New to reloading

[clancy12]

I apologize in advance if these questions have been addressed in another post but I couldn't find one about this.

In a single stage reloader, is it necessary to lube the cases prior to loading?

As far as dies go, I bought a two die set of the caliber I plan on reloading and then I saw ads for decapping dies and neck sizing dies. My two die set came with a full length sizer die. Is it necessary for me to purchase the decapper and neck sizer or am I good to go?

I am sorry if these are extremely obvious questions but I am new to reloading so please cut me some slack. Thanks a bunch for the help.

 

[Glock20]

If your loading rifle (bottleneck) and it appears you are, then yes, you need to use lube when resizing.
Your resizing die will deprime the case as you size it, so you do not need a separate die for that. Since your just getting started reloading, you should full length resize your brass. Once you gain some experience, you can look into neck sizing.

I suggest you pick up a copy of The ABC's of Reloading as there is a wealth of information especially for people just getting started.
Learn all the basics first, go slow and double - triple check every step and you will do just fine.

 

[SmokeySam81]

I had a very bad day when I forgot to lube a case once, I almost lost the die as well as the case.

I prefer to just size the neck, but it depends mostly on whether you are only using one gun per caliber. And preference, but you should always resize at least the neck, otherwise you tend to have loose bullets.

 

[noylj]

Start reloading simple. Full length size your cases and learn what each die does and why.
First, you will need to learn what bullets, powders, and seating depths are best in your rifle. Then, if you are using a bolt action rifle, you might want to look into neck sizing and all the things that people do hoping to squeeze out more accuracy from their rifle. Many don't have an effect or they can have a negative effect on an off-the-shelf commercial rifle.
Read the manuals and start slowing. Reloading is as easy or as complicated as the individual wants to make it.

 

[Lost Sheep]

DEFINITELY get "The ABC's of Reloading".

In a single stage reloader, is it necessary to lube the cases prior to loading?

The sole determining factor in this question is the die. The press is irrelevant.

Straight-walled cases can be sized without lubrication in Tungsten-Carbide Dies, but Tool Steel dies require lube. In all instances, bottlenecked cases require lube, if not the outside, the inside, depending on what material the dies are made of. But it is always the dies that are the determining factor.

The press just holds them and the ram runs them in and out of the DIES.

Good luck. Welcome to reloading and to the forum.

Always wear eye protection when working with primers. Be safe, always. All ways.

Lost Sheep

 

[rfwobbly]

Mr 12 -
Welcome to reloading. There's no need to apologize at all. In fact, were rather happy that you're trying to educate yourself rather than blow yourself up with ignorance.

It would really help if we know what caliber you were reloading. We could get more detailed in our answer. It seems you want to reload rifle, but straight wall or bottle neck is not clear. Is your rifle an auto loader or a bolt action. These details make a BIG difference.

Help us help you.

 

[clancy12]

It would really help if we know what caliber you were reloading. We could get more detailed in our answer. It seems you want to reload rifle, but straight wall or bottle neck is not clear. Is your rifle an auto loader or a bolt action. These details make a BIG difference.

30-378 Weatherby Magnum which is a bottlenecked round and the gun is a bolt action. As far as the dies go they are steel, not tungsten-carbide. Thanks for the help.

 

[GaryL]

If you haven't already, get yourself some Imperial Sizing Wax.

I also use it with carbide dies and pistol cartridges. Depending on the caliber, I might only put a little on 1 in 10-20 cases. I find it smooths out the operations, and I have a better 'feel' for whats going on.

This is what you are looking for:

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

+1 to Imperial Sizing Lube. I have tried all the others, and Imperial is the way to go for lubing the outside of cases.

For the case necks, get their Dry Neck lube, which is graphite held in a suspension of tiny ceramic balls. Just dip the case in the jar a couple times, then lube the outside of the case with Imperial, and resize. The outside of the case will have to be cleaned afterwards, but you don't need to do anything to the inside of the case neck. The lube won't harm powder.

And get either the older or just released version of ABCs, as well as a few manuals, like Lymans and whomever's bullets and powder you use. They all have beginner reloading chapters.

 

[rfwobbly]

Mr 12 -
Ah, that's so much better.

• +2 on the Imperial. I like to apply it with a "lube pad" which is basically like a rubber stamp pad, but filled with lube instead of rubber stamp ink. A quick trip to any reloading store will show you several brands in the sub-$10 region.



You can take 3 or 4 cases at a time and roll them on the pad. The thinnest coating of lube is applied, evenly and VERY conservatively.

• When using brass that's been fired in YOUR bolt action rifle, you can use a special sizing die called a "Collet Die" which only reshapes the neck. (The body of the brass has already been re-sized by your chamber.) Several companies make these (Lee and Redding come to mind) and it saves you the trouble of a full-length resize. You might want to read up on these dies.

 

[rcmodel]

As far as the dies go they are steel, not tungsten-carbide.

Nobody makes carbide bottle-neck rifle dies except in .223 & .308.

You certainly can't buy them in 30-378 Weatherby!

So yes, you have to use case lube on every case before you resize it.

PS: It never hurts to use case lube on straight-wall pistol cases when using carbide dies either!
We just went through that with a guy with a brass galled carbide die scratching his cases a couple of days ago due to not using lube.

rc