Case Lube- Am I Doing it Wrong?

Should be trying to remove all of the lube before you start the loading process(what you've been calling "pressing" and "crimping".

If your wet tumbling you can just do that or you could wipe them in a microfiber cloth or similar.
 
I reload .45 Colt have never used lube , just started reloading .45-70 and rapidly realized have to use lube for those. I bought the Lee Sizing Lube in a tube and the Imperial Sizing Lube in a can. So far I have only used the Lee stuff and it works really well. Also says it won't have any effect on powder so I just wipe brass clean.
 
After lubing and sizing my rifle cases (Lee lube), I throw them in a can with some lacquer thinner, let them soak for 5 minutes, give them a quick swish around and dump them on a towel. The lacquer thinner evaporates very quickly and the cases are ready for priming and loading.

I would rather stick a pin in my eye than having to lube pistol cases. Thank God for carbide dies.
 
ted_dent said:
I would rather stick a pin in my eye than having to lube pistol cases. Thank God for carbide dies.
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I reload 7.62x25 for my Tokarev. Not fun, but since my range doesn't allow steel jacket/core ammo to be shot these little bottleneck cases get the full rifle treatment.
 
I use carbide pistol dies and don't use lube on straight walled cases, except for 9mm. I have found a little lube makes the sizing much easier.

before sizing (and lubing) I tumble the range brass for an hour to clean it up. This saves the dies from getting scratched.

I size a few thousand at a time and them tumble them clean to give them a nice shine and remove all the lube.

The other pistol calibers are sized dry (except 3577SIG and 7.62x25).
 
I think way back when I started I used the RCBS lube pad and quickly figured out that full length sizing was not needed. For years have only neck sized brass in 3030 and 7br without any chambering issues. Brass lasts forever almost. No need to add any lube. These cartridges were always fired in the same chamber.

One person commented on the "fine dust" that acts as a lube. I believe that to be correct because you can notice the difference in effort required between tumbled brass and 100% clean brass. A few years ago I purchased a fancy wet tumbler that I have not yet tried. The orange tumbler still does a great job and lately it has been working overtime......lol.

Never ever lubed a straight wall pistol case either. Carbide dies and tumbled brass works great. Last couple of days did a ton of 9mm, 40 S&W and 45 acp. The 40 and 45's go through smooth as butter without hardly an effort. The odd 40 takes a bit more effort than average. The 9mm brass feels tight and tends to take the most effort. With a little RCBS Jr. press which has minimal leverage.

This is my experience with my equipment and my firearms. Each person should exercise caution and work up to what works best for them.
 
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I use Lyman Quick Spray Case Lube, which is water soluble.

I spray cartridges cases on a cooky sheet outside, full length resize and deprime.

I clean the cases in the stainless steel pin tumbler and air dry.

Quick, clean, relatively speaking, and no mess.
 
I use Hornady One Shot as well, for my rifle cartridges. Lube, Resize and decap, then into the ultrasonic cleaner, rinse, dry, trim, prime, charge and seat bullet, voila done.
 
For years I ran 9mmx19 cases dry thru a carbide die. Then I read about using lube to make them run nicer thru the carbide die.

Mamma mia what a difference!
 
I have carbide dies and have never found it necessary to lube any pistol brass regardless of calibre. Just toss in the tumbler to clean before processing.
Rifle calibres... I clean them in the tumbler, lube and resize then tumble again before processing.

I refuse to process brass with lube on it. Take your dies apart and clean them (you should still do this occasionally anyways) and look at the residue build-up from the lube (or lead if loading cast). Once was enough to convince me it's a bad idea to process before another go in the tumbler prior to reloading. YMMV.....
 
I'm ready to catch hell from everyone here but...

I use a little lube on everything. My go-to us aerosol "Fluid Film, I squirt a quick little shot in a heavy freezer bag, put the brass in, and shake it and roll it around. That is enough to make the difference, sizing and loading are much easier on pistol ammo than doing it dry; and it works well on my .223s. It does not build up in my dies, and it does not leave the ammo oily. The key is a very small amount.

It is also one heck of a lot cheaper than buying factory stuff.
 
Meroh said:
I'm ready to catch hell from everyone here but...

I use a little lube on everything. My go-to us aerosol "Fluid Film, I squirt a quick little shot in a heavy freezer bag, put the brass in, and shake it and roll it around. That is enough to make the difference, sizing and loading are much easier on pistol ammo than doing it dry; and it works well on my .223s. It does not build up in my dies, and it does not leave the ammo oily. The key is a very small amount.

It is also one heck of a lot cheaper than buying factory stuff.
Click to expand...

I got some FF and plan to try some when I run out of my lanolin/alcohol lube. I lightly spritz with lube pistol brass even with carbide dies.

I usually leave it on the cases with no ill effects. Sometimes, I throw all the completes cases on an old towel and wipe the lube off.
 
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