Topic: What exactly is Alox?

Retrieved: 12/19/2014
Last Post: 12/16/2005

I know it is used in many lubes, but what exactly is it?

Pigeonroost Slim
December 09, 2005

There are several variations, but I have read internet posts claiming that allox is some sort of calcium derived goop.

w44wcf
December 11, 2005

Alox is a derivative of petroleum and is used for increasing the lubricity and corrosion prevention qualities of oils and greases.

After many tests of possible different lubes, Col. E. H. Harrison of the past NRA staff, chose Alox 2138F mixed 50/50 with beeswax as the NRA formula cast bullet lubricant. He reported this in the July 1965 issue of the American Rifleman.

Goatlips
December 11, 2005

Feller named "ragnarl" sells Alox 350 on Ebay for six bucks a pound, so I bought some. When it's "mess up the kitchen" time again, I'll 'speriment. Don't know the difference between 350 and 2138F.

For the shooting I do with the biglube boolets, though, I could probably use peanut butter and get the same scores (warning: this product contains peanuts...)

Dick Dastardly
December 11, 2005

Alox is... slow.

Most smokeyless heathen crayon lubes are... slow.

I prefer a wet, soupy, messy easy to melt lube. Thus, Pearl Lube.

For me, shootn' don't end when the smoke clears. I've still got guns to clean. Since I shoot only Big Lubetm boolits lubed with Pearl Lube, my cleanup is incredably easy. A spritz of Moosemilk and a pull of the boresnake and I'm DONE! You buy the beer. I won again. Four main match guns cleaned up pretty like in under 15 minutes. Dang, I've gotta stop this. Beer is good, but I need a designated driver. . . .

Wetter is better.

Pigeonroost Slim
December 11, 2005

DD, I agree 100%. For me, Alox has no place in black powder rounds.

Pukin Dog
December 11, 2005

Quote
For me, shootn' don't end when the smoke clears.

Maybe we should try to get a new BP catagory... Gun Clean Up [no age group class though]

For those of us who can't shoot fast but can clean guns real quick, it might be the only way to get a plaque!!

w44wcf
December 14, 2005

According to the Rifleman article, Col.Harrison started with Alox 350 but then, for some reason switched to 2138F. No reason is given.

The NRA lube was formulated for cast bullet shooting with smokeless powder, so I agree with the pards that there are superior lubes for use with black powder. However, it works very will with the b.p. subs.

quote
"Alox is... slow."

Well, since i've used it to push cast bullets to 2,400 f.p.s. with modern propellant, I'd say that it was ....... pretty FAST.

Pigeonroost Slim
December 14, 2005

I dunno Jack. I gots me some of that allox tar upinunder my fanger nails one time and it took 'bout a whole week to scrub it out. I'd say that's purt slow.

Dick Dastardly
December 15, 2005

By "slow", I meant slow to melt and wet the barrel. Yer rite, 44, alox and the crayon lubes are made for heathen smokeyless fad powders and will handle higher bullet velocities. But!! - Pull one of 'em alox or crayon lubed boolits out of a snowbank like we do here in the Nortwoods next to the glacier, and ya will find most of the lube still in the boolit.

A good BP lube is "fast" to melt and smear all over everything and make the bore WET and anything else it comes into contact with. It ain't meant for hypervelocity ammo. It's meant to keep the guns runnin' and hittin' whut they're lookin' at. Also, a good bp lube will keep yer guns on the easy side of cleanup.

So, the "slow" in my post didn't refer to how fast them boolits were goin', it was about how "slow" it is to leave the boolit grove and do some good.

Lt. Col. J. Mark Flint
December 15, 2005

I have no intention of using Alox in a bp lube. I was curious about what it was and what specific properties it had.

My lubes are basically beeswax and shortening and a natural oil, though I am not above throwing a bit of parrafin in at times to stretch the contents. My guns clean up easily with Murphy's mix and I'd wager that the 15 minutes that some folks take to clean 4 guns would leave me extra time for drinking the beer I would win, even if I had to clean 6 guns (which, for the record, took less than 12 minutes last time I had six to clean and a watch around)

Big lube bullets might even speed that process up a tiny amount, but I LIKE cleaning guns

Dick Dastardly
December 15, 2005

You and I differ a bit on that point Col. I sure like clean guns, but don't care much for cleanin' 'em, unless I've got interestin' company. Then it seems to go easier.

Lt. Col. J. Mark Flint
December 16, 2005

That is what makes the world interesting DD.

I have a lovely 3 lube groove 40 caliber bullet I designed (THe third groove serves as a crimp groove for loads that need crimping) that hopefully combines the better lube benefits with what I believe are accuracy enhancing benefits as well. Mold is waiting for handles to be altered and for me to cast a batch.

One thing I am sure of is that there is no one right way to load for BP, but there sure as heck are some wrong ways!