Cleaning Bullets

[Texbow]

I'm starting to shoot a TC Renegade that I've had relegated to the safe for a long time. I have several boxes of Maxi-hunters, Great Plains, and buffalo Bullets that were stored out in the garage for 15 years. Lube is dried out crud now....what is easiest way to remove it?

 

[Black Hand]

Dipping in boiling water...??

 

[BrownBear]

I'd boil them in water. Should lift the lube right out.

 

[Toomuch51]

Melt them down and cast round balls, you will be much more satisfied with the performance.

 

[mooman76]

What they said or just lube over the old lube.

 

[necchi]

The gue on the Buffalo Ballettes will never come off,, and seriously does make a great dross compound when melting lead for casting,, toss one ballette in every once in awhile during a casting session,, stir and dross,, works great.
The Maxi hunters and Great Plains(?)
Well the majority of the lube should rub off with a course rag if you do each one individually. You could follow up with boiling water dip like the others say,, but--
-- have you used these bullets before in the Renegade?
Do you know they function well or are you just interested in now-finally trying them?
Honestly the Great Plains get the best reviews

 

[Billnpatti]

I would think that the lube is soluble in something. I don't know what it is made of so I don't know which solvent to suggest. I would start with the boiling water idea first because many of the commercial lubes are water soluble. If that doesn't do it, I'd next try soaking them in something like kerosene or mineral spirits. It may take a good bit of soaking to get the stuff off but it will eventually come off once you find the correct solvent. Scrubbing with an old toothbrush will help, too. Of course, the idea suggested by one of the other members of melting them down and casting round balls is a worthy idea, too.

 

[Texbow]

I shot this gun quite a bit before kids and bowhunting left little time for other hobbies. This gun would keep all 3 of these bullets in 1 1/2- 2 inches for 3 shots at 100 yds with 90 grains of Pyrodex. It would shoot a 490 PRB with .010 patch and 80 gr pyrodex at around 3" at same distance.

 

[BrownBear]

This gun would keep all 3 of these bullets in 1 1/2- 2 inches for 3 shots at 100 yds with 90 grains of Pyrodex. It would shoot a 490 PRB with .010 patch and 80 gr pyrodex at around 3" at same distance.

Some very good reasons to keep on doing what you're doing. Just a heads up- If you really like those Hornady's, you might hesitate to shoot up all you've got before finding a bunch more. Hornady quit them in 58 caliber, much to my dismay. Dashed around and gobbled up a limited supply, but wish I had more. I'd sure be inclined to keep a fair stock on hand, just in case they decide to discontinue it in all calibers.

On a note looping back to your point about degraded lube, I'd be more inclined with the Hornadys just to put a lubed felt wad between them and the powder rather than trying to relube their shallow knurling. In fact the lubed wad has been key to me getting best accuracy out of them (as well as TC bullets), so you'd get double duty out of them.

 

[bubba.50]

the little info sheet from a box of my Hornady Great Plains bullets says if the lube's dry just use them anyway. don't know if they counted on it dryin' for 15 years though :rotf: I'd smear some new lube on a few of'em and see what happens. the lubed wad mentioned may also help?

luck & have a good'en, bubba.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

I would let them sit in mineral spirits for a while. The old should dissolve right off.

 

[nkbj]

I'm starting to shoot a TC Renegade that I've had relegated to the safe for a long time. I have several boxes of Maxi-hunters, Great Plains, and buffalo Bullets that were stored out in the garage for 15 years. Lube is dried out crud now....what is easiest way to remove it?

Sometimes the dried out TC (yellow) lube just chips right off. If not, I'd try sitting one in water for a day just to see what it does.