I've been pan-lubing my bullets for some time now and it's working really well but it takes entirely too much time... I've changed methods a few times to reduce some time but it still is way too slow and messy...I am considering tumble lube on my new 9mm setup... I'm purchasing another 9mm mold so I need to make this decision now... any suggestions ? comments? past experiences that might help...I'll be shooting through a M&P Pro 5" 9mm... 124 grain (if thats the mold I buy) I feel I could shoot alot more rounds if I tumble lube but worry about the barrel ...

If you don't have a lubrisizer then I would use the tumble lube method. I have used it before and it is a little bit messy but the bullets worked fine and there was no leading.

I have a lyman lubrisizer but never use it anymore , I have been tumble lubing all my cast bullets for years even ones that are not tumble lube design. they work great.

Tumble lubing works for some, I prefer a luber/sizer (star), allows more flexibility with lube types, is less messy, bullets can be taken right from the sizer to the handload. Find a TL you like, forget the lee TL bullets, & have at it. Pan lubing is really tedious.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

Bullet lube is dictated by velocity, for the most part. If you are going to shoot "hot" handloads, get a Star sizer when you can afford it. I can lube and size 500 bullets in less than 30 minutes with a Star.

As long as you are shooting mid-range rounds, the tumble lube you are doing with liquid Alox will probably work, so long as the bullets are the right size for the barrel. Just watch for leading, and pay particular attention to smoke when you shoot. Smoke with a smokeless powder typically means vaporized lead, which is caused by less than adequate lubricant. It can also be caused by an undersized bullet, but most moulds will drop bullets of a thousandth or two over-sized. I am not sure about Lee TL moulds, as I just don't like them.

Might be time to check out tumble lubed powder coating.

I use liquid Alox on all my lead handgun boolets, but I don't push them fast(over 1000fps).
Thats what jacketed bullets are for......

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

Try powder coating.
It's the wave of the future of cast.
Embrace it.

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it just needs more voltage

Powder coating is the next generation lube! May your dies, cylinders, and hands be liberated forever from the blue/red goop.

In my wanderings, I've seen nylon and Teflon powders.
Not sure what they would do, but if the compounded pile of velocity gains actually add up. We could be taking about 9mm creeping into 357 territory and 45 auto playing alongside 41 mag all at standard pressure.
It's a lot to ask, but well worth trying.

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it just needs more voltage

I am researching for a very "mild" load ... not looking for a hot load but something to take to the range and ding metal...I want some accuracy however but not wanting to shoot through car engines...as long as the barrel doesn't lead up I'm thiking I can produce more rounds in a limited amount of time = more range time = happy man

Fwiw, smoke is not vaporizing lead at all, it's burning lube. Some lubes smoke more than others with some powders. Alox based lubes tend to smoke with more powders.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

I entered into the wonderful world of bullet casting a few years ago, and decided to take a small step first and tumble lube all my bullets instead of investing in a sizing/lube press, punches, etc. I'm using Lee molds that are "grooved" for tumble lubing, but in reading I'm finding that tumble lubing also works for bullets that are designed for "traditional" sizer/punch lubing methods. (I may try that in the future).

I don't like the sticky residue on the "noses" of the tumble-lubed bullets, though, so immediately after tumbling, I take an extra step, and pick up each bullet out of the margarine tub with a pair of large tweezers that I bought specifically for this purpose (they have serrated "paddles" on the end that grip the bullet nicely), and I wipe the nose of each bullet quickly with a small piece of paper towel. Then I place the bullets base down on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper to dry. I don't size my bullets, so this is my "one step" lube process.

It goes pretty fast, and after wiping a dozen or so bullets, I tear another small piece of paper towel off the sheet, and keep going.

I don't think I would do this if I were casting thousands of bullets in a session, but for a few hundred, I don't find it overwhelming. I definitely like the fact that my loaded rounds aren't sticky, and I can place the loaded cartridges into ziploc plastic bags and they're very "clean" to handle at the range.

Lou

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NRA Certified Instructor & RSO

I tumble with Lee and Moly coat some all so. Both works good for me.

Powder coating ... its kinda like having a 428 SCJ in a mustang.
the potential to put the power to the pavement is there, but you can still cruise town.
Ive pushed it to 2500 FPS in a rifle, no gas checks before it started to misbehave.
in a pistol, its everywhere you'll ever be.
speed of production can be the fastest turn around you've ever had and your dies stay clean while loading massive batches.
Get and Electrostatic gun, a toaster oven, air compressor if you dont already have one, and join the party.
You will never go back

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it just needs more voltage