to lube or not to lube?

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CALIFORNIA

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After I converted my 650 from .40 S&W to 9mm Luger, I noticed that the effort in cycling the handle ( up and down stroke ) was noticeably higher than the .40 caliber. Is this typical of 9mm ?

I have read that lubing the case will result in noticeably less effort, however, does that cause problems for the rounds when being fed into the chamber

Advice anyone?
 
You're not (or shouldn't be) using a lot of lube. I use Lyman's spray lube. A quick spritz, let them dry a bit, then into the press. Some is no doubt getting into the case mouth, but it's really a non-issue. Any powder that I notice sticking to the upper parts of the case will be pushed down with the rest when I seat the bullet.

(E) :cool:
 
I assume your using a carbide resizing die and if you are then no lube is required but yes when using this die dry there is a fair bit of friction resistance as your cartridge dimension increases. I usually take a Q tip when I'm cleaning my dies and put a little lube on the sizing die just so it won't be bone dry and find this keeps everything running smooth. I do not recommend tumbling loaded ammunition (yes I've done it too) as there always is the chance of something changing in the dimensions when the ammo is subjected to mechanical stimulation (sounds like I'm giving ### advice here). It is unlikely that the powder will change shape (especially ball power) but I am still uncomfortable with doing this and feel that if you must lube your cases then they should be hand wiped (unless someone knows of a better system not involving tumbling). Phil.
 
Removing lube after reloading is easy as others have pointed out. You don't have to use a tumbler. I have cradled rounds in a towel, sprayed on some alcohol, and and gently tumbled them in the towel while grabbing it ends. (hard to describe, but you get the image, right?)
 
I use lanolin mixed with isopropyl in a spray bottle, exactly what Dillon lube is. With carbide dies they size much easier. I just barely wave the lube over the brass, it helps and not enough to bother cleaning off later. If the cases are greasy after then you used too much and better clean them.

I am talking about carbide dies of course, steel dies you need to lube properly and clean after.
 
Take your cases and put them in a small box so that they can lie on their sides. A quick spritz as others have said, roll them around in the box and let stand a bit to coat thoroughly and reload. The light, and I mean LIGHT - it really doesn't take much - coupled with the short tumble afterwards will ease the friction during sizing and not cause you and misfire problems.
 
ruger22 said:
Would a tumble not change the shape of the powder grains and therefore burn rate and velocity?

Just asking...
Click to expand...

If you tumble for HOURS like some do with fired rifle brass, or with fired pistol brass... then absolutely yes, you end up with the potential for fine powder and a significant pressure increase due to increased burn rate.

However, I can't see a 5 minute tumble causing problems. I don't do it myself, but that doesn't mean I don't see the logic in it - I don't do it myself since I use carbide dies for my pistol reloading, and when resizing rifle cases I trim to length with a Lee setup and just polish the lube off the outside with a shop towel while the case spins in the lock stud.

-M
 
It is perfectly normal for larger cases to require more effort to resize than smaller ones.
 
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"...more effort because they have more of a case taper..." Not enough to notice.
Clean the lube off before shooting. How it's done isn't important.
 
Its so easy to do, just lay the brass in a cookie tin lid and give it a quick shot of lyman spray lube. Jingle them in a plastic bag, dump in brass feeder and have at er! It makes the process flow so smooth.
When your done get a old sweatshirt seal off neck and arms(mine got sewn closed). pour loaded rounds into the sweatshirt and rub and tumble them around inside the sweatshirt. Pour them into a tin, load them into your cartridge cases and enjoy.
I load 10000 rounds a year using this method!!
 
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