Lube Handgun Cases

[chiltech500]

As an older guy I have come to love using lube on all my handgun cases with my Dillon 550.

It started when I read a thread here about folks using it on 9mm after trying and appreciating what a nice difference it made, I expanded to using for 38's and 45's because it makes loading quicker and easier.

Surely the lube adds an extra step but I wouldn't load without it now. Just an FYI for those who haven't tried it.

 

[BrianC636]

I've done it with and without, while it is noticeable for me it's not worth the extra step. The only pistol brass I consider lubing now is .40. It seems to help prevent a step in the brass if it has a slight bulge in it.

 

[1KPerDay]

I spray large batches of handgun brass with hornady one shot. Only thing it's good for. It does reduce effort. I don't bother removing it.

 

[Bush Pilot]

^^^^^^ this

 

[PCCUSNRET]

The only pistol brass I lube are 357 Sig and 30 Carbine. Might as well buy cheaper steel dies if you are going to use lube with carbide dies (which is why I lube the 30 Carbine brass). I don't load 357 Sig on a progressive press so I don't mind the extra step of tumbling it after resizing to remove the lube.

 

[Kaldor]

I spray large batches of handgun brass with hornady one shot. Only thing it's good for. It does reduce effort. I don't bother removing it.

I do the same. Lowers the amount of force needed when running on a progressive noticeably. I just leave the lube on.

 

[JimKirk]

I spray large batches of handgun brass with hornady one shot. Only thing it's good for.

This is what I do also!

 

[springer99]

I make it a habit to spray OneShot on about 1 in 5 pistol cases that I reload and then just slip them into the sequence as I load them into my press. I know that, with carbide dies, it's not needed, but it does make the effort go so much more smoothly and help keep my dies cleaner. I don't bother removing the small amount of lube on the completed rounds either.

 

[jaguarxk120]

With carbide dies I give the cleaned case's a spray of furniture wax, tumble in a shopping bag, let dry.
Sizing and loading is so much easier.

 

[Muddydogs]

Never though pistol brass was that hard to resize in the first place so while I seem to be in the minority I just run them though my carbide dies as is. Quick, clean and simple.

 

[noylj]

Sometimes, for some reason, 9x19 cases are hard to size and putting a little lube on every 5-10 does ease things. Never had a problem with other cases, including 9x21 or 9x23. This problem comes up about every 4-5 years, over the last 30 years, and just as mysteriously goes away.
Last time was about 5 years ago when I gave my son my L-N-L AP, 9x19 cases, dies, and other things to start reloading. When we got him set-up, the 9x19 cases were hard to size. A little lube took care of the problem.
The thing was, he was using all the same cases with the same dies in the same press I had used about two weeks before without issue.

 

[Robert101]

I've never lubed pistol cases in my carbide dies. I just bought a 550B and loaded about 200 rounds of 308 (lubed of course). I might try lubing if it becomes an issue with my 10MM. But only if really needed - I don't want the extra step in cleaning nor lube all over my dies.

 

[gojones]

I use one shot for a quick spray and then move on. It helps.

 

[JimKirk]

The only pistol brass I have to lube is 357 SIg ... however it sure makes sizing all the rest much easier even with carbide die ... I use a gallon ziploc bag ... a shot or so of lube ...roll the brass around a little and pour out and let dry ... I can do this rather fast and it maybe an extra step ...it is not much of one ...

 

[Walkalong]

As an older guy I have come to love using lube on all my handgun cases

I have started lightly lubing 9MM cases. I used to consider sizing them in a carbide die with no lube good exercise for my throwing arm (Up till about age 56), and it was, but these days a run of 500 or so is much more pleasant using a touch of lube on them lube.

 

[PO2Hammer]

When I had an arm injury I used a lightly oiled cloth bag to clean the tumbler dust off and lube lightly. Practice ammo, so not worried about the oil. Made long runs of resizing 357 brass a pleasure.

 

[joem1945]

If I have a large lot of pistol cases I put them in a gallon baggie and spray some lube in, shake it a bit. It does help and your arm doesn't wear out so fast.

 

[jmorris]

Never though pistol brass was that hard to resize in the first place so while I seem to be in the minority I just run them though my carbide dies as is. Quick, clean and simple.

Pretty much the way I felt about it for 20 years. Then one day about 10 years ago I was bored and tried it, been lubing pistol cases ever since. I post load tumble them to knock off the lube.

 

[Iron Sight]

I lube 45 Colt and 44 Magnum. Reduces efort on these larger cases.

 

[chiltech500]

I'm like jmorris, I tried it out of curiosity on 9mm and liked it so much that all get lubed now. Not much work throwing them in a big plastic bag, spraying and shaking. I suspect my Dillon 550's dies are carbide.

I shot 1 handed for quite a while for NRA bullseye, which I had to stop in this last year because of bad tendonitis in the elbow which wouldn't heal. I feel my shoulder less with using the the lube for 400-500 cases. I'm 60, so to the youths: good for you that you don't need less effort! I'm jealous of everything to do with youth except that I'm a little wiser now LOL.

 

[Walkalong]

so to the youths: good for you

Amen brother.

 

[wlkjr]

I spray large batches of handgun brass with hornady one shot. Only thing it's good for. It does reduce effort. I don't bother removing it.

Same for me.

 

[PCCUSNRET]

I'm 60, so to the youths: good for you that you don't need less effort! I'm jealous of everything to do with youth except that I'm a little wiser now LOL.

I wish I was a youth, I turn 64 this year. Guess I was worried that the spray lube might contaminate the powder if I didn't remove it from the inside of the case prior to finishing the round on my Dillon. I don't see how you can keep the spray lube from getting inside the case, especially if you put the brass in a plastic bag. I guess what I'm hearing here that lube inside a case doesn't hurt the powder. If so, I will definitely give it a try.

 

[crackshot258]

Simple case lube

I bought a jar of lanolin from a drug store and found a solvent that dissolves it. I mix a heaping tablespoon of lanolin in a pint of solvent and use that in a sprayer. The best thing I found to lube the cases with is a flat plastic container with a snap-on lid from a dollar store. I put in a hundred of so in and push them all over so they are laying flat. (That way I don't get any lube inside the cases.) Then I spray a few sprays in and put the lid on, shake it thoroughly and remove the lid to let the solvent dry before use. This works great for me.

 

[mgmorden]

I've never noticed a need (only tried it once). Keeping my press (Hornady LNL) clean and lubed has done much more than lubing the cases for me. About every 1500 rounds or so I just remove the shell plate, wipe off everything, blow out all the nooks/cranies with compressed air, and then oil the moving parts. As long as I do that it keeps chugging along fine regardless of if I lube the brass.