Pan lube question

[ShotgunDave]

Okay all you old hat pan lubers, I have what is probably a dumb question.

I'm fairly new to this activity, and I have noticed a trend with my lubing exploits. After I pour the hot lube into the pan, I let it set up completely before pulling the bullets out. I let the lube come all the way down to room temp. When I pull the bullets out, about half of them don't have any lube in the groove. It just doesn't stick.

Now, I can drag the bullet through the cooled lube and it will collect in the groove, and that's what I do. But is that normal? Or am I doing it incorrectly? And by the way, I'm using SPG lube for black powder. In case you're unfamiliar with it, it's an all natural, beeswax based product. I don't know what else it contains, apparently it's a proprietary secret.

Any and all help would be appreciated.

[Hawg]

If you can get the whole cake out of the pan push the bullets through. If the cake breaks the bullets in the break won't have lube. Once the bullets are out put the next batch in the holes and reheat.

[mike116]

I don't use SPG anymore but back when I did I would put the pan full of bullets outside or in fridge to get cold.  The bullets popped out cleaner and easier when the SPG was cold but not freezing cold.

[AntiqueSledMan]

Hello Dave,

I have never pan lubed, but in watching different videos I noticed many use a cookie cutter over the bullet to cut it out of the cake. Then placing fresh bullets into the holes & remelting the cake over & over.

Hope this helps, AntiqueSledMan.

[ShotgunDave]

Thanks for the help guys. I'll try your suggestions and report back.

I just wanted to make sure I wasn't doing something fundamentally wrong, by letting the lube completely cool.

[Captainkirk]

I use a piece of brass tubing as a cookie cutter and rarely have an empty groove. Especially if it's warm (heat gun)

[ShotgunDave]

Update:

I loaded 100 rounds of 44-40 yesterday, and tried all of the ways suggested. The cookie cutter method worked, but was really messy. The way I felt worked best was, flipping the pan over and dropping the whole shebang out onto a towel. Then pushing the bullets out from the nose, so they went tail first through the lube. As long as the lube didn't crack along a bullet, it came out well lubed. If there was a crack, little to no lube stayed in the groove. With those bullets, I pushed them backwards through a previous bullet hole and it worked.

Thanks again for all the help and suggestions. I think I have a handle on it now. My next step is going to be making my own lube.

[Captainkirk]

Good to hear. Of course, one could always use a lubrisizer like Lyman, RCBS or SAECO, if you really wanted to get efficient. But it's a bit of an investment for a casual reloader, and probably unnecessary for lubing a hundred at a time.
Midway has, on several occasions last year, put the RCBS lubrisizer on sale for $144.00.

[ShotgunDave]

Good to hear. Of course, one could always use a lubrisizer like Lyman, RCBS or SAECO, if you really wanted to get efficient. But it's a bit of an investment for a casual reloader, and probably unnecessary for lubing a hundred at a time.
Midway has, on several occasions last year, put the RCBS lubrisizer on sale for $144.00.

I've actually been thinking about this Capt. I have my eye out for a used one.

[Captainkirk]

I've actually been thinking about this Capt.

Yeah...me too.

[mike116]

I broke down and bought a used Star Lubesizer from the Cast Boolits forum.   The Star pushes bullets down through the sizing die by pushing on the flat base so you don't need a bunch of different nose punches. 

[ShotgunDave]

I broke down and bought a used Star Lubesizer from the Cast Boolits forum.   The Star pushes bullets down through the sizing die by pushing on the flat base so you don't need a bunch of different nose punches.

That's good to know about the Star Mike. Thanks for the heads up.

[mike116]

You won't like the price if you look at the new ones made by Magma Machine works.    I had to watch for an old (San Diego Machine) one to be able to afford one.   I still pan lube sometimes but if you are in a hurry you can't beat it.

[Dave Shooter]

Keep an eye on ebay too.  I picked up my new in the box Lyman 4500 for $100 shipped to my door.

[ShotgunDave]

You won't like the price if you look at the new ones made by Magma Machine works.    I had to watch for an old (San Diego Machine) one to be able to afford one.   I still pan lube sometimes but if you are in a hurry you can't beat it.

Funny you mention that Mike. I was just looking at them. When I saw the prices, I was 

I'll keep my eyes open.

Keep an eye on ebay too.  I picked up my new in the box Lyman 4500 for $100 shipped to my door.

That's what I'm doing Dave. I'm watching eBay for a deal.