Pencil lead as dry graphite lube

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redneck09

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So I was running some new 308 brass through a expander of a resizing die (Lee collet) in order to get the dents out of the case neck. It was getting hard to do because the Die is meant to size fired cases with wider necks. I thought that dry neck lube (graphite) would really make the process easier. The problem is shipping is outrageous right now so there is no way I’m ordering that stuff until I need a lot more supplies.

I dislike running lubricants inside my case necks just kind of a pain and I don’t like the idea of it getting into the powder area.

Then I got thinking, pencil leads are graphite, I wonder if that would work. I then took a pencil and ran the lead along the inside of the neck. Sure enough, the brass ram through the expander much easier.

I’m going to try it as a bullet seating lubricant. Thinking of crushing it up and dipping the necks in it or maybe just using a larger construction pencil to make things a little quicker and get more coverage.

Anyway I thought I would share this with you folks on here.

Cheers.
 
Pencil leads are not only graphite, but also containt clay and binders. The proportions of the ingredients will vary by pencil lead softness/hardness, and some investigation might reveal the best grade of pencil lead to use for this. IIRC, the harder grades contain more clay/binder than the softer grades.
 
^^^^^^ This - Redding's Imperial dry neck lube!

Unsure what you mean: "So I was running some new 308 brass through a expander of a resizing die (Lee collet) in order to get the dents out of the case neck."
The Lee Collet die (neck sizing die), does not have an expander. Its a collet die. It squeezes the neck on a mandrel.
Did you mean the full length sizing die which does have an expander?
 
Biologist said:
^^^^^^ This - Redding's Imperial dry neck lube!

Unsure what you mean: "So I was running some new 308 brass through a expander of a resizing die (Lee collet) in order to get the dents out of the case neck."
The Lee Collet die (neck sizing die), does not have an expander. Its a collet die. It squeezes the neck on a mandrel.
Did you mean the full length sizing die which does have an expander?
Click to expand...

This is used for lubing the inside and outside of your case necks if your using a expander mandrels or bushing dies- expander balls, you can used it with imperial case resizing wax if you like! just use a q-tip to apply it inside the case neck only. Hope this helps.
 
Yea I understand you can use normal resizing lube. It’s not required with a collet die and I don’t like to put it in my case necks.

Also you are correct it is a “mandrel” but works well for getting out neck dents or making sure that new brass has consistent neck IDs.

I am well aware of the Redding dry neck lube above but I don’t want to pay $30 in shipping to get it right now. Just observed that this worked for me and wanted to share the info.
 
I bought powdered graphite at my local home hardware in the automotive department for this purpose, forget the brand name. Don't buy the white tubes from home depot as it is really course and not good for this.
 
Holley said:
This is used for lubing the inside and outside of your case necks if your using a expander mandrels or bushing dies- expander balls, you can used it with imperial case resizing wax if you like! just use a q-tip to apply it inside the case neck only. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Yes. I use Imperial dry lube with a .22 mop dipped into the media, to dry lube the inside of my case necks before expanding with a Sinclair expander die and mandrel.

OP: I use the Lee collet dies and really like them. I have found that it worthwhile for me after neck sizing with the Lee collet die, that expanding it with the Sinclair expander (1 thou smaller than bullet diameter), really helps to even out the neck tension. It provides a good feel for spring back of the case mouth, and you can feel the higher tension cases and sort them if you want. I use the dry neck lube for the expansion die, although I do not know if its absolutely necessary.
 
Yea I’m considering getting an expander die. I need to see what the collet dies actually give me for neck tension and then go from there.

Do you see real world accuracy gains with those mandrels? Just kind of reluctant to spend money on something that might not give me any gains. I’m really just a hunter that shoots targets for fun. I am sure I could get better gains by putting that money towards optics or components right now. Not a competitive shooter or anything.
 
I have a couple of old Prescription pill bottles [plastic] filled ¾ full with #8 or #9 shot.
Added and mixed in is a tablespoon of powdered graphite.
I just dip the case neck into the mix, give it a bit of a spin and size the case.
Put the lid back on and give the bottle a shake once in a while to bring the graphite
up. Add graphite as needed [I add every 400 cases or so.] Dave.
 
Both Canadian Tire and Home Depot have Graphite powder lubrication marketed for Key locks... $8.00 for 6g

The Lee collet die works great been using one for competition with excellent results. My set up happen to like the 2thou under bullet dia of the Lee Mandrel for neck tension.
Dedicated mandrels or pin gauges come in allot more sizes, you would need to test to see what size produces your best results.

Cheers
Trevor
 
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I also like the Lee Collet. Works great. If I turned necks, I would think about switching out, but no way I’m changing before then. Changing bushing sizes from a kit is better than ordering the Lee mandrel, and sanding them to size. ( I have done that before and it’s not too bad to do. 4-600 grit and a drill. )
 
Eagle eye, what type of sizing are you doing with graphite lube? Are you just neck sizing, expanding? Or doing full length and adding some type of lube on the body?
 
chuck nelson said:
Go to the hardware store and by powdered graphite.
Click to expand...

Don't see the benefit in trying to crush the cores in pencils when you could easily do ^^^ this ^^^.

The powdered graphite in those little squeeze containers (for lubing up your door locks) are cheap and are already fine and consistent powder.
 
redneck09 said:
Eagle eye, what type of sizing are you doing with graphite lube? Are you just neck sizing, expanding? Or doing full length and adding some type of lube on the body?
Click to expand...

I do not often neck size cases, usually FL size. I use the graphite for the neck, and sizing wax for the body of the case.
I FL size to just "touch" the shoulder, setting it back only .0015" This ensures no case separations.
When I have more than one rifle in a given chambering, I have a die set for each rifle. That saves readjusting for each
rifle. Dave.
 
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