I wrote to Rooster Labs about Zambini Red lube I have been using for some years now, because the listed distributors don't show any in stock.
QuoteThanks for your inquiry, and for your loyalty. All of our wax stick lubes are out of stock and out of production as a consequence of the retirement of the gentleman who extruded it for us beginning in 1983. I wish I could tell you otherwise. Several of my customers have told me that Thompson offers some high melting point stick lubes. I hope they can help you, and I wish you my best.
Sincerely,
Duane Benton
That is bad news. The guys at cast boolits are suggesting White Label Carnuba Red or BAC as a replacement. Not quite the same, but similar.
One guys says this home lube is close too:
"Over heat, mix by volume 4 parts beeswax, 1 part Dexron ATF, 1 part lithium auto grease"
Seems to me mixing in 1 part of carnuba in place of a part beeswax would make it bit harder.
I have looked at the White Label Carnuba Red and Magma lube as replacements. I have heard about using some Dextron in the mix. I could make my own if I had to and may start because of the cost factor which as you add in S&H too! I may give my cousin a call and obtain some bees wax, they have several hives. The Felix lube is easy enough to make also. My brother-in-law and I use to make some lube years ago, but it was just easy to buy the Zambini that had worked so well in my Star sizer.
I've used Rooster for years, but ran out years ago. I switched to Thompsons. They are comparable, mix the same, and have nearly the same temp ranges as far as I can tell. Performance is as good as any wax type lube, better than a lot of them. They offer solid or hollow sticks, and bulk, depending on your needs.
I know a lot of folks who use/recommend the ATF blend, but it is not good for any long term storage intents. The additives in the oil are not friendly with brass (for shooting purposes), as it will actually penetrate, and inhibits oxidation, which is essential to brass longevity. If you use it for a rotation round (loaded and shot in a short period), I recommend a detergent wash of your brass after fired. Or use a 10 weight mineral oil instead for longer storage.
Thanks, Thompson was and other choice. The Zambini was a stable product as I have some stuff loaded for over 20 years and they still shoot well. In fact one of my B-I-L's had some of my handloads (250 ct of 9mm) which were inundated duing the lost of his house in Hurricane Katrina (ground Zero washed his house of the foundations 20+ foot tide surge), we we able to dig the ammo out of the sludge and wash them off. He fired the last of them during CHL qualifing and ony one did not fire. Primer died, reloaded the same powder and bullet on a new casing and it fired perfectly.
There are many good choices of lube but like I mentioned cost especially shipping & handling will be considered in my choice.
I am a big fan of felix lube, but it is a sticky medium soft lube and doesn't deal well with bullets just being tossed in a jug. I stack them neatly in a box:
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Am90XtaRz6fDR9doWI2-0-W3gShKlxaUoH9HsI_oQOpsBQDNAsEJXTe8grFI57mx9ZKb5ivs0A)
These are lubed with felix + a blue crayon for color. They will be loaded in 30 carbine and gallery loads for 30-06.
Man it really sucks when a great product you love is gone. >:(