Case lube question

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Akulrich

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Hi everyone, I'm new to reloading and was hoping to pick up a few tips when it comes to properly lubing rifle cases before running them through the press. I've got a Lee press (from the anniversary kit) and an RCBS die. Currently, I have 240 cases to run through. I started by using the Lee case lube that came with my kit and applied a small amount onto the mouth of the case and a very light film on the neck. I went to run it in the press, but found that it was incredibly tight. I didn't want to wreck anything, so I backed it out and tried again. I had to do this about 5 times before I was able to fully engage the case into the press. It was still incredibly tight however.

What am I doing wrong? Do I need more lube? I know that applying too much lube can cause the neck to dent - something that I also want to avoid. Any advice that you guys could give would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!
 
If you are full length resizing then lube the full length. All that is required is a very light film. I don't know the caliber you are sizing or the mechanics of your press but with some calibers a fair amount of muscle is required. Don't forget to lube the inside of the neck or you will have a hard time pulling the sizing ball back through. If you are just starting loading then what you think is a lot of muscle may be normal.
You didn't mention it but I hope you have a good reloading manual to guide you along. You Tube is also your friend.
 
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I've used a number of sizing lubes but I gradually gravitated towards Lee Resizing Lubrication and a lubrication pad. After seeing this video I switched to the method described by GunBlue490 starting at 30:28 minutes, and never looked back. Using the small amount of lube he suggests seemed like it would be insufficient however amazingly enough this method with this little dab of lube works really great. If you push it and use to much lube you will get dented shoulders otherwise the small amount of this wax based Lee lube that does end up on the shoulder doesn't cause any noticeable denting. Along with the method GunBlue490 describes in the video, I use a Q-tip with a very small amount of the Lee lube to lube the inside of the case mouth, that works very well to keep things operating smoothly.

Good luck

Case resizing lubes~How to select, properly use them, and hassles to avoid by; GunBlue490
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbGEwqwtKdEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbGEwqwtKdE
Check out the entire video it's very informative and well worth your time. Plus GunBlue490 has posted many other really good videos.
 
Akulrich said:
Hi everyone, I'm new to reloading and was hoping to pick up a few tips when it comes to properly lubing rifle cases before running them through the press. I've got a Lee press (from the anniversary kit) and an RCBS die. Currently, I have 240 cases to run through. I started by using the Lee case lube that came with my kit and applied a small amount onto the mouth of the case and a very light film on the neck. I went to run it in the press, but found that it was incredibly tight. I didn't want to wreck anything, so I backed it out and tried again. I had to do this about 5 times before I was able to fully engage the case into the press. It was still incredibly tight however.

What am I doing wrong? Do I need more lube? I know that applying too much lube can cause the neck to dent - something that I also want to avoid. Any advice that you guys could give would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

No lube on the neck you lube up the entire side of the case i use a roller pad and lee lube then just a dap on the mouth if you don't lube the side of the case ramming it up and then trying to force it down can rip the bottom off the case or even break the holder. do some youtube watching there is a ton of videos also get a book like the lee book it gives you step by step instructions for beginners
 
I have never stuck a case since I converted to Imperial Sizing Wax decades ago. A little dab 'll do ya' (if you recognize that, like me, you are older than dirt).

And Imperial graphite neck lube.

I run 5.56 NATO cases through a Dillon XL650 progressive. Not wanting to hand lube dozens/hundreds of cases one by one with Imperial wax, those get lubed by being spritzed and rolled by the handful with lanolin based evaporative lubes like Dillon's. No issues there, but also not quite the same size and surface area of something like a 7mm Remington Magnum being full length resized.
 
As others have said, you need a thin coating of lube all over the case. After using different types of lube over 50 years of reloading I have
put all my lubes in the garbage except ,,,,, "Imperial Sizing Die Wax". This is a product of Redding Reloading Equipment.
 
I use Lanolin/ isopropyl mixture.
I put 30 cases in a butter container, giving a couple of shots of the mixture,while swishing the container around.
Haven't had a stuck case since.
Thousands of cases,308,223,7 rm,6.5 CM
 
I use Dillon spray lube. i put my case in a cardboard box, hundred at a time, case on the side - spray a light coat - rock box back and forth a few time. I put a bit of Dillon lube on a Qtip and each time I grab a case, I run the Qtip inside the neck and my fingers on the neck - shoulder to remove excess lube. With time you get the hang on not putting too much lube.

This work very well and it is relatively fast. I tried other lube, but the Dillon seem the one that is in the middle of the range - not too tick - not too thin.
 
If you are sizing a few cases, the case lube technique does not matter very much. If you have a bucket or two of brass to size, there is a fast efficient way to lube the cases. I lube 100 or so cases (rifle) at a time. Takes about 30 seconds.

I use Lee case lube. It is a water soluble cream that is easy to clean off.

Dump brass in a plastic pail that has a lid.

lubebrass1.jpg


Then take a 1" worm of lube and smear it around the top inside wall of the pail.

lubebrass.jpg


Put lid on and swirl and shake for 15 seconds. This will lube all the cases and deposit a tiny dab on the case mouth, to lube the expander button. This makes the boyyon com out with less efffort and case stretching.

 
When I first started hand loading I used lube and rolled the cases on the pad but it was messy and a pita. Changed to Imperial Sizing Wax and never looked back. Use it "Sparingly" like it says right on the can.
 
Good sized glad freezer bag; a couple of light shots of fluid film in the bag; put a couple hands full of brass in and shake it up. That's all you need; and I have been doing this for about 5 years now.
 
Pro tip: make sure you have clearance from Her Upstairs before trying the shaking-brass-in-a-bucket trick. Apparently it's the loudest din I've ever made at the reloading bench.
 
Ganderite said:
If you are sizing a few cases, the case lube technique does not matter very much. If you have a bucket or two of brass to size, there is a fast efficient way to lube the cases. I lube 100 or so cases (rifle) at a time. Takes about 30 seconds.

I use Lee case lube. It is a water soluble cream that is easy to clean off.

Dump brass in a plastic pail that has a lid.

lubebrass1.jpg


Then take a 1" worm of lube and smear it around the top inside wall of the pail.

lubebrass.jpg


Put lid on and swirl and shake for 15 seconds. This will lube all the cases and deposit a tiny dab on the case mouth, to lube the expander button. This makes the boyyon com out with less efffort and case stretching.

Click to expand...

I've been using this method since I heard about it a few years ago. Works great!

I have also used RCBS lube and a lube pad, it came with a press I bought and figured I might as well try it. Did it once, and thats enough for me, back to the Lee lube in a margarine container!
 
I've been using Imperial sizing wax for over 3 decades now, and it is the best out there, IMHO.
As some have already stated.....use sparingly, it takes very little. Dave.
 
45C said:
I use Lanolin/ isopropyl mixture.
I put 30 cases in a butter container, giving a couple of shots of the mixture,while swishing the container around.
Haven't had a stuck case since.
Thousands of cases,308,223,7 rm,6.5 CM
Click to expand...

Ditto. I have used it for up to 200 cases at a time - .223 through 300WM. Wait for the alcohol to fully evaporate before sizing though. Quick and easy.

For small numbers of cases, Imperial Sizing Wax.
 
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