How much lube for neck sizing only?

tpcollins · March 3, 2009, 10:16 AM

Based on this forum's majority advice, I unscrewed my FL sizer die one turn to neck size only my new .243 brass. However, I did a full lube before running them through the die. But if I'm only sizing the neck, do I still need to fully lube the cases or can I just slobber some lube on the inside and outside of the necks or does the full lube keep them from getting stuck? Thanks.

ForneyRider · March 3, 2009, 10:27 AM

I don't lube when neck-sizing.

mkl · March 3, 2009, 10:41 AM

You don't need to full lube when neck sizing.

Some people do lube the case neck and others don't.

Personally, I set the cases up in a loading block and give the case mouths a quick shot of Hornady One Shot. Seems to make the expander ball slide out with a little less friction.

I do not use One Shot for full length resizing of bottle neck rifle cases.

dnunn · March 3, 2009, 11:44 AM

I like to quickly clean necks inside and out. Outside: cloth w/hoppes; inside: nylon brush w/lube. (Occasionally, clean brush, obviously.) the expander moves smoother and there's no residue on the sizing die or expander ball.

Here's the sequence I use:

--inspect and quick clean necks (above)
--size
--trim, chamfer, deburr
--clean thoroughly (I don't have a tumbler. I soak (RCBS Sidewinder case cleaner), brush, rinse, wipe dry.)

Cases are clean and ready to load.

This seems to work well for me.

I don't know about using a tumbler. Seems like the case mouth would get dinged during the process and would need re-chamfer, deburr, clean debris out of case.

Alleykat · March 3, 2009, 12:47 PM

Lee collet dies neck-size only and are pretty inexpensive. They don't require any lube and probably do a better job than jigging around with a f.l. die.

amamnn · March 3, 2009, 10:14 PM

+1 on the Lee neck die --IMHO trying to partially size a case with a FL sizer gets you the worst of both worlds.

Inspector3711 · March 3, 2009, 11:06 PM

Yep... the collet die by Lee is the one to have...

Wildalaska · March 3, 2009, 11:27 PM

I use Redding bushing neck sizers with carbide bushing, clean case necks and just a hint of lube (One shot)

I dont use expander balls, they are too mean to my cases

WildmeanmeanmeanAlaska TM

March 3, 2009, 10:16 AM	#1
tpcollins Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2009 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 558	How much lube for neck sizing only? Based on this forum's majority advice, I unscrewed my FL sizer die one turn to neck size only my new .243 brass. However, I did a full lube before running them through the die. But if I'm only sizing the neck, do I still need to fully lube the cases or can I just slobber some lube on the inside and outside of the necks or does the full lube keep them from getting stuck? Thanks.

March 3, 2009, 10:27 AM	#2
ForneyRider Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2007 Location: Forney, TX Posts: 725	I don't lube when neck-sizing. __________________ When all is said and done, there is a lot more said than done.

March 3, 2009, 10:14 PM	#6
amamnn Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2006 Location: WA, the left armpit of the USA Posts: 1,323	+1 on the Lee neck die --IMHO trying to partially size a case with a FL sizer gets you the worst of both worlds. __________________ "If the enemy is in range, so are you." - Infantry Journal

March 3, 2009, 11:06 PM	#7
Inspector3711 Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2008 Location: Puget Sound Washington Posts: 1,553	Yep... the collet die by Lee is the one to have... __________________ "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

March 3, 2009, 10:41 AM	#3
mkl Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2008 Location: DFW area, Texas Posts: 494	You don't need to full lube when neck sizing. Some people do lube the case neck and others don't. Personally, I set the cases up in a loading block and give the case mouths a quick shot of Hornady One Shot. Seems to make the expander ball slide out with a little less friction. I do not use One Shot for full length resizing of bottle neck rifle cases.

March 3, 2009, 11:44 AM	#4
dnunn Junior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Posts: 2	I like to quickly clean necks inside and out. Outside: cloth w/hoppes; inside: nylon brush w/lube. (Occasionally, clean brush, obviously.) the expander moves smoother and there's no residue on the sizing die or expander ball. Here's the sequence I use: --inspect and quick clean necks (above) --size --trim, chamfer, deburr --clean thoroughly (I don't have a tumbler. I soak (RCBS Sidewinder case cleaner), brush, rinse, wipe dry.) Cases are clean and ready to load. This seems to work well for me. I don't know about using a tumbler. Seems like the case mouth would get dinged during the process and would need re-chamfer, deburr, clean debris out of case.

March 3, 2009, 12:47 PM	#5
Alleykat Junior member Join Date: July 26, 2007 Posts: 3,668	Lee collet dies neck-size only and are pretty inexpensive. They don't require any lube and probably do a better job than jigging around with a f.l. die.

March 3, 2009, 11:27 PM	#8
Wildalaska Junior member Join Date: November 25, 2002 Location: In my own little weird world in Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 14,172	I use Redding bushing neck sizers with carbide bushing, clean case necks and just a hint of lube (One shot) I dont use expander balls, they are too mean to my cases WildmeanmeanmeanAlaska TM