Did not use Lube

[aeladd1967]

I loaded some 243 and 308 rounds last weekend, and noticed that I did not need any lube. I'm wondering if its because I "Fire Formed" the brass, and only "Necked Cased" with Lee Collet Dies. I only loaded 90 rnds total. I also crimped the bullets as well. Is this normal when neck sizing only? I did chamfer and de-durred the brass, then I tumbled them for about 2 hrs. I did notice a little squeaking on the Barnes Bullets, but just a tad. I used a single stage Lee Classic Press. Bullets looked great.
This is what I used.

38 Grains IMR 3031 Hornady V-Max 65 Grains (243)
40 Grains IMR3031 Nosler 165 Grain BT (308)
40 Grains IMR 3031 Barnes 168 Grain TSX (308)

Thanks A.L

[Shoney]

If you are neck sizing with Lee Collet Dies only, then no lube is necessary.

If you are full length resizing with any other die, you will need lube. After 6-10 neck sizings, you will need to FL resize.

if you are forming cases, then you need Imperial Sizing Die Wax.

[aeladd1967]

Hey Thanks

Know I know why it worked so good!

[butta9999]

thats the beauty of a collet die. Lube is necessary with a normal neck die because the expander plug stretches the neck on the way out when sizing. Lube minimises this but the collet die is much better on your brass.

[aeladd1967]

Yeh it worked like a champ. You know that I also did not have to trim the brass, it was about .oo5 below Max. Is that normal for factory ammo? Thanks for the info.

[tracker42]

I got two stuck casings this week with a rcbs sizer using dillon case lube . I increased the amount of lube then it worked ok. How can you tell how much lube to use besides getting stuck ?

[butta9999]

As long as you evenly lube the walls of the case and use a grapthie lube for the inside of the neck, you should be fine.

I have had cases stuck when setting up my FL die for my .300wm, the slightest adjustments can cause this as i found. I had lubed on the initial sizing but not on the fine adjustments. Lesson learned

Be sure not to lube to heavily as it will build up in the shoulder area of your die. If this happens slight indents will form on the shoulder of your cases.

[butta9999]

Yes this is normal as it will take several firings before you trim your brass. This also depends on the sizing methods and case types. Some will stretch in lentgh quicker than others.

My mates .220 swift has to be trimmed every 2-3 firings where as my .243 i trim usually every 4 firings.

Bench shooters will differ they will most likely trim after every firing.

Just remember everytime you trim your cases brass is flowing forward so your case head area weakens with every firing.

Too many trimmings firings and sizings will eventually cause a partial or full head seperation.

[aeladd1967]

Hey Thanks For the info!!

[brickeyee]

"Lube is necessary with a normal neck die because the expander plug stretches the neck on the way out when sizing."

Lube is not required for nitride coated bushing type neck dies, inside or out.
The Redding (and other) busing dies are in this group.

[ear-ingun]

As printed on the Lee Official Web Site, I added the bold and underline for emphasis.

Lee Collet Die Set

There is no loading system that will load more accurate ammunition than Lee Collet Dies. We guarantee it in writing with every set. No one but Lee has ever dared to make a guarantee like this "Smallest group size or your money back." A collet squeezes the case neck against a precision mandrel for a perfect fit with minimum run-out. No lube case is needed. Cases last ten times longer, so the savings on only 35 cases will pay for the dies.

[butta9999]

Yes mate your spot on i have repeated what you have said many times over. Its a worthy investment....

[aeladd1967]

Thanks Everyone!