I order bulk cast bullets-300 at a time, and have noticed that over the months, the lube darkens and hardens.  I've decided to keep them in resealable plastic bags with a cigar humidifier inside to keep the lube moist.  What do you guys think of this, and anyone have a better idea?

40_Rod wrote on Nov 3^rd, 2014 at 12:28pm:

The OP is ordering prelubed bullets so that's not going to work...although a great suggestion.

I use SPG and because it works as is, and I'm not exactly sure whats in it, so I don't modify it.

I put my lubed bullets in my bullet trays and store them in freezer grade ziplocks for short term. Long term I put them in the freezer, in the ziplocks, as SPG recommends.

Before anyone feels the need to explain exactly whats in SPG allow me to say this. I've had at least 5 people tell me they have known the Garbe's since birth and they know exactly whats in SPG and they are all different versions.

oxidation can be atmospheric, so sealing n a plastic bag and keeping cold might help especially if you can find any of those vacuum bags.  a cigar humidifier only affects H20 in the air and I seriously doubt that anything in the lube is water related. most lubes are waxes and oils blended. 
With age the natural oils and wax blends can simply surface oxidize unless the oils turn rancid or evaporate and the lube dries and shrinks and starts falling out I'd rely not worry too much about a little discoloration. another possibility might be to give them a quick tumble-lube in one of the liquid alox blends to help seal them with a thin coat

Personally I'd order them sized but unlubed and than pan lube them myself as needed.  that way I can control the lube mixture and freshness and it might even save a couple bucks per hundred

westerner wrote on Nov 4^th, 2014 at 12:13am:


Joe, Now that I'm retired, can I bid on your casting contracts to supplement my fixed income?

I put my bullets in the freezer as soon as I lube them.

Found fresh lube works the best, even more so when using black powder. No drying or oxidation when they are frozen. Even bullets with lanolin will harden with time.

Even two or three year old bullets look like freshly lubed ones when you unthaw them.

Yes I use Alberta Schuetzen Lube for all plain base cast bullet shooting including black powder.