Does the location of lubricant make a difference?

[Ben_hutcherson]

I picked up a box of older stock 141gr bevel base 38 cal(.358) wadcutters over the weekend at a gun show.

I loaded a few up last night. The bullets have three lube grooves, and most have a thin band of lube in the center groove. A fair number, however, were lubed in the forward most groove.

My strategy, for now, is to separate the two. Since the center lubed ones seemed more plentiful, that was what I used for my first 50. Once I pull out 50 or so of the forward-lubed ones, I'll also load them up and compare the two.

I'm wondering, however, if this sort of thing will make a difference, and if it does just how much of a difference there will be. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

 

[Maximumbob54]

I doubt it will matter much as long as it has enough lube. There are plenty of them that have that dry film lube and as long as they are loaded proper they don't lead. I cast my own and tumble lube them in alox and I don't get leading with 2.8gr of BE.

 

[rockquarry]

It's doubtful you will see any difference, particularly at wadcutter velocities. However, you're taking the right approach - never hurts to verify.

 

[robertrwalsh]

At the velocities involved I doubt it will be a concern. Of course, my opinion might not be worth much. When I made my own wadcutters I liked to lube both bottom grooves and leave the top one empty, just on general principles.

 

[Paul5388]

Tumble lubes work just fine at some pretty high velocities. If the bullet fits the throats properly and they do start leading, it will be noticed toward the muzzle. That's where it will start running out of lube. The solution to that situation is to add lube to the exposed lead portion. LLA (Lee Liquid Alox) can be lightly "painted" on the exposed lead, but thin it a little with mineral spirits and then let it/them dry.

 

[mtgianni]

E. H. Harrison did a lot of testing in Cast Bullets and found that over lubrication deteriorated accuracy in 38 wadcutters. One lube groove filled is plenty with normal loads. I would be surprised if it mattered if it is top bottom or middle. I would however separate them in each group.