Carnauba Blue vs Carnauba Red

wddodge

wddodge

New Member
Good Evening Gentlemen,
I've been using Carnauba Blue for .380 acp up to .45/70 and S&W 500 with great results. My only problem with the CB is that it's sticky. I can't pre-lube and store a batch of bullets for future use without them sticking together. The wider the lube band the worse the sticking.

My question is if anybody has switched from CB to CR to solve the sticking together problem? Will the CR lube my wide variety of bullets as effectively as the CB? Looking for opinions before I order a batch of the CR.

Thanks,

Denny
 
I can't answer your question as put, but will offer/suggest a short term fix until you decide what you want to do.

This process will be much like powder coating, but much easier & without as much effort...

Take some cornstarch like used for cooking/thickening & place about a teaspoon or so in a plastic flat type container.
Like a tupperware type pan or container.
Then toss in some lubed bullets & swish them around in the cornstarch gently, to coat the lube with some cornstarch & that should stop your problem with the bullets sticking together for a while, or at least until seated into a cartridge. You can figure out the ratio of cornstarch to the amount of lubed bullets by experimentation.

You can try this as an experiment to see if it solved your problem before having to order more lube. It is inexpensive & the cornstarch should not be an issue when fired thru a barrel. Likely mostly removed when seating anyway.

Your choice. I am just making a suggestion to get ya by unless someone else knows the exact answer for your situation.

G'Luck~!
 
that's what i've started doing for long term storage.. mostly.

Carnuba red can have a harder skin put on it with a simple spritz of rubbing alcohol.
give that a try.
no it doesn't mess up how it works.
 
wddodge said:
My question is if anybody has switched from CB to CR to solve the sticking together problem? Will the CR lube my wide variety of bullets as effectively as the CB? Looking for opinions before I order a batch of the CR
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Stickiness is not an issue. Just pick them out of the container with your fingers and load them. Lube will spread around when they are fired. Not had an issue in 56 years of reloading.
wddodge said:
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Refrigerate the air in your loading area. I never stored lubed bullets in a pile but placed them in tight rows in cigar boxes and layered them between heavy paperboard. I would also wipe the bases on a piece of cardboard before placing them in the box.

Powder coating solved all that for me except for a couple of chamberings that I still choose to lube the old fashioned way.
 
Thanks to everyone for the suggestions and advice. I'll probably order a couple of sticks of CR to see how that works but it's looking like I'll be learning how to PC in the near future.

Thanks all!!

Denny
 
CR doesn't stick for me.
Since CR requires some heat to flow/lube, once they are cooled off, no sticking.
That is exactly why I use CR instead of CB.

Of course, I keep my coffee cans of sized and lubed bullets in the basement.
Not in the garage where it can get over a hundred degrees in the summer.

As for how CR works, it works great. I love the stuff.
 
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^^^^^Ditto.

My two sizers are filled with Lar's CR & 2500+ lube. CR for pistols, 2500+ for rifles. My shop is in our climate-controlled basement. Usually, at 74 degrees. After lubing/sizing, the bullets go straight into the refrigerator to cool for a bit. Then bulk backed into plastic mayo/peanut butter jars. No issues with sticking/clumping.

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Have since switched to 2500+ after this photo was taken. CR does fine with cast rifle bullets until outside temps are approaching the freezing mark. Flyers might be encountered, then.


In the past, I used to store the sticky NRA 50-50 lubed pistol bullets in electrical tape containers that were then stacked inside one-pound metal coffee cans. I still use them for CR lube bullets if available. Have at least a hundred of those tape containers. Used to have the GM electricians save them for me.



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I am using up the last of my C Red. It doesn't stick too badly but I pan lube and in cold weather it is a bugger to work with. When I finish this batch of lube I'll probably switch to 50-50 or go back to making my own with vasline and bees wax. I only lube .357 and .38 specials.
Rex
 
Ian said:
Refrigerate the air in your loading area. I never stored lubed bullets in a pile but placed them in tight rows in cigar boxes and layered them between heavy paperboard. I would also wipe the bases on a piece of cardboard before placing them in the box.

Powder coating solved all that for me except for a couple of chamberings that I still choose to lube the old fashioned way.
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Ian,
You get half a like for the top part of the post . :)
 
Ben said:
I realize I'm more than a bit biased, BUT the system works just as you've described.

Ben
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Having never done anything but lubed in a sizer with good lube that so far has been up to the job by itself , at what point is there an actual need to do both ? Serious question , I ain't just poking at y'all . I use Bens Red (now) and soft blue till I run out and doubt I shoot anything faster than 2200 fps and only that fast in one or two cartridges . Not seen any leading so far so what do I gain using Bens Red and BLL on the same bullet ?
 
I think each individual needs to evaluate their own personal situation and make a decision based on that alone. If I were getting good accuracy and my bores were lead free after shooting, I'd be tempted to " Leave Well Enough Alone ".
 
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Ben said:
I think each individual needs to evaluate their own personal situation and make a decision based on that alone. If I were getting good accuracy and my bores were lead free after shooting, I'd be tempted to " Leave Well Enough Alone ".
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Kinda figured you would say that . My dad used Lyman Orange Magic ( think that's what it's called) and then rolled them in Lee Liquid Alox but he never could really tell me why other than it worked . Couldn't tell me what it worked for though because he said either one by itself worked just as well. I just figured he liked to fiddle and that kept him busy for a few more minutes.
 
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