Case Lube

[Pistol Ranch]

This has probably been asked before..

What is your recommendation for the best case lube and why ??

Second question,,Do you lube the inside neck on EVERY case or rely on residual lube to lubricate several cartridge cases??

P.R.

 

[blarby]

RCBS Case lube mat.

Lee case lube.

Non greasy, dries fast, little goes a long way. Mat helps keep the lube where it needs to be.

I neck lube using my pad on each case.

 

[straight-shooter]

On .223 cases I use Hornady One Shot. There are a lot of negative reviews stating stuck cases using it but I find it to be the contrary. The biggest problem lies with people not allowing it to fully dry before running cases into the die. I allow 10 minutes to dry before proceeding.

I throw about 100 cases into a plastic coffee container and liberally spray them then I shake them up and remove the lid and let dry for 10 minutes. Never a problem doing it this way and it's quick and easy.

 

[Slamfire]

I small base size every cartridge that I can buy a small base die. Spray on lubes that I have tried, and those lubes that dry to a waxy hardness will stick a case in a small base die.

Two lubes work just outstandingly for me: Imperial sizing wax and RCBS water soluble. It is easy for me to use my Thumbler Tumbler and tumble my cases with a patch saturated with RCBS case lube. So that is what I do. Imperial I have to apply with my fingers, takes too long. RCBS water soluble also washes off, something I do in the sink with a colander and a tub. In hot weather I leave the cases out in the direct sunlight to dry.

I lube the inside of my case necks. Makes it easier to pull the expander out. Might be easier on the case shoulder as the expander comes out.

 

[USSR]

What is your recommendation for the best case lube and why ??

Imperial Sizing Die Wax. Lasts d@mn near forever, wipes off easily, and when properly used will NEVER cause a stuck case.

Second question,,Do you lube the inside neck on EVERY case or rely on residual lube to lubricate several cartridge cases??

Buy bushing dies and eliminate the expander ball, which is the only reason for lubing the inside of the neck.

Don

 

[Smokey Joe]

Lube...

Pistol Ranch--I used to use RCBS lube on a pad. Switched to Imperial Sizing Die Wax. I think the Imperial is more "lub-y" than the RCBS (cases slip in & out of the FL sizing die slicker) and it is no more of a hassle to use.

col. Townsend Whelen recommended using "just a suspicion" of lube inside the case neck, and accomplished that by lubing every 4th or 5th case neck. This would be using anhydrous lanolin--there weren't dedicated case lubes in his day. I followed suit with the RCBS lube and it worked fine.

Imperial also puts out a "dry neck lube" which appears to be powdered graphite, and which I use by just pushing the case into the graphite, neck-deep. It works for lubing the neck of a case to be FL sized in a standard die. This results in no lube residue left inside the case, and many rifle powders are graphited anyhow, so that doesn't count as an adulterant of any sort.

You hear both positive and negative things about Hornady One Shot. Haven't tried it, and since I have something else that works, probably won't.

So: Recommendation for lube: Imperial Sizing Die Wax. Recommendation for inside neck: Imperial Dry Neck Lube. Frequency of neck lubing: Every 3-4 cases. OTOH, the RCBS lube works fine too if you want to use that.

Good luck in your quest for the absolute perfect case lube. Let us know if/when you find it!

 

[RandyC]

Currently I'm using Hornady sizing lube on the outside and a little Lee lube inside the case mouth.

I like the idea of the Lee lube but it dries so fast I worry about whether I'm getting adequate coverage. I'm a beginner so at this point I'm concerned about each step of the process.

 

[MtnCreek]

I like the idea of the Lee lube but it dries so fast I worry about whether I'm getting adequate coverage.

I think Lee says it works either way. Only problem I've seen with the Lee lube is it will seperate if not used for awhile.

I like Hornady Unique for the tough jobs and Dillon spray lube for everyday use.

Everyone seems to love Imperial Sizing Die Wax. I may give that stuff a try if I ever run out of the Hornady Unique.

 

[blarby]

Another fantastic use for lee lube is on the arm of your press, btw.... if you dont happen to keep graphite handy.

 

[jcwit]

No offense, but I think you mean the ram.

 

[halogrinder]

4oz bottle of lanolin:64oz of alcohol.


shake the hell out of it before use. almost like Dillon lube

 

[DM~]

Doesn't this question get asked about once a week on this site?

I use imperial size wax, and have used it just about since it first came out. I haven't found anything better!

With my finger, i put a LIGHT film on the case and then rub my finger over the neck of the case. That leaves a light film there for the inside of the neck. Like was already stated, it wipes off very easy.

DM

 

[soloban]

+1 on the Imperial Sizing wax. I just used it for the first time today. I find it to be better than the RCBS pad and the Lee white gunk.

With the Imperial wax, you merely need to touch your thumb and index finger to the wax and rub it on the case. Resizes like butter. After your done, wash the cases with hot soapy water and it comes right off.

The RCBS stuff isn't bad but you have to be really careful to keep it off the shoulder of the cases or you will get dimpling.

I've used the Lee lubricant mixed with Isopropyl Alcohol and it's not great and in fact, I've stuck cases with it before.

I've also used One Shot and stuck and ruined a die with that. One Shot is good for spraying on a rag and wiping down your reloading equipment and dies to keep it from rusting.

 

[winchester1886]

I've been using Hornady One Shot for 20 years wouldn't even think of using anything else.Sometime when I want to lube 1 or 2 cases I use Lee case lube in the tube.

 

[trixter]

A young fella at the gun shop recommended Hornady Unique. Bought some and took it home. Then I watched a video on you-tube and the guy put some on the fingers of each hand, then just rubbed about 100 .223 cases in a big bowl. Then he touched about every 5th or 7th mouth with same stuff. I tried it and love it. I think Hornady Unique, is great stuff, for my cases and my hands.

 

[EddieNFL]

Never found a lube that didn't work, but some are better than others. IMO Imperial is the slickest and One Shot the least.

 

[mbopp]

I'm still working off my old RCBS pad & lube. But for pistol cases in the turret press I've been rubbing 2 fingers and my thumb over some Mink Oil, just enough to get a film on my fingers. Even with carbide dies it makes a big difference in the force required to size them. I can probably do a dozen or more cases before I re-lube my fingertips.
For rifle necks I've got a tube of dry moly powder & use a case neck brush.
I'll try the Imperial when I use up my pad lube.

 

[Pistol Ranch]

Doesn't this question get asked about once a week on this site?

I use imperial size wax, and have used it just about since it first came out. I haven't found anything better!

With my finger, i put a LIGHT film on the case and then rub my finger over the neck of the case. That leaves a light film there for the inside of the neck. Like was already stated, it wipes off very easy.

DM

Exactly how do you use the residual lube on the outside of the case to lube the inside of the cartridge neck ??

P.R.

 

[DM~]

Originally Posted by DM~
Doesn't this question get asked about once a week on this site?

I use imperial size wax, and have used it just about since it first came out. I haven't found anything better!

With my finger, i put a LIGHT film on the case and then rub my finger over the neck of the case. That leaves a light film there for the inside of the neck. Like was already stated, it wipes off very easy.

DM

Exactly how do you use the residual lube on the outside of the case to lube the inside of the cartridge neck ??

P.R.

What i SHOULD have said is, "i rub (more of a bump slide) my finger over the MOUTH of the case". Doing so leaves a light film on the inside edge of the mouth, that builds up on the expander ball, lubeing it as it goes through the neck. Remember, LIGHT is the key word.

After doing it for so many years, i never thought about how i did it, but if you pay attention while YOU are doing it, you will see how it works.

Just a note here: I always lube the outside of the first case in the die heavier than the rest, and after that a VERY light film is all that's needed.

DM

 

[Pistol Ranch]

Thanks, DM

P.R.

 

[Rokman]

Another Imperial fan here.