Lubed up bullets shelf life

[John Westenberger]

Howdy Skirmishers,

I've heard some differing opinions as to how long you can keep bullets lubed up before shooting them. I'm currently using Len's lube with great success so far. The teammates that helped me get started have never had a problem letting them sit, lubed up with Len's and ready to drop powder and go, for an entire offseason. But I've also heard that you shouldn't let them sit at all, but that's usually with some sort of Beeswax/Crisco based homebrew. Any science behind it, or just a matter of preference?

[Lou Lou Lou]

I have always used Len?s Lube. It has a long life. I have used loaded bullets that we?re several years old with no ill effect. One season, no problem

[Maillemaker]

I have mostly shot 50/50 beeswax/crisco, but have also made lube using the period tallow/beeswax recipes.

I notice that after a month or so the lube definitely starts to dry out. I don't know if it makes a difference in performance or not.

In period it was noted that the tallow caused corrosion of lead and so the British ultimately phased it out, going to 100% beeswax, sometimes cut with a little mineral oil.

Steve

[rgsheppard]

We had used the beeswax-Crisco-EVOO mixture. Because of COVID, lubed musket bullets sat for a year. We used them this year and found the lube had become gummy and difficult to load. Didn't have a problem with the carbine where the lubed end of the bullet is loaded into the case and protected from air.

Have learned to make musket cartridges in quantity for storage, but not lube them until a week before the attending skirmish.

[Eggman]

Correct me if I'm wrong but for whatever reason I don't believe Len's Lube does this.

[Rob FreemanWBR]

We had used the beeswax-Crisco-EVOO mixture. Because of COVID, lubed musket bullets sat for a year. We used them this year and found the lube had become gummy and difficult to load. Didn't have a problem with the carbine where the lubed end of the bullet is loaded into the case and protected from air.

Have learned to make musket cartridges in quantity for storage, but not lube them until a week before the attending skirmish.


Garry/all,

Early this year I made the conversion to SPG lube (you can find it via a google search) thanks entirely to the advice of a friend/skirmisher.

Doing so has been one of the BEST changes I have ever made to my skirmish loads!!! Yes, it is more costly than Crisco-Bees-wax type lube - BUT you get what you pay for. I use a RCBS lubri-sizer, SPG lube sticks and S&S sizing die for my musket & carbine. For me, fouling is absolutely non-existent (you still need properly sized minies!) in my beloved Fayetteville! I literally can shoot her ALL day long and enjoy effortless, smooth loading - the last round is seated home as easily/smoothly as first, all without punching/brushing the bore!!!

Also - the best part, once rounds are lubed/sized the SPG stays FRESH for extraordinarily long periods, even on the skirts of minies - despite being exposed to air when seated nose down, in tubes. I know of skirmishers shooting minies which were lubed over a year ago without issue. This winter, I plan to load up all of my musket tubes & Maynard/Ballard brass during the winter months for the upcoming year.

In short, lube does go bad (rancid) over time, with the exception of SPG. Believe it or not, old / bad / stale lube WILL have a direct and adverse impact on your pieces accuracy!

Hope this helps.

[Bob Lintner]

Rob & others,
I didn't have good luck leaving SPG on sized .58 RCBS Hodgdon sized and lubed loaded pills in plastic cap tubes. It dried out and I had to re-lube them prior to a shoot. I also lubed/sized pills for my .44-40 and they were OK, but they were sealed in cartridges. I left them for a bit over a year and stored them in plastic butter tubs. Freshly lubed and sized pills worked great, easy clean up. I hope you have better luck than I did. I was going to try Lens Lube and some home made lube. Good luck.
Bob

[PapaRob]

I have always found that it is better to have your rounds made up and then lube them usually around a week or two or less before a shoot to use. The only exception to this that I generally make is for my Smith rounds but once they are in the tubes the lube is sealed inside so the drying out isn't a factor. I use MCM lube which seems to hold up well for a month or two after being applied.

Papa Rob

[Jim_Burgess_2078V]

I use SPG in a lubri-sizer for my .44-40 Henry bullets and the conical bullets used in my percussion revolver. No problem with the lube on my Henry bullets as it is sealed inside the cartridge case and not subject to oxidation. However, I only shoot revolver at the National Matches and, if I have any left over lubed bullets, the lube dries out and the lead is more oxidized/corroded by the time of the next National.

Jim Burgess, 15th CVI

[Bob Lintner]

I use SPG in a lubri-sizer for my .44-40 Henry bullets and the conical bullets used in my percussion revolver. No problem with the lube on my Henry bullets as it is sealed inside the cartridge case and not subject to oxidation. However, I only shoot revolver at the National Matches and, if I have any left over lubed bullets, the lube dries out and the lead is more oxidized/corroded by the time of the next National.

Jim Burgess, 15th CVI


Thats the reason I want to try home made lube and Len's Lube.

[DWalter1022V]

A couple of years ago I was working on loads for my Henry using SPG lube. I use the sticks in my Lyman lubricator and in the middle of lubing and sizing I needed to reload a stick. Grabbing one that was part of my dad's stuff I inherited, I finished lubing the bullets. At the range all was going well with pretty good groups until I started shooting the last bullets I lubed. I went from 2 inch groups at 50 yds. to not being able to keep them on paper off the bench! The lube literally gummed the muzzle end of the barrel up for about the last 6-8 inches. I cleaned the barrel which was a chore and shot some of the newer lubed bullet just fine. Shot the old lube bullets and same results. When I stopped to think about it the lube from my dad's stuff had to be 15-20 yrs. old. I tossed all the old lube. Bottom line SPG does have a shelf life!

[bobanderson]

Thats the reason I want to try home made lube and Len's Lube.

Sending you a PM, Bob.