Lubricant for carbide dies?

[Centella]

Happy Saturday friends,
I just got my first Lee hand press (an upgrade from the Classic Loader - or "whack 'em all" kit I've been using). I'm excited to start using it, but before that, a question. I know lubbing is not necessary with carbide, but if I wanted to, will any reloading lube be OK, or is there some type of lube I should avoid for some reason?

Thanks!

 

[Soonerpesek]

I would say ANY of the lubes out there that COMPLETELY dry will be good…

 

[Centella]

I would say ANY of the lubes out there that COMPLETELY dry will be good…

I have the Unique Case Lube, not in spray form, the other one. Would we call it a "paste"?

 

[1KPerDay]

For straight wall cases and carbide dies hornady one-shot case lube is great.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Happy Saturday friends,
I just got my first Lee hand press (an upgrade from the Classic Loader - or "whack 'em all" kit I've been using). I'm excited to start using it, but before that, a question. I know lubbing is not necessary with carbide, but if I wanted to, will any reloading lube be OK, or is there some type of lube I should avoid for some reason?

Thanks!

Avoid lubricants with mica dust if possible. Graphite is fine but mica is a jagged crystal and is good for polishing but not so nice for lubricating. Also, while lubricants are not necessary they can make resizing easier.

 

[nettlle]

+ 1 for One Shot on straight walled pistol cases.

 

[Jim Watson]

A light spray will reduce effort on the handle. Light enough and you won't have to clean it off.
Slamfire likes lube on rifle ammo, I don't know his position on pistol loads.

 

[Soonerpesek]

I have the Unique Case Lube, not in spray form, the other one. Would we call it a "paste"?

I can’t speak for the “paste” type lubes, as I have never used them…
I have had fine luck with the Lanolin based spray lube for all that I have done…
There will a lot of suggestions for Hornady One Shot case lube, I have heard it is good but haven’t needed to stray from the Lanolins…

 

[nettlle]

Lanolins are good if not better. If I had to pick between One Shot and Lanolins it would be Lanolin.

 

[Blue68f100]

Another vote for OS. It does not required to be removed afterwards. Will not contaminate powder or primers. Just follow the directions, shake the fool out of the can for a couple of minutes before spraying and then geve it plenty of time to dry.

 

[PO2Hammer]

One more for one shot.

 

[dcarr]

I'm sure i still have some one shot around here somewhere but haven't used it since i started using the rock chucker for all my sizing. At least a couple years.

 

[Random 8]

For carbide dies, I use the tub unique lube that the OP has. About every 5th case gets a light swipe and keeps things running smoothly. I don't take any action to remove it with the exception of hunting or bear revolver cartridges. Probably not necessary there, but I want to be sure.

 

[bullseye308]

Liquid lanolin and a bottle of red ISO Heet from the automotive departmeant is about the best, cheapest, and easiest way to go. Get an empty spray bottle, pour in one ounce of lanolin, then the 12 ounce bottle of iso heet and mix well. In a ziplock, bowl, box, or whatever container you want put your brass and spritz with your spray. Shake the brass around then allow 5 minutes for the alcohol to evaporate and you have perfectly lubed cases. You can tumble in walnut or corncob after to remove the lube if you feel the need.

 

[conan32120]

One shot for pistol, imperial sizing wax for rifle

 

[film495]

I don't think carbide dies have any restrictions on lube, so any reloading lubricant should work. I use RCBS case lube, but it is gooey stuff, so I clean the cases again to wash any lube off. You don't need to use lube with the carbide dies, but it makes it enough easier to size the cases I find it worth it.

 

[ParallelCode]

I have the Unique Case Lube, not in spray form, the other one. Would we call it a "paste"?

I use Unique when resizing pistol cases, though my dies are not carbide. I use a solvent (ethyl alcohol) on a microfiber cloth to remove it from cases afterwards. It works well for me!

 

[AK Hunter]

I used the Lanolin based lube with my carbide dies when I first started reloading. I found I didn't have to use it on all of the brass. I lubed a hand full of brass & only sized one every 5 to 8 pieces run through the press. It kept the handle pulling smooth until I got the sizing die broke in, now I don't need any lube & it's still smooth to run clean brass though.

 

[Bill M.]

I lube about every 5th to 10th case when using carbide dies. I use RCBS case lube. I do not think the type of lube matters much. Though some are easier to apply than others, I expect.

 

[FROGO207]

It seems any lube that you would normally use will work. I use what bullseye308 uses. It comes down to ease of coating and then removal if you ask me.

 

[Kaldor]

Another vote for OneShot
It's stupid simple, has zero risk of powder contamination and it's doesn't need to be tumbled off.

 

[N555]

I have a few gallons of 9mm brass to do.
Just running them through the wet pin tumble with some guntap leaves a film of carbona wax on them that seems to help.

 

[JohnMc]

Add another vote for One Shot, it works well. No need to clean it off afterward, unless you want to. I've found with carbide dies one can go really light with it.

 

[nettlle]

One Shot doesn't work well with bottle necked rifle. Especially if they are being run through a small base die.

 

[Walkalong]

It seems any lube that you would normally use will work. I use what bullseye308 uses. It comes down to ease of coating and then removal if you ask me.

Yep, use RCBS Case Lube II, dab a touch on every 10th case or so for pistol cases in carbide dies. Tumbles right off, if it concerns you.