A question about lubricating pistol ammo before re-sizing

[mikemyers]

I have an old RCBS Big Max single station press, which over the years I've been using for 38, 357, 44, and 45ACP. My dies are as old as the press, meaning they're standard dies, not carbide. I've always used the RCBS lube before I start using the press.

Someone told me a while back that the lubrication is for rifle cartridges, and isn't really needed for pistol reloading, even though I don't have carbide dies. Can anyone comment on that?

I assume that it's better to just keep on using the lube (sparingly), doing the re-size, then wipe off the lube.

(Thanks to all the help I got in this forum over the past year, everything is now going quite smoothly.)

 

[ColtPythonElite]

You need to lube pistol cases with steel dies, too....I don't wipe off the lube. I use Hornady One Shot. It dries.

 

[Ironicaintit]

I think id go get some carbide dies, and keep your originals as spares!

 

[cfullgraf]

Someone told me a while back that the lubrication is for rifle cartridges, and isn't really needed for pistol reloading, even though I don't have carbide dies. Can anyone comment on that?

If your handgun cartridge resizing dies are steel, not carbide, you need lubricant. Your source of information is wrong.

If you do not use lubricant with your handgun steel resizing dies, you could damage your die, scratch your cases, and maybe even get a case stuck.

When I got into reloading back around 1980, steel handgun resizing dies were the norm. Carbide sizing dies were fairly rare and relatively expensive.

As handgun carbide sizing dies became more popular and more reasonably priced, the manufacturers stopped making or limited production of handgun steel resizing dies. There are a few handgun cartridges such as 357 SIG where carbide dies are not economically feasible.

Now a days, with handgun carbide resizing dies, lubricant is not necessary. But, I do spritz a little on my large diameter cases (44 Mag, 45 Colt, 460 S&W Mag) to make the resizing process easier even with carbide dies.

 

[mikemyers]

That all makes sense. I've never seen anything different in writing, and for that matter, I've never done the reloading without lube - but I now wipe it off after the resizing die.

Lube? Yeah, there are newer ways, but it takes seconds to just roll the dies back and forth on the pad. For me, it's easier than spraying, and the whole case gets lubed.

If I were going to buy a set of new dies today, I'd most likely get carbide. Hmmm, do people replace the whole set, or just the re-sizing die when they upgrade??

 

[cfullgraf]

I used a case lube pad with handgun cases and steel sizing dies for decades. It works.

I do tumble the cases to clean off the lubricant though.

The expander die and seater die are functionally no different than your existing dies. Current manufactured dies may have some improvements in the expander or seater but I really do not see any major improvements. This is not counting micrometer seating competition dies.

You can buy just a resizing die. It may be more expedient to buy a whole die set, but it will set you back a bit more.

Except for 357 SIG and 38/45 Clerke, both bottle neck handgun rounds and only steel resizing dies are available, all of my steel resizing dies have been retired. I am still using some of my original seating and expanding dies.

In some instances, like 38 Special/357 Magnum, I bought a new set of dies and made dedicated seating and mouth expanding dies for each cartridge. The same sizing die can be used for both cartridge without re-adjusting.

Hope this helps.

 

[GooseGestapo]

STP is a cheap replacement for the RCBS lube.
Get a set of Lee carbide dies and you won't look back.
I've got 40 yr old RCBS dies that haven't been used in 35 yrs due to Lee carbide dies.

 

[gamestalker]

Old steel pistol dies require lube.

I sold my steel die's as soon as I heard of carbide dies, life has been so much better since.

GS

 

[moonman16]

I use Hornady ONE SHOT for pistol, I don't load rifle. It makes it easier on you and your equipment. Not necessary to wipe off and will not contaminate powder. I hear people say to stay away from it with rifle case and use the lanolin/alcohol lubes on rifle.

 

[mikemyers]

I think part of the reason why this doesn't sound like such a big deal to me, is I typically load only 50 or 100 rounds at a time. Setting up, and cleaning up, takes far more time than the wee bit I spend on lubing 5 cases at a time, and wiping them off after re-sizing.

If I was going to do many hundreds of rounds at a time, not only would I feel I need to get the better dies, and switch from a 4-die set to a 3-die set, but I'd probably feel equally strongly about getting a progressive press. Right now, for me, it's just a leisurely evening of reloading one or two boxes of ammo.


Thanks for all the feedback!

 

[JimKirk]

Mike ... this is the "one" area that Hornady One-Shot stands out .... get a gallon zip lock bag ... put your brass in and spray a couple shots of One-shot in and roll the brass around within the bag ... pour the brass out on a cookie sheet and let them dry for a few minutes... works wonders !! I even do the same with my carbide die ... as RC would say makes them slick as owl snot !! You really don't have to wipe the lube off as it is mostly dry .... I do tumble for a short time AFTER I load to clean everything up ... yes loaded ammo ! Oh ... you can use the same zip lock over and over as the spray that remains will be mixed in with the "new" spray ... no waste that way....

 

[longdayjake]

Yes, this is the ONE time that Hornady One Shot is a good idea. I use it on ALL my pistol reloading whether I'm using carbide dies or not. It makes things easier on me and the press.

 

[Nordeste]

As said, you do need lube with those dies. I use carbide dies, but when I plan on loading a couple hundred rounds or so on my LCT, I do lube the cases. Easier on my shoulder and elbow.

 

[TimSr]

If I were going to buy a set of new dies today, I'd most likely get carbide. Hmmm, do people replace the whole set, or just the re-sizing die when they upgrade??

I've done both. If you get a new set you can sell your old set, but sometimes you can get a carbide sizer at a bargain too.

 

[mikemyers]

....when I plan on loading a couple hundred rounds or so on my LCT, I do lube the cases. Easier on my shoulder and elbow.

Using my old steel dies and lubricated cases, it's easy to resize the cases on my RCBS Big Max. If I leave off the lube using and use a carbide resizing die, does the amount of pressure it takes go up substantially?

 

[mdi]

You will have to get "Someone" to get a stuck case outta your sizing die the first time one gets stuck from no lube. "Someone" isn't as knowledgeable as he tries to be, there are dies that don't have carbide sizer inserts! If you're OK with lubing your handgun brass, by all means continue.

 

[IWAC]

I have always lubed my pistol cases, even after I got carbide dies, and was applying a red stuff called "Eagle Blood" with my fingers. "One Shot " is good with pistol cases. Of course, cooking oil would probably do well with carbide.

"One Shot" has not provided happy experiences for my bottleneck rifle cartridges, tho. Reading others' experiences, and from my own personal mishaps, I have decided not to use it again.

In the last 5 years, I have stuck more cases using it per instructions than I ever did before. (never once!) Of course, the BIG GREEN Stuck Case remover I bought years ago, then waited and waited to use it does a grand job of removing my oopses!

I have a bottle of Frankford Arsenal case lube that I have just tried, and it looks like it will do the job. If that doesn't work, I have 2 tubes of Lee resizing lube, and a bottle of ISO Heet to make me a homebrew lube that people on YouTube swear by (maybe at?) Probably do me for the rest of my life!

 

[taliv]

I've reloader about 16k mixed headstamp in my Dillon 1050 in past 18 months. Never used any lube. No stuck cases. But... There's enough friction that it jerks the shell plate enough to occasionally throw a bit of powder out of the case and onto the shell plate. Might not do that if I consistently lubed them.

 

[Jim Watson]

I give my pistol brass a light spritz of spray lube. It smooths operation even in a carbide die and takes a lot of the shake out of a progressive.

 

[nettlle]

One of the best things that came out for reloading over the years is carbide dies. I do not like messing with case lube. It is my understanding that in a carbide die set the only die that is actually carbide is the sizing die.

 

[Nordeste]

Using my old steel dies and lubricated cases, it's easy to resize the cases on my RCBS Big Max. If I leave off the lube using and use a carbide resizing die, does the amount of pressure it takes go up substantially?

There's a good chance that you will be able to tell the difference and that you'll need more force to resize a non-lubed case in a carbide die, than a lubed case in a non-carbide die. As you've read, a good number of us who use carbide die still use a light dab of lube on our cases prior to resizing. If it makes your life easier, why not?.

 

[45Frank]

For some reason my 45-70 Dies even though carbide I have to use lube or it just don't go no where.

 

[readyeddy]

Carbide dies are great. No need for lube on smaller pistol cartridges like 10mm or smaller. But for 44 mag and bigger, I would use lube.

 

[Schwing]

I've reloader about 16k mixed headstamp in my Dillon 1050 in past 18 months. Never used any lube. No stuck cases. But... There's enough friction that it jerks the shell plate enough to occasionally throw a bit of powder out of the case and onto the shell plate. Might not do that if I consistently lubed them.

This is the reason I just always use lube. My favorite is that cheap lee stuff. I mix one tube in about 1 liter of alcohol and spray a few squirts into a ziplock back full of brass. I roll it around to make sure they all get a little and then dump them out and let them dry.

The entire process takes less than 2 minutes (plus drying time) but it seems to make everything go smoother even using carbide dies. You don't have to remove the lube either.

 

[taliv]

What I dont like about lube is it getting all over the press and building up and powder and dust sticking to it. Just makes everything harder to clean