Lube .38 cases for Classic Lee Loader?

Centella

Centella

Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2023
Messages
91
Hi there, happy President's Day Weekend!

Just a few quick questions here. I am currently reloading 38 special and 357 magnum with the Classic Lee Loader. I have had great results even though I am not lubing my cases for resizing. So, is lubing really necessary? Can I expect any negative effects from not lubing the cases? If lubing is a must, what's the best easy way to remove the lube from the cases?

Thanks!
 
Lee Loaders are all steel, and not typical reloading dies. Lubing cases is a good idea, but not 100% necessary.. I often forget to lube my 38 brass when using my Lee Loader (none wet tumbled, just cleaned in corn cob blast media with a dab of auto wax). The loading method of pounding in and pounding out a case removes most possibilities of a stuck case and I've experience no galling of the die or cases.
 
Blue68f100 said:
If your using a Carbide sizing die (or TiNi), lube is not required. If your dies are steel, lube is required. The addition of lube will make the sizing easier/smoother with carbide dies.
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Hey thanks. And what's an easy way to remove the lube from cases? I'm assuming it is not a good idea to load lubed cases into your revolver...
 
Centella said:
Hey thanks. And what's an easy way to remove the lube from cases? I'm assuming it is not a good idea to load lubed cases into your revolver...
Click to expand...
I like the Redding sizing wax because I size and then lightly buff the case with a cotton shirt. It's like a beautiful coat on your favorite hotrod and serves the same purpose to protect your case. You could accomplish the same thing with Johnsons furniture wax if you have that already.
 
Centella said:
Hi there, happy President's Day Weekend!

Just a few quick questions here. I am currently reloading 38 special and 357 magnum with the Classic Lee Loader. I have had great results even though I am not lubing my cases for resizing. So, is lubing really necessary? Can I expect any negative effects from not lubing the cases? If lubing is a must, what's the best easy way to remove the lube from the cases?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I just use the same oil-soaked rag I wipe down my guns with. You don’t need to lube the cases with a Lee Whack-A-Mole but it does help speed things along a little. Take an old t-shirt and cut a sleeve off. Spray it with Ballistol until it’s just damp and then let it air dry. Makes a good wipe down cloth and case luberator.
 
The lee 357/38 die is a carbide die. You don't need lube with carbide. Also, case lube tends to have no effect on loading. But it depends what you are using as case lube.
 
Centella said:
is lubing really necessary?
Click to expand...

The amount of powder used will make a difference. Starting 38 spec. loads will not expand the brass a lot on firing. Brass will be easier to size then maximum powder charges.

The 357 magnum case is longer & works at higher pressure. Brass will expand more on firing & be harder to size. 7ef40157adbe47fd86496bcdf54ac297.jpg
 
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To the OP, grab a can of One Shot lube and spray the cases a few minutes before you load. It may not be necessary but it will definitely make things easier.. I use it with carbide dies as well, it makes the process much less strenuous.
 
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Sizing lubed pistol cases with a carbide die is sooooo easy. I have tossed pistol cases in my Thumler's tumbler barrel with a lube saturated patch, and let the whole rock and roll till all the pistol cases have a light lube coating. It takes very little effort to crank the handle on my progressive when I am sizing lubed pistol cases.

I started doing that with 9mm cases. For what ever reason, 9mm cases take a hard push to start them, even though I am using carbide dies. Some of this is probably due to 9mm cases being short, and due also to all the 9mm range pickups I have. Every chamber is different, some much larger than others. A hard start leads to the ram whacking the tool head hard, often bumping powder out of the powder horn. What a difference lubing 9mm cases made: smooooth and easy.

I leave the lube on and shoot the stuff as is. No reason to take the lube off, unless you have concerns about dirt accumulation on the surface.
 
In the past I have reloaded a butt ton of 38 SPL brass with a Lee Loader. Never occured to lube the cases as it was an extra unneeded step. Never had a problem. When I finally purchased a set of dies back in the 70's I paid the big price and got carbide so as to save time on lubing and removing it. OP wait till you get a regular press. You'll appreciate it lots more.
 
Tonymani said:
The lee 357/38 die is a carbide die. You don't need lube with carbide. Also, case lube tends to have no effect on loading. But it depends what you are using as case lube.
Click to expand...

The OP is asking about Lee Loaders not standard reloading dies. I have never seen, nor heard of, a Lee Loader with a carbide sizing die, ever. I got my first Lee Loader, 38 Special, in 1970, no carbide then, no carbide now...
https://fsreloading.com/lee-precision-classic-loader-38-special.html
 
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