Case lube? - Page 2

captain54 · May 18, 2007, 02:08 PM

I had a lee pro 1000 and never lubed the cases (45) I now have a new Hornady and I am will to try it out with lube as has been recommended to me by others. The question then, is how do you lube the cases with the One-shot? Do you throw them in a bucket and spray, lay them out neatly, or what?

**Unclenick** · May 18, 2007, 04:04 PM

If your straight wall pistol dies are carbide, you don't need to lube for them. That's why people buy carbide instead of steel. Lubing for them is just makework, IMHO. A group of us gets together for a big shooting and loading week every fall up in Maine. The host owns a 1050 and we run about 2000 rounds of .45 ACP a day through it while we are there. Haven't lubed a one yet. The only time it slows is when we accidentally get a steel Wolf case in there, but it has successfully loaded a few of those, too.

Get a tumber, if you don't have one, and clean the cases well and the carbide dies will do just fine unassisted. Steel pistol dies need lube, same as steel rifle dies. Carbide dies for bottleneck cases (rifle or pistol) also need lube, as I proved to myself by accident at one point. Redding claims their carbide is a smoother microscopic form, and might load with less resistance. I haven't tried it.

Cleaning after lubing is unnecessary if the lube is one that dries or if you are sure you didn't squirt it inside the case. I wouldn't trust it in an accuracy load, if for no other reason than introducing inconsistent start pressure, though practical pistol loads aren't precise enough to care. As long as you don't store them for an extended period, they should be fine.

The idea straight petroleum-based lubes will cause excess breechface or boltface thrust is pretty well put to rest on Varmint Al's web site. You would have to use moly all over a rifle case to get a significant increase. In a low pressure pistol case like .45 ACP or .38 Special, even that won't matter a whit. You could probably tumble your pistol cases in motor mica safely if you want to try to slick them up for the progressive reloading machines. I think it would be less messy. I'm thinking here of the mess on your hands an in your gun from loading and firing oily cases. Haven't tried this, either, so it is just a thought.

Cheap lube is just a $1.50 blue plastic bottle of STP from Wally World, mixed with oderless mineral spirits or denatured alcohol to thin it for spraying.

Nick

RR · May 18, 2007, 07:17 PM

"I had a lee pro 1000 and never lubed the cases (45) I now have a new Hornady and I am will to try it out with lube as has been recommended to me by others. The question then, is how do you lube the cases with the One-shot? Do you throw them in a bucket and spray, lay them out neatly, or what?"

I just put them in a bucket or box, spray, mix with my hand or shake the container, spray, mix, spray, mix and spray. I don't wait for the lube to dry-I just dump them in the case feeder. With One-Shot (spray can not the pump), it doesn't matter if it gets inside the case or on the primers. Lay it on as thick as you want. Sometimes I tumble afterward (match ammo) otherwise I just shoot them. Tried other lubes and so far nothing works as well as One-Shot. Note the posts here "You don't have to lube...." Of course not. But the ease of loading even with carbide dies makes it worthwhile if using One-Shot. I reload 2,000 to 3,000 a month using carbide dies.

Vitamin G · May 18, 2007, 07:55 PM

I spray all cases. Its a little easier, but mostly just habit.

**Unclenick** · May 21, 2007, 02:50 PM

It occurs to me that the press may be part of this. A massive press offers about as much resistance just in moving its mass as the sizing operation on a pistol case does, and often has highly compounded leverage. It could be that the lighter presses feel the lube difference more?

Nick

FM12 · May 22, 2007, 08:26 PM

Splurge for carbide dies for pistol and revolver cases. For rifle cases, use Imperial Sizeing Die Wax.

Dave Haven · May 22, 2007, 10:36 PM

Quote:

For rifle cases, use Imperial Sizeing Die Wax.

^ +1.

Magdaddy · May 22, 2007, 11:09 PM

I agree with Singlestack, lubing the cases your talking about loading would be a waste of time and money. Get the carbide dies, clean your empties, inspect em', load em', shoot em', repeat.

May 18, 2007, 04:04 PM	#27
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,060	If your straight wall pistol dies are carbide, you don't need to lube for them. That's why people buy carbide instead of steel. Lubing for them is just makework, IMHO. A group of us gets together for a big shooting and loading week every fall up in Maine. The host owns a 1050 and we run about 2000 rounds of .45 ACP a day through it while we are there. Haven't lubed a one yet. The only time it slows is when we accidentally get a steel Wolf case in there, but it has successfully loaded a few of those, too. Get a tumber, if you don't have one, and clean the cases well and the carbide dies will do just fine unassisted. Steel pistol dies need lube, same as steel rifle dies. Carbide dies for bottleneck cases (rifle or pistol) also need lube, as I proved to myself by accident at one point. Redding claims their carbide is a smoother microscopic form, and might load with less resistance. I haven't tried it. Cleaning after lubing is unnecessary if the lube is one that dries or if you are sure you didn't squirt it inside the case. I wouldn't trust it in an accuracy load, if for no other reason than introducing inconsistent start pressure, though practical pistol loads aren't precise enough to care. As long as you don't store them for an extended period, they should be fine. The idea straight petroleum-based lubes will cause excess breechface or boltface thrust is pretty well put to rest on Varmint Al's web site. You would have to use moly all over a rifle case to get a significant increase. In a low pressure pistol case like .45 ACP or .38 Special, even that won't matter a whit. You could probably tumble your pistol cases in motor mica safely if you want to try to slick them up for the progressive reloading machines. I think it would be less messy. I'm thinking here of the mess on your hands an in your gun from loading and firing oily cases. Haven't tried this, either, so it is just a thought. Cheap lube is just a $1.50 blue plastic bottle of STP from Wally World, mixed with oderless mineral spirits or denatured alcohol to thin it for spraying. Nick __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle Last edited by Unclenick; May 18, 2007 at 04:34 PM. Reason: Added information

May 21, 2007, 02:50 PM	#30
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,060	It occurs to me that the press may be part of this. A massive press offers about as much resistance just in moving its mass as the sizing operation on a pistol case does, and often has highly compounded leverage. It could be that the lighter presses feel the lube difference more? Nick __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

May 22, 2007, 11:09 PM	#33
Magdaddy Senior Member Join Date: April 30, 2007 Location: North Georgia Posts: 127	I agree with Singlestack, lubing the cases your talking about loading would be a waste of time and money. Get the carbide dies, clean your empties, inspect em', load em', shoot em', repeat. __________________ Give an idiot power, and you just end up with a powerful idiot.

May 18, 2007, 02:08 PM	#26
captain54 Member Join Date: May 16, 2007 Posts: 27	I had a lee pro 1000 and never lubed the cases (45) I now have a new Hornady and I am will to try it out with lube as has been recommended to me by others. The question then, is how do you lube the cases with the One-shot? Do you throw them in a bucket and spray, lay them out neatly, or what?

May 18, 2007, 07:17 PM	#28
RR Member Join Date: June 29, 1999 Posts: 85	"I had a lee pro 1000 and never lubed the cases (45) I now have a new Hornady and I am will to try it out with lube as has been recommended to me by others. The question then, is how do you lube the cases with the One-shot? Do you throw them in a bucket and spray, lay them out neatly, or what?" I just put them in a bucket or box, spray, mix with my hand or shake the container, spray, mix, spray, mix and spray. I don't wait for the lube to dry-I just dump them in the case feeder. With One-Shot (spray can not the pump), it doesn't matter if it gets inside the case or on the primers. Lay it on as thick as you want. Sometimes I tumble afterward (match ammo) otherwise I just shoot them. Tried other lubes and so far nothing works as well as One-Shot. Note the posts here "You don't have to lube...." Of course not. But the ease of loading even with carbide dies makes it worthwhile if using One-Shot. I reload 2,000 to 3,000 a month using carbide dies.

May 18, 2007, 07:55 PM	#29
Vitamin G Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 307	I spray all cases. Its a little easier, but mostly just habit.

May 22, 2007, 08:26 PM	#31
FM12 Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2007 Location: Monroeville, Alabama Posts: 1,683	Splurge for carbide dies for pistol and revolver cases. For rifle cases, use Imperial Sizeing Die Wax.