A Little Goes A Long Way - Even Further When It's 100 Degrees Outside

[hdwhit]

Last year I started using Hornady Unique case lubricant. On the package they say, "a little goes a long way" and after I developed a light enough touch that I wasn't overdoing it, I was surprised to find that I had lubricated more than 3,000 cases and still had barely used any of the tub.

You're supposed to apply Unique to your fingers and then rub it from your fingers on to the brass. The trick is to put some on your fingers and wait for it to be absorbed into the skin and then add a tiny bit more. Doing this I could ever so lightly touch the surface of the Unique and come away with enough lube for maybe five or six cases. Well, it is now around 100 degrees each day in north Texas and I started to size some brass and found that the Unique had gotten so thin in the heat that the amount that would normally lube five or six cases was still going at 30 cases!

Looks like my tub of Unique could turn into a lifetime supply. Anyone else use Unique and had a similar experience?

 

[rocirish]

Well, I haven't loaded any in the heat as my bench is in the ac basement, but I am really impressed with how little it takes.

 

[higgite]

That might call for a small warming plate when the first blue norther hits.

 

[dredd]

Yep.
I'm in Arlington.
I know exactly what you are talking about.
Next week is going to be even hotter.
Don't let that stuff freeze.
It screws up the texture and it doesn't fix it by stirring it up.
It still works, but feels gritty.

 

[hdwhit]

dredd wrote:
Don't let that stuff freeze.
It screws up the texture and it doesn't fix it by stirring it up.

Thanks for the warning.

 

[hdwhit]

higgite wrote:
That might call for a small warming plate when the first blue norther hits.

Maybe I can swipe my wife's candle warmer when she's not looking.

 

[MtnCreek]

It's what I use for small lots of sizing. I also use it on 3.5"+ wood screws; without lube they tend to want to strip the heads. Good stuff.

 

[hdwhit]

MtnCreek wrote:
It's what I use for small lots of sizing.

Well, all I do is small lots (never more than 100 rounds at a time, usually 50).

I suppose if I were using a progressive press to feed weekly range trips with an AR and some non-reloader friends, I might think differently, but as it is, I get to shoot five or six times a year (weather permitting) so when i do get to the range I'm always working on a new load or changes to an existing load so its not quite the same as if I was just out plinking.

But then, my contract (my exile) is up in January and I'll be able to afford to retire, so I may find myself shooting more after that. We'll see.

 

[MtnCreek]

50 rds of one type of ammo is what I typically load too. If you find a need to lube more brass quicker, dillon spray and a usps box reinforced with duct tape works good too. Spray-shake, repeat and wait a few minutes.

Early congrats on your retirement!

 

[243winxb]

The MSDS lists Bleached Tallow at 70% to 90 % http://www.hornady.com/assets/files/msds/Unique_Case_Lube_MSDS.pdf

 

[hdwhit]

243winxb wrote:
The MSDS lists Bleached Tallow...

So, I guess if I were to run out of brass, I could cook a batch of original McDonald's fries with it?

 

[rocirish]

I never checked the MSDS, but I always thought that it smelled a lot like lard. Now I know.

 

[hdwhit]

rocirish wrote:
I always thought that it smelled a lot like lard.

Lard, Tallow. Pig, Cow. They're all greasy and delicious.

 

[hdwhit]

Do you see what you've done 243winxb? You got a bunch of us getting hungry and thinking about fast food to add to our ever-expanding waistlines! I'll expect you to volunteer to donate a pint of blood to my cardiac bypass surgery. I'll have my wife PM you when it's time to go to the blood bank.

 

[hdwhit]

Mtn Creek wrote:
Early congrats on your retirement!

Thank you.

 

[Lokichoki]

Hdwhit,
I'll have to grab some of that lube, I have been using the Lee sizer lube for small batches since somebody smiled upon me and I ended up with alot for free, it's been ok for small lots of 243, one tube haS lasted me a year and I'm halfway through, I'm currently using the Lyman aresol spray lube for large lots of 223 while also using the sponge with it and I can claim the Lyman stuff is ten times better than Hornady one shot etc