Carbide/Nitride Dies vs Case Lube

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Packman

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So I'm getting close to the point where I start purchasing my first pieces of equipment, but for now I'm still in the research phase. In my reading, I find that Titanium Nitride or Carbide dies supposedly don't require case lube during operation.

Is this actually true, or is it more of a marketing hype that doesn't actually deliver? I'm happy to buy the nicer dies, as the price increment isn't huge, but I'd like to make sure that they're actually worth the price increase.
 
For handgun cartridges, carbide dies do not require case lube.
Someone else can fill in about rifle cartridge reloading. My suspicion is that carbide rifle dies require less force when sizing but still would need case lube.
 
Do you want to lube cases? If you don't want to deal with lubing, go carbide. I've used nothing but for handgun for many years and it just works.

Stu
 
It's true, carbide and the TiNi do not require lube. Some do use a little spray lube when running on AP to smooth things up. The use of lube will reduce the force required in sizing.

I got where I prefer the TiNi dies for my pistol dies. For me I found it required less force to resize vs the carbide by a wide margin. I also discovered that they need to be clean or the added friction increase the force needed. But your dies should be clean anyway.
 
While they do not "require" case lube sizing a large batch of say, .44 mag. cases will make you tempted to use lube anyway. For large batches of stiff brass I will apply a little lube to every 7th or 8th case. It reduces the amount of elbow grease required.
 
Carbide rifle dies are made for commercial reloaders, who load in the millions of rounds. They do in fact require case lubrication.

Pistol caliber carbide dies don't require lubrication, but with some of the larger calibers, such as .45 Colt and .44 Magnum, it helps greatly to make the sizing process easier. You just tumble the lubed cases for about 20 minutes in untreated corncob media to remove the lube.

As one gets older, it sometimes helps to lube a few cases to make the press action easier, even with easy to size cases such as the .38 Special, especially when doing large batches. The mind forgives, but the body doesn't........

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
I agree, the Nitride dies do make sizing cases easier than with Carbide dies but neither require case lube. I actually bought separate sizing dies with a Nitride sizing ring for the handgun cartridges I load most. They do make life easier.

I don't know of any rifle dies which are made with a Carbide sizing ring but it's possible they are available. If they are I'm betting they are very expensive.
 
Not a gimmick, you dont need lube with straightwall cases. Still do with bottleneck cases. I recomend lubing every 10 or so 9mm cases, because they require some extra force, but its not necessary.
 
Dillon offers carbide sizing dies in some rifle calibers: http://www.dillonprecision.com/dillon-carbide-rifle-dies-individual-three-die-sets_8_4_24498.html

There are other custom die makers who make them, but they are expensive and for the average reloader, not needed. Carbide rifle dies are a full length sizing insert, not just a sizing ring, and some are made in two pieces, due to machining difficulties. Even some bottleneck pistol caliber carbide sizing dies are two piece dies, such as my 357 Sig and 9x25 Dillon carbide dies. One insert sizes the body of the case, and the other sizes the neck. Both inserts are in one die body, and you can't tell by just looking that it's two inserts, but it is.

I have a .308 carbide sizing die that only sizes the body of the case, so the case then has to be run through a standard sizing die to size the neck. This die requires lube, or a stuck case will result. Even carbide .30 Carbine sizing dies require lubrication, since it's also a full length carbide insert. I've tried mine without lube, and it's hard on me and the case.........

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
You don't need lube with carbide pistol dies...however, I still spritz a little spray lube on cases because it makes sizing easier. I don't see where it hurts....
 
ReloaderFred said:
As one gets older, it sometimes helps to lube a few cases to make the press action easier, even with easy to size cases such as the .38 Special, especially when doing large batches. The mind forgives, but the body doesn't........
Click to expand...
Amen Fred. I used to consider sizing 500 9MM cases as good exercise for my throwing shoulder, but a few months ago when doing the last batch I started lightly lubing them. I have Imperial and RCBS Case Lube II, so I just finger lubed one every once in a while. I may make up some of the spritz lube with Lanolin. I ordered some lanolin 3 or 4 months ago, I just haven't done anything with it.
 
Walkalong,

When you mix your lanolin, mix it with denatured alcohol. That way, there won't be any water in the mix. I normally find it in the paint section of the hardware/general merchandise store.

I would have never considered using lube with any of my carbide sizing dies, except that .308 and .30 Carbine, 20 years ago, but I ain't as young as I used to be. My mind is, but my body isn't...

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
I also have started to lightly lubricate my hand gun cases to make sizing a lot easier. Since I tumble cases after sizing, no big deal, the lubricant gets cleaned off at that time. But a rag works too.

If I'm resizing just a few cases, I might not bother. A few is like 10 or so.

I've used isopropyl alcohol, 90% or greater, when mixing with lanolin because I had read denatured alcohol with lanolin does not work. But, since ReloaderFred recommends denatured alcohol, I'll have to give it a try.

90% or higher isopropyl alcohol is not the easiest to find.
 
My only advice is to once, try every die you get with lube.

If you think you like them better without, you didn't loose much.

Some dies, you are almost guaranteed a stuck case if you don't lube, others just feel that much better with it.
 
As some others have mentioned, carbide pistol dies don't require case lubrication although I still very lightly lube every fifth case to cut down on die wear. Bottleneck rifle cases however require lubrication regardless of whether carbide dies are used or not. Carbide rifle dies are made simply to decrease die wear for very high volume reloaders. They do not eliminate the need to lubricate cases.
 
ReloaderFred said:
See ArchAngelCD, you're never too old to learn. I've been reloading for over 53 years, and I'm still learning.....

Fred
Click to expand...
Yes Sir Fred, yes indeed! It makes my day when I learn something new.

Learning something new when on this forum isn't all that difficult. There are many reloaders here with a vast amount of knowledge, you and Walkalong are amount them. Thank you...
 
I have a Dillon 223 Rem carbide sizing die, it is the smoothest almost effortless sizing die I have ever used. It does require just a trace of lube though.

OP, carbide pistol dies are well worth the cost.
 
Regarding the homemade lanolin lube, I have found the best additive to the lanolin is the red bottle of Iso-HEET found at Walmart or any automotive store. It's 99% isopropyl alcohol which mixes well with the lanolin. Just add 1 oz lanolin to the 12 oz bottle of HEET, and you've got one of the best spray lubes there is.

Don
 
Packman said:
So I'm getting close to the point where I start purchasing my first pieces of equipment, but for now I'm still in the research phase. In my reading, I find that Titanium Nitride or Carbide dies supposedly don't require case lube during operation.

Is this actually true, or is it more of a marketing hype that doesn't actually deliver? I'm happy to buy the nicer dies, as the price increment isn't huge, but I'd like to make sure that they're actually worth the price increase.
Click to expand...

This is a question that has been asked and answered hundreds of times on all reloading sites. You do not need to lube straight-walled, pistol-caliber cases (the exception being .30 Carbine) w/ those dies.

You DO need to lube all other cases, whether the dies are TN or Carbide or not.
 
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