bullets
Posted: Tue May 31, 2022 6:58 pm
by Kurt
Shooting GG bullets with deep grooves is nothing but a waste of lube. A wide shallow groove or multi shallow grooves will serve you better if you like shooting a GG bullet.
Re: Big Lube bullets
Posted: Tue May 31, 2022 7:13 pm
by Don McDowell
There’s a number of good bullets for long range in your Shiloh
The 525 gr money bullet, and the copy of the original postel both from Buffalo Arms
. The 645 saeco bullet is another good one
Might want to keep a separate set of cases for your Shiloh as it’s a pretty good chance cases fired in your lever guns will fit in the chamber of the shiloh
Re: Big Lube bullets
Posted: Tue May 31, 2022 8:30 pm
by Don McDowell
Re: Big Lube bullets
Posted: Tue May 31, 2022 9:32 pm
by Dennis Armistead
Jelwyoming wrote: ↑Tue May 31, 2022 6:35 pm
It's a 45-70. I have a number of smokeless rifles in 45-70, so I liked the utility of being able to shoot either in the Shiloh. Suggestions for a long range target round for that? The others of mine are lever actions, so I am limited up to about 405grn bullets before it reach COL limits for them.
Newbie question, do you use gas checks for any BP loads, maybe on rounds over 1600fps like smokeless lead cast?
If you plan on shooting Creedmoor with the 45 2.1, I would suggest the following: BACO JIM 459542M5 mould, SPG lube, Starline Brass, 16:1 lead, Swiss 2F powder, Fed GM150M primer, .030" Walters Poly wad.
Dennis
Re: Big Lube bullets
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2022 8:29 pm
by Jelwyoming
There's a lot of good info there. I am reading up on the blackpowder reloading. I have some equipment on the way to add to my extensive SL equipment. It looks like the rifle may be the last to arrive. With that in mind, and grateful for all the suggetions, what should be a good starting target load? Looks like Denis provide a pretty specific example. Is that a good starting set up? I am used to seeing the 405grn bullets for this in the SL world. I haven't learned a couple of accronyms that several of you used. Please forgive my ingnorance on this.... What are GG bullets? What is SPG lube? I know that there are hard and soft varities. It seems like the soft one affords a softer, easier to clean fouling. That was my goal wit the Big Lube bullets. Does the Lee 349 500 3r run as clean as the Big lube style. I can see how the big lube bullets might suffer accuracy with the smaller bearing surfaces. True?
How is the lead for casting sold? Denis mentioned 20-1. What blend or alloy is that?
Thanks for the help. I just bought the lyman black powder loading manual so hopefully I can answer some of this for myself soon, however it's the unwritten experience that I am after from you folks!
Re: Big Lube bullets
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2022 9:52 pm
by gunlaker
Jelwyoming wrote: ↑Wed Jun 01, 2022 8:29 pm
There's a lot of good info there. I am reading up on the blackpowder reloading. I have some equipment on the way to add to my extensive SL equipment. It looks like the rifle may be the last to arrive. With that in mind, and grateful for all the suggetions, what should be a good starting target load? Looks like Denis provide a pretty specific example. Is that a good starting set up? I am used to seeing the 405grn bullets for this in the SL world. I haven't learned a couple of accronyms that several of you used. Please forgive my ingnorance on this.... What are GG bullets? What is SPG lube? I know that there are hard and soft varities. It seems like the soft one affords a softer, easier to clean fouling. That was my goal wit the Big Lube bullets. Does the Lee 349 500 3r run as clean as the Big lube style. I can see how the big lube bullets might suffer accuracy with the smaller bearing surfaces. True?
How is the lead for casting sold? Denis mentioned 20-1. What blend or alloy is that?
Thanks for the help. I just bought the lyman black powder loading manual so hopefully I can answer some of this for myself soon, however it's the unwritten experience that I am after from you folks!
You won't find too many of us using those Big Lube bullets or the Lee ones either. Your Shiloh will be 1:18 twist ( assuming you didn't specify 1:16 which most folks don't ). That's probably why you aren't getting too much info about those. Most of us, in the .45-70 are running heavier bullets designed for single shots, weighing in the 520-540 range usually. SPG lube is soft and formulated specifically for black powder use, as is DGL. Both are a good place to start.
20:1 alloy is 20 parts lead to 1 part tin. Mostly we use soft alloys between 25:1 and 16:1. 20:1 is often a really good place to start in the .45-70.
GG = grease groove
PP = paper patched
Welcome to the addiction
Chris.
Re: Big Lube bullets
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 9:20 am
by JonnyV
this book is very informative and covers tons of great info for both smokeless and BP shooting with cast lead bullets. Bonus, you can even print your own copy on your own printer for free....
http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Contents.htm
Re: Big Lube bullets
Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2022 2:38 pm
by Jelwyoming
Thanks for the feedback.
As far as alloys go, I think that I read in the Lyman Casting Bullets book that a BHN of 10-12 at velocities under 1600 was best. Thoughts on that?
Besided the BP loads, I am looking at some gas checked smokeless loads. Any history or comments there? I have molds for the 535 Postel and lymans
457132. Any experiece there for firt loads and lube. I might have been off on this, but I bought a .459 sizing die. I assumed that this was a good place to start. Comments there?
Thanks in advaced. I am hoping to retire in a year or two, so I am gathering materials while i still have disposable income.
Re: Big Lube bullets
Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2022 8:20 pm
by Randy Bohannon
Throw all the smokeless stuff in a big box and store it where you can’t find it so your brand spanking new Shiloh Sharps doesn’t get jealous and blow up using smokeless stuff.
Re: Big Lube bullets
Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2022 9:30 pm
by beltfed
Jelwyoming,
The lyman 457132 bullet is actually a "good enough" bullet to start with. Mine casts around 0.459" and should be a good
fit in your Shiloh.
This will give you time to learn more about (presumably) better bullets before you buy. Some people may be willing to
provide some test bullets of the money variety. OR Even Paper Patch bullets for the 'ultimate"
As others said, a 20+1 lead/tin is a good alloy to start with. 16+1 is considered better, though for the longer nose bullets
so they don't slump.
beltfed/arnie
Re: Big Lube bullets
Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2022 10:15 am
by MikeT
Jelwyoming,
Do not worry too much about getting everything perfect to start with. One thing is certain, as you gain experience with BP, you will change your methods and maybe equipment. So just start shooting and experimenting with powders, bullets, primers, wads, and in the case of GG bullets, your preferred bullet lube.
Keep on hav'n fun!
MikeT