What kind of Lube do you use?

Full-choke · April 29, 2008, 08:58 AM

I'm just about ready to start reloading, probably by this weekend actually, but what I was wondering is what kind of case lube do you guys prefer. My lyman kit came with a lube pad and some case lube, which I will probably use for now but I wanted to see what worked well before I ordered any.

Thanks,
F-C

Inspector3711 · April 29, 2008, 09:03 AM

Imperial here... So far so good.. I touch my fingers to it and then spread a thin layer over the body of the case. I lube every other case and when I'm done I go back through them and dip the necks in regular old graphite from the hardware store. I cut the top off of the graphite tube and poured the contents into an old Gamo pellet tin. This way I can dip them in the graphite and when I'm done I can screw the lid on.

Ruger4570 · April 29, 2008, 09:31 AM

I have been using "one shot" spray lube. It is a little more expensive ,, but so much less messy and time consuming than other lubes and methods.

TexasSeaRay · April 29, 2008, 10:13 AM

Lee Lube, and ONLY Lee Lube.

Jeff

Shoney · April 29, 2008, 10:20 AM

Over my 48 years of reloading, I have tried most of the commercial case lubes, lots of automotive lubes like STP and others, and various other slick products such as electrical conduit wire pulling lube (which was excellent). But my favorite is Imperial Sizing Die Wax.

zxcvbob · April 29, 2008, 10:58 AM

Dillon (or Cabela's) Spray Lube, in the pump bottle.

I've also tried castor oil, and that works pretty good.

For .30 Carbine cases that I'm resizing with a carbide die, I use a tiny dab of silicone spray, but it doesn't work good enough for steel dies.

Slamfire · April 29, 2008, 11:08 AM

RCBS Water Soluble.

And I wash it off, either put the cases out in the sun to dry, or put them in the oven at "low" and wait 20 minutes for the stuff to reach 212 F.

The Lovemaster · April 29, 2008, 11:15 AM

We like the warming KY

Someone had to say it, I just happened to be first!

Dumpster Baby · April 29, 2008, 03:09 PM

Big Caliber · April 29, 2008, 06:44 PM

After years of using RCBS case lube & pad, I switched to Hornady One Shot & haven't looked back.

115scott · April 29, 2008, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Dillon (or Cabela's) Spray Lube, in the pump bottle.

I have been using One Shot but recently bought a bottle of Dillon's. Hope it is just as good or better. Just wondering if anyone has had problems with Dillon. I have a friend who had problems with stuck cases with One Shot but I personally never have.

Dragunov54 · April 29, 2008, 08:37 PM

I only use Lee case lube.

crowbeaner · April 29, 2008, 08:39 PM

RCBS case lube and pad. It's worked fine for 35 years so why change?

jhansman · April 29, 2008, 08:56 PM

Another Imperial lover. Tried Lee's & RCBS's, but when I gave the Imperial a try, that was that. Never a stuck case, cleans up nicely, and a tin lasts just about forever.

Full-choke · April 30, 2008, 06:46 AM

Wow, it sounds a lot like there are really only 3 out there to use. Imperial, Lee or Hornady One-Shot. I had read over some stuff about the One-Shot, thought it sounded pretty good but I think I might try some of the Imperial too as well.

F-C

FM12 · April 30, 2008, 07:21 AM

Imperial. Period.

ForneyRider · May 1, 2008, 03:53 PM

Lee Lube.

I tried Hornady One Shot. I have 2 cans. Not sure what this stuff is good for.

AF_Reloader · May 1, 2008, 03:55 PM

RCBS lube and pad, hasn't let me down.

wncchester · May 1, 2008, 04:42 PM

The "best" case lube depends mostly on how you prefer to apply it. If you like the pad, stay with what you have, it's fine.

If you want to spray it on, which I limit to pistol stuff, get one of them. One-Shot seems to be the most popular.

If you want to carefully apply a light coat of lube to rifle cases with your fingers, as I do, use a wax. Get Imperial if you are impressed with brand names or, as I do, use the Kiwi Mink Oil (really a soft wax, vertually identical to Imperial) pictured above. Walmart sells it in their shoe department for not much.

Both RCBS and Lee's water soluable lubes are basically soaps that work great for a lube.

Have fun with your new hobby!

totalloser · May 1, 2008, 04:53 PM

I use the rcbs lube in my lube dies, but otherwise I use motor oil per Lee Modern Reloading book's recommendation. Never had a stuck case using motor oil, but have had a couple otherwise. I suspect from not keeping my lube die full.

BigJimP · May 1, 2008, 05:20 PM

I like the Dillon spray case lube - and that's all I've used for the last 4 or 5 years.

Full-choke · May 2, 2008, 06:53 AM

totalloser,

Motor oil?!?!?! I have NEVER heard of that one...how in the heck do you even apply it so you don't over lube? I can't think of how that would be any easier at all compared to something like a wax or the One Shot...

F-C

Sevens · May 2, 2008, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Wow, it sounds a lot like there are really only 3 out there to use. Imperial, Lee or Hornady One-Shot. I had read over some stuff about the One-Shot, thought it sounded pretty good but I think I might try some of the Imperial too as well.

Each has it's high point--
The Hornady is the easiest, because you don't have to touch the lube or handle each case separately to lube them. You just shoot a bunch of them in a shoe box.

The Lee is cheap, lasts forever, and they sold me because they guarantee that their lube won't taint or disable primers if you accidentally get some near a primer.

The Imperial is more expensive, but it lasts forever as well, and it's much less messy to work with than the Lee stuff. Goes on easy, wipes off easy. Imperial probably has the most rabid following amongst it's converts.

I've read bad experiences with One Shot, some of them were posted just a week or two ago. I bought a tin of Imperial myself, just to see if the hype was true, but haven't used it yet. I've been sizing rifle brass for like 16 years with the Lee lube.

K.W. · May 3, 2008, 03:58 AM

I use LEE "toothpaste". Easy to use and erasure.

Leeman · May 3, 2008, 06:15 AM

Hi totallosser
On my first attempt to reload over 50 years ago, I tried motor oil to size cases and had a dickens of a time getting the case out of the die. It doesn't work!
I found no reference to motor oil in Modern Reloading. Please let me know what page it is on.

April 29, 2008, 08:58 AM	#1
Full-choke Senior Member Join Date: May 10, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 617	What kind of Lube do you use? I'm just about ready to start reloading, probably by this weekend actually, but what I was wondering is what kind of case lube do you guys prefer. My lyman kit came with a lube pad and some case lube, which I will probably use for now but I wanted to see what worked well before I ordered any. Thanks, F-C __________________ TC Encore -6mm Rem Rifle; Ruger 10/22; Ruger 10/22 Ultimate; Stoeger Condor 20; ; Remington 1100 12; Stoeger 22 Luger; Taurus PT1911; Ruger SR40c God gave us the gift of life. It is the most precious gift ever. To be unarmed is to be helpless to protect that gift; that is outright irresponsible. - Ted Nugent

April 29, 2008, 09:03 AM	#2
Inspector3711 Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2008 Location: Puget Sound Washington Posts: 1,553	Imperial here... So far so good.. I touch my fingers to it and then spread a thin layer over the body of the case. I lube every other case and when I'm done I go back through them and dip the necks in regular old graphite from the hardware store. I cut the top off of the graphite tube and poured the contents into an old Gamo pellet tin. This way I can dip them in the graphite and when I'm done I can screw the lid on. __________________ "If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun." The Dalai Llama (5/15/01, The Seattle Times) "That rifle on the wall of the labourer's cottage or working class flat is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there." George Orwell

April 29, 2008, 10:13 AM	#4
TexasSeaRay Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 810	Lee Lube, and ONLY Lee Lube. Jeff __________________ If every single gun owner belonged to the NRA as well as their respective state rifle/gun association, we wouldn't be in the mess we're in today. So to those of you who are members of neither, thanks for nothing.

April 29, 2008, 10:20 AM	#5
Shoney Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2002 Location: Transplanted from Montana Posts: 2,311	Over my 48 years of reloading, I have tried most of the commercial case lubes, lots of automotive lubes like STP and others, and various other slick products such as electrical conduit wire pulling lube (which was excellent). But my favorite is Imperial Sizing Die Wax. __________________ I pledge allegiance to the Flag - - -, and to the Republic for which it stands….Our Forefathers were brilliant for giving us a Republic, not a democracy! Do you know the difference??? and WHY?http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissue...les.asp?id=111

April 29, 2008, 10:58 AM	#6
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	Dillon (or Cabela's) Spray Lube, in the pump bottle. I've also tried castor oil, and that works pretty good. For .30 Carbine cases that I'm resizing with a carbide die, I use a tiny dab of silicone spray, but it doesn't work good enough for steel dies. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

April 29, 2008, 09:31 AM	#3
Ruger4570 Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2005 Location: Rochester, New York Posts: 2,136	I have been using "one shot" spray lube. It is a little more expensive ,, but so much less messy and time consuming than other lubes and methods.

April 29, 2008, 11:08 AM	#7
Slamfire Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2007 Posts: 5,261	RCBS Water Soluble. And I wash it off, either put the cases out in the sun to dry, or put them in the oven at "low" and wait 20 minutes for the stuff to reach 212 F.

April 29, 2008, 11:15 AM	#8
The Lovemaster Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 416	We like the warming KY Someone had to say it, I just happened to be first!

April 29, 2008, 03:09 PM	#9
Dumpster Baby Member Join Date: January 12, 2008 Posts: 16

April 29, 2008, 06:44 PM	#10
Big Caliber Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2006 Location: S. CA Posts: 421	After years of using RCBS case lube & pad, I switched to Hornady One Shot & haven't looked back.

April 29, 2008, 08:37 PM	#12
Dragunov54 Member Join Date: April 27, 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 52	I only use Lee case lube.

April 29, 2008, 08:39 PM	#13
crowbeaner Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2007 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 1,943	RCBS case lube and pad. It's worked fine for 35 years so why change? __________________ If you want your children to follow in your footsteps, be careful where you walk. Beware the man that only owns one gun; he probably knows how to use it. I just hope my ship comes in before my dock rots.

April 29, 2008, 08:56 PM	#14
jhansman Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2007 Posts: 680	Another Imperial lover. Tried Lee's & RCBS's, but when I gave the Imperial a try, that was that. Never a stuck case, cleans up nicely, and a tin lasts just about forever. __________________ Blessed is the man who has nothing to say, and cannot be compelled to say it.

April 30, 2008, 06:46 AM	#15
Full-choke Senior Member Join Date: May 10, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 617	Wow, it sounds a lot like there are really only 3 out there to use. Imperial, Lee or Hornady One-Shot. I had read over some stuff about the One-Shot, thought it sounded pretty good but I think I might try some of the Imperial too as well. F-C __________________ TC Encore -6mm Rem Rifle; Ruger 10/22; Ruger 10/22 Ultimate; Stoeger Condor 20; ; Remington 1100 12; Stoeger 22 Luger; Taurus PT1911; Ruger SR40c God gave us the gift of life. It is the most precious gift ever. To be unarmed is to be helpless to protect that gift; that is outright irresponsible. - Ted Nugent

April 30, 2008, 07:21 AM	#16
FM12 Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2007 Location: Monroeville, Alabama Posts: 1,683	Imperial. Period.

May 1, 2008, 03:53 PM	#17
ForneyRider Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2007 Location: Forney, TX Posts: 725	Lee Lube. I tried Hornady One Shot. I have 2 cans. Not sure what this stuff is good for. __________________ When all is said and done, there is a lot more said than done.

May 1, 2008, 03:55 PM	#18
AF_Reloader Member Join Date: February 18, 2008 Location: Beale AFB, CA Posts: 73	RCBS lube and pad, hasn't let me down.

May 1, 2008, 04:42 PM	#19
wncchester Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2002 Posts: 2,832	The "best" case lube depends mostly on how you prefer to apply it. If you like the pad, stay with what you have, it's fine. If you want to spray it on, which I limit to pistol stuff, get one of them. One-Shot seems to be the most popular. If you want to carefully apply a light coat of lube to rifle cases with your fingers, as I do, use a wax. Get Imperial if you are impressed with brand names or, as I do, use the Kiwi Mink Oil (really a soft wax, vertually identical to Imperial) pictured above. Walmart sells it in their shoe department for not much. Both RCBS and Lee's water soluable lubes are basically soaps that work great for a lube. Have fun with your new hobby!

May 1, 2008, 04:53 PM	#20
totalloser Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2007 Location: Fort Bragg, CA Posts: 679	I use the rcbs lube in my lube dies, but otherwise I use motor oil per Lee Modern Reloading book's recommendation. Never had a stuck case using motor oil, but have had a couple otherwise. I suspect from not keeping my lube die full.

May 1, 2008, 05:20 PM	#21
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	I like the Dillon spray case lube - and that's all I've used for the last 4 or 5 years.

May 2, 2008, 06:53 AM	#22
Full-choke Senior Member Join Date: May 10, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 617	totalloser, Motor oil?!?!?! I have NEVER heard of that one...how in the heck do you even apply it so you don't over lube? I can't think of how that would be any easier at all compared to something like a wax or the One Shot... F-C __________________ TC Encore -6mm Rem Rifle; Ruger 10/22; Ruger 10/22 Ultimate; Stoeger Condor 20; ; Remington 1100 12; Stoeger 22 Luger; Taurus PT1911; Ruger SR40c God gave us the gift of life. It is the most precious gift ever. To be unarmed is to be helpless to protect that gift; that is outright irresponsible. - Ted Nugent

May 3, 2008, 03:58 AM	#24
K.W. Member Join Date: April 16, 2008 Location: Finland Posts: 87	I use LEE "toothpaste". Easy to use and erasure.

May 3, 2008, 06:15 AM	#25
Leeman Member Join Date: October 20, 2007 Posts: 58	Motor oil doesn't work as a sizing lube. Hi totallosser On my first attempt to reload over 50 years ago, I tried motor oil to size cases and had a dickens of a time getting the case out of the die. It doesn't work! I found no reference to motor oil in Modern Reloading. Please let me know what page it is on.