Comments on: Try Ballistol Lube for Case Sizing, STP for Neck Turning

By: Andy

Andy — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 00:34:45 +0000

Best case lube I’ve used has been Froglube

By: Kristian

Kristian — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 08:52:50 +0000

If you’re FL sizing brass from gass gun (like .308w from M1a or similar), then forget about the Ballistol. Only some proper heavy duty lubricants will prevent you from having too much problems.

By: Roy

Roy — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 18:31:49 +0000

I have in the past made my own bullets and anyone who understands the huge forces applied to the various steps is well aware of the need for a superior lube with special properties to keep jackets and cores from sticking in the expensive dies and this must be done with a minimum thickness of lube.
What I use as a bullet lube is a mixture of anhydrous lanolin and petroleum jelly (ie Vaseline)to thin it…usually a 50/50 mix is close. You can also substitute castor oil for the petroleum jelly if one simply has to have the finest. Put all the ingredients in a glass bowl and put in the microwave for a few minutes and presto….one of the finest lubes you will ever need.It works well for turning necks or sizing cases. A hot bath in some dish washing liquid and then a trip to corn cob media in a vibratory cleaner will have them ready to go.
My wife uses the same lube mixture as a hand lotion and raves that there is none better.I keep a vile of it with me in the dry winter months to use as a lip balm…again there is none better .I hope this is useful.I might add that I made about 2 lbs of this lube over 20 yrs ago and I am still using it with plenty to go…a little of it goes a very long way.Roy

By: Boyd Allen

Boyd Allen — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 16:39:12 +0000

I have found that if a carbide mandrel is used, and the expander is well matched, that having a magic turning lube is much less important. Also, if a rough cut is used, a rather loose fit can be tolerated, with the final tolerance being achieved with the finish cut. By controlling fit, heat is greatly reduced, while maintaining precision. As far as cleaning is concerned, I would never tumble cases with thin turned necks. Perhaps a vibratory cleaner, or ultrasonic, but not a tumbler.

By: Josh Benin

Josh Benin — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 00:44:15 +0000

While I support your recommendations (and appreciate them too – I’ve been using Ballistol as you suggest), you might point out that it is a petroleum product, mostly mineral oil, a by-product of gasoline distillation. Drugstore mineral oil or baby oil might behave similarly. From Ballistols’ MSDS sheet: “Ballistol is based on medicinal grade white mineral oil.”

Editor: Josh — Thanks for the correction. We presume the pine oil referenced in Ballistol marketing materials is merely part of the blend, to enhance the mineral oil base. Lest people wonder how a mineral oil can be non-toxic, consider that mineral oil is a common ingredient in baby oil and highly refined mineral oil is used in many food products. See: http://www.chow.com/food-news/55245/what-is-mineral-oil/

By: Eric Kennard

Eric Kennard — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 23:49:46 +0000

For those of you that haven’t tried it, Ballistol is some of the best solvent and lube on the market. I am always suprised to see it doesn’t make it to the comparisions on this site. It works great on Moly and is much faster than Kroil. Try some!