Hey folks,
For almost forty years I loaded on single stage presses and rolled bottleneck cases on an RCBS lube pad for sizing. Loading pistol cases with carbide dies was pure joy since I did not have to lube cases and clean them after sizing. In 1997 I bought my Hornady L&L progressive, and I really hated the idea of having to lube bottleneck cases which were to be loaded on a progressive machine. Lubing them on the pad just seemed wrong when loading them on a progressive machine.
It was only then that I first tried using the spray on lube that was available. I would put 50 cases in a block, spray them up and reload them. The spray worked, but it was a lot more expensive than using the lube pad.
Then I heard about using an RCBS lube die in the first station of my progressive press. It sounded great, but I did not know anyone who actually used one, and I simply could not spend that kind of money on something I did not see work first. I also figured that I might need two or three of them to do the cartridges I wanted to reload, and that made the price sticker shock even worse.
Well all these years have gone by, and I still have never purchased a lube die. If I am honest with myself, I really do not reload enough any longer to really justify buying one anyway. I also recently sold over 40 of my guns, so I don't have that many left to reload for any longer. I would also point out that using a lube die doesn't do anything to make cleaning the lube off the finished cartridges "progressive." Having said all that, however, I know for certain if I would just see one in use, I would spend the bucks to buy one to use for my 30-06 cartridges. They really seem like a great idea. I just wish I could watch someone using one in action and maybe get a little hands on experience.
If I were to use one, it would go in Station 1, then sizer die in Station 2, Powder Charge in Station 3, and seating bullets in Station 4. I may not load that much any longer, but I still love the mechanics of the progressive machine.
Best wishes,
Dave Wile