Can ya get too much lube on bullets? I lubed some 287346�s with Lee Liquid Alox and let them dry. I then put another coat of Liquid Alox on them. The lube grooves were actually almost filled. Normally I just lube one time and accuracy has been very good with this bullet in the Waters. Accuracy seemed to diminish with the double lube. Any thoughts? BCB

That could be. I use the NRA formula on my target wadcutters for .38 Spl. Three grooves. I fill the bottom groove and accuracy is good. Fill the two lower grooves, no real difference. Fill all three and accuracy goes to hell. It becomes too much of a good thing.
Paul B.

Yes,
You most definitely can use too much lube!!! but better to start off with too much and work back than not have enough and plate your barrel with lead.

"Can ya get too much lube on bullets?"

Definitely. Often the final step in finishing a load off is finding the least amount of lube that'll work given the combination. For instance I'm shooten a Lee 180 PB at around 1550 with excellent accuracy, which barely carries .2 gr of lube. Yet that gun's bore is very smooth and uniform end to end with the bullet fitting well.

Lube strength is another factor affecting accuracy. How well it clears the barrel and the shot to shot consistency of that bore surface.

Most often given a decent bore and fit-- the amount of lube actually needed is far less than most designs carry.

BCB, I agree, too much can cause problems. One reason is how much stays on the boolit after it leaves the barrel and how this is distributed on the boolit. I like a soft lube that spins off at the muzzle.

Guess I answered my own question this morning at my shooting bench!!! Yesterday I gave some of the 287346�s a light coat of Alox as I usually do. The bullets basically turn from a gray color to a very light tan color. The lube grooves do collect a bit more of the Alox than the rest of the bullet surface. From my Super 14 in 7-30 Waters caliber this morning, I shot two 3-shot groups�one at 100 yards and the other at 150 yards. Groups were 0.86� and 1.37� respectively. That suits me just fine!!!BCB

BCB, sounds great!

HAR!

Let me tell this tale once more just for the sake of those who haven't heard it already.

I bought a Ruger 77 in 762x39 just for shooting cast bullets. I ran a few jecketed bullets through it and they shot wonderfully and allowed me to see what the barrel was capable of doing.

Then, I cleaned the pipe squeaky clean and began my cast bullet testing. The first groups were decent and then, they went to hell. Hmmm? I tried a different load, then different bullets and sometimes I'd get a nice group and then there'd be a flyer. After the flyer, the next group would be a pattern. Now, take it for granted, I'm a bit thick between the ears. I'd pack everything up, go back to the shop, clean the gun and try again another day. the first few groups would be okay and then back to crapola. A HA! The clean barrel shoots best the genius in me said. Hell, I was cleaning the bore like a BP rifle in order to stay on the paper! I then tried a long string of jacketed ammo and the gun just kept putting them in small groups, sans cleaning. Hmmm, again.

After about 1200-1500 rounds of cast (no kidding) I thought, maybe this bitch is lube purging itself....hence bad groups and then maybe a good one before going to the dogs altogether. So, I sized a batch of bullets, and only lubed the bottom groove and PRESTO, the cast bullets began to shoot like jacketed bullets. So, yes, you can use too much lube. Just because a bullet has multiple lube grooves doesn't mean they must be filled. Most of the designs are ancient and the lubes of that era were poor in comparison with what we have today. Go figure.

Jumptrap,

Your scenario is almost a mirror image of my situation (former!!!). This particular Contender barrel is a �cast bullet shooter� compared to other Contender barrels that I have. THEN, all of a sudden, it quit shooting cast bullets!!! They were all from one casting session, so the alloy and size should have been pretty consistent. I was puzzled. AND YES, I even shot several jacketed loads (32.5 H-335 and the Hornady 120 SSPSP bullet) as a quality control. All groups were M.O.A. and I was honestly busting 12-ounce brew cans filled with water at 150 yards. The 3x-12x Burris �scope is great for those distances. I shot the jacketed load just to see if there might be a problem with the shooting system other than the loads. NOPE, it was the cast bullets. The only difference, I lubed these bullets 2 times to see if the extra lube might help!!! Sure didn�t. I have read of such nightmares as lube purging but I was not certain that it occurred or that it could affect accuracy so drastically!!! Guess I learned a thing or two about too much lube!!! Yesterday I shot a couple more 3-shot groups, other than the ones mentioned in my previous post, at 100 yards using the 287346�s with a SINGLE coat of Lee Alox and they were both right at � M.O.A. I am again happy!!!BCB