starting to reload

landlord · May 13, 2013, 08:05 PM

I was wondering if you really need to use a gas check and lube when reloading? I have done some reloading years ago but it was a friends setup and I don't remember any lube or gas check. We reloaded 44 mag, I want to cast my own 40s, 06, 270, 30 carbine and 45lc. Will I need to size, lube, or gas check them?

TATER · May 14, 2013, 10:14 AM

Yes to Sizing and lubing, Makes for a Big Mess if you don't. Gas checks are not "needed" but, I would highly recommend them for rifle if you are going push them very fast…
That’s the quick answer. HTH

mikld · May 14, 2013, 10:58 AM

For lead bullets lube is a necessity. Without it poor accuracy and barrel leading result. Gas checks seem to be a personal preference. I have molds for both gas checked bullets and plain based bullets. I have shot plain based bullets to magnum velocities with good results and no leading. I have a couple favorites, that happen to be gas checked that I shoot in my revolvers and .44 Magnum carbine. So, to answer your question; lube, yes. Gas checks, mebbe

landlord · May 14, 2013, 01:13 PM

How do you lube bullets then? Do you hand pack them like bearings or do just put a little on your finger and smear it on?

landlord · May 14, 2013, 01:15 PM

About how much is a sizer?

kostner · May 14, 2013, 01:33 PM

Have used the Lee tumble lube for years with very good results. Lee also make an affordable sizer that will assist in seating gas checks. I don't use GC on anything with less than 1100 fps. Hope this helps.

David Bachelder · May 14, 2013, 06:20 PM

Here is a LEE sizing kit. This kit would size for 9mm lead bullets (.356).

Lee Sizing Kit

As far as lube goes, I tried pan lubing .... not for me. I switched to LEE Alox tumble lube. Works great .... a little smoky but its easy and works well.

mikld · May 15, 2013, 12:05 PM

To answer a bunch of basic questions, I'd suggest Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook (check library if you don't wanna buy one). There are several ways to lube a bullet. Most popular is with a "lubersizer"; a press-like tool that sizes the lead bullet and applies lube in the same operation. Another very popular lube method is "tumble lube" where a liquid is applied by swishing/tumbling a bit of lube in a margarine/cool whip tub, to evenly coating the bullet, mostly with a product called "alox". Pan lubing is another method, and some even "finger lube".
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&key...l_8533wtec4t_b

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWvpMO7QSvs

http://leeprecision.com/cgi-data/instruct/BS2003.pdf

May 13, 2013, 08:05 PM	#1
landlord Member Join Date: February 4, 2012 Posts: 71	starting to reload I was wondering if you really need to use a gas check and lube when reloading? I have done some reloading years ago but it was a friends setup and I don't remember any lube or gas check. We reloaded 44 mag, I want to cast my own 40s, 06, 270, 30 carbine and 45lc. Will I need to size, lube, or gas check them?

May 14, 2013, 10:58 AM	#3
mikld Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2009 Location: Southern Oregon! Posts: 2,891	For lead bullets lube is a necessity. Without it poor accuracy and barrel leading result. Gas checks seem to be a personal preference. I have molds for both gas checked bullets and plain based bullets. I have shot plain based bullets to magnum velocities with good results and no leading. I have a couple favorites, that happen to be gas checked that I shoot in my revolvers and .44 Magnum carbine. So, to answer your question; lube, yes. Gas checks, mebbe __________________ My Anchor is holding fast! I've learned how to stand on my own two knees...

May 14, 2013, 06:20 PM	#7
David Bachelder Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2011 Location: Trinity, Texas Posts: 636	Here is a LEE sizing kit. This kit would size for 9mm lead bullets (.356). Lee Sizing Kit As far as lube goes, I tried pan lubing .... not for me. I switched to LEE Alox tumble lube. Works great .... a little smoky but its easy and works well. __________________ David Bachelder Trinity, Texas I load, 9mm Luger, 38 and 40 S&W, 38 Special, 357Magnum, 45ACP, 45 Colt, 223, 300 AAC, 243 and 30-06

May 15, 2013, 12:05 PM	#8
mikld Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2009 Location: Southern Oregon! Posts: 2,891	To answer a bunch of basic questions, I'd suggest Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook (check library if you don't wanna buy one). There are several ways to lube a bullet. Most popular is with a "lubersizer"; a press-like tool that sizes the lead bullet and applies lube in the same operation. Another very popular lube method is "tumble lube" where a liquid is applied by swishing/tumbling a bit of lube in a margarine/cool whip tub, to evenly coating the bullet, mostly with a product called "alox". Pan lubing is another method, and some even "finger lube". http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&key...l_8533wtec4t_b http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWvpMO7QSvs http://leeprecision.com/cgi-data/instruct/BS2003.pdf __________________ My Anchor is holding fast! I've learned how to stand on my own two knees...

May 14, 2013, 10:14 AM	#2
TATER Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2002 Location: Mississippi Posts: 963	Yes to Sizing and lubing, Makes for a Big Mess if you don't. Gas checks are not "needed" but, I would highly recommend them for rifle if you are going push them very fast… That’s the quick answer. HTH

May 14, 2013, 01:13 PM	#4
landlord Member Join Date: February 4, 2012 Posts: 71	How do you lube bullets then? Do you hand pack them like bearings or do just put a little on your finger and smear it on?

May 14, 2013, 01:15 PM	#5
landlord Member Join Date: February 4, 2012 Posts: 71	About how much is a sizer?

May 14, 2013, 01:33 PM	#6
kostner Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2007 Location: Kommifornia Posts: 120	Have used the Lee tumble lube for years with very good results. Lee also make an affordable sizer that will assist in seating gas checks. I don't use GC on anything with less than 1100 fps. Hope this helps.