Case lube advice

[Rem700SD]

I'm relatively new to reloading, and I'm still using the case lube setup that came with my rcbs(it's green) starter kit. I can only lube about 4 cases at a time, and it's messy!


Is there a better way to do this? I've looked at some other options, but I'm confused.

Is there a way out of lubing the entire case body?(i.e just the neck instead? Any help will be greatly appreciated!

 

[USSR]

Imperial Sizing Die Wax and never look back. Apply to case with your finger tips -- wipe off case with a paper towel.

Don

 

[pbhome71]

Another vote for Imperial Wax.

 

[Berek]

I use DCL. Lay my cases in a cookie sheet, spray, roll, spray, wait a minute or two and I have over 100 cases lubed. Throw it in the tumbler with corn cob and done...

BTW, I love the disclaimer on the back of the DCL that tells you to "ask your spouse" before taking the cookie sheet. And, as I found by not following directions, it is good advice...

 

[meinbruder]

Neck lube only??

I'm relatively new to reloading, and I'm still using the case lube setup that came with my rcbs(it's green) starter kit. I can only lube about 4 cases at a time, and it's messy!


Is there a better way to do this? I've looked at some other options, but I'm confused.

Is there a way out of lubing the entire case body?(i.e just the neck instead? Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Many, many moons ago; my Dad brought home a short fat jar of powdered graphite. I open the jar, dip in a case to coat the neck only, and run it into the die. It colors the brass case neck and leaves enough graphite in the die to run the next case without it. I dip every other case and toss them all into ground walnut shell to tumble clean.
Mike

 

[dakotasin]

hornady one-shot.

 

[hairtrigger25]

Another vote for one-shot.

 

[The Bushmaster]

One Shot works for most applications, but beware of .30-06 cases and One Shot...I have been using the RCBS Lube pad for over 20 years and I'll keep it...

 

[Ol` Joe]

One more vote for Imperial wax.

There is no way out of lubeing the case body of a bottle neck case I`m aware of. Other then VERY EXPENSIVE custom carbide dies. Then a little lube still aids in the die sizeing smoothly. With a conventional sizer they must to be lubed or you`ll stick one in the die, although the outer neck/shoulder area doesn`t need lube. BTW, Carbide straight walled case dies are much more resonable in price.

I used the RCBS pad with their lube for years and I would toss 8-10 30-06 size cases at a time on it and roll them a time or two back and forth. The job went fairly quick but as others have noted there are faster ways, IE; spray lubes. I used a brush rubbed on the lube pad to lube the inside of the case mouth and found it helps to control run-out and stretching a bit. I toss my cases in the tumbler to remove the lube, it only takes about 5 minutes. They come out clean inside and out but be sure to check the primer pocket when seating primers for media. I always find 2-3 cases out of 40-50 with a piece I have to knock out.

The Imperial is used much the same except I rub a couple fingers on the wax and just handling the cases applies enough lube to get the job done. I rub every other case mouth across a lubed finger tip to keep the expander from dragging.

One thing to keep in mind is it takes very little lube to do the job. You don`t have to have the cases wet with it to work. The RCBS lube is water soluble and will wipe off with a damp rag.

 

[Rem700SD]

Thanks for the advice!. I'll order the Imperial and see how that fairs.

 

[cracked butt]

I've never had a reason to switch away from the RCBS lube pad system, it works really well.
Its only messy if you use too much lube. It only takes enough lube on the brass that you can barely feel a film, if the brass sticks to your fingers and everything else it touches, its too much.

Another alternative is using Lee collet neck sizing dies- no lube needed at all.

 

[Dave P]

Cheap homemade spray: 91% alcohol, some powdered mica and maybe some Lee lube.

 

[Grumulkin]

Case Lube

I like the Lee Collet dies that need no case lube at all!!! They work for my Encore and would be fine for a bolt action rifle. I wouldn't use them for an autoloader or leveraction gun though.

 

[YellowLab]

Alcohol/Lanolin is CHEAP and works GREAT.

Cabella's has a 4oz spray bottle for like $5... last about 1000 .30-06 and maybe 1500 .223 or .30 Carbine.

You can even make you own by the gallon then portion out into smaller spray bottles.

 

[TC66]

Just started using Hornady One Shot and I love it. I put about 400 rounds in a tupperware container and spray them then mix them around a bit and spray again and then do it one more time. Drys in minutes and works great. I will never change as long as I keep getting these results.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I use Ed's Red (developed by E.C. "Ed" Harris.) This is a rifle-cleaner and lubricant made of equal parts of Acetone, de-odorized kerosene, stoddard's solvent, automatic transmission fluid and optionally a pound of anhydrous lanolin. I use it for cleaning and lubing guns, and moisten a patch with it to lube cases.

 

[Wilburs Horse]

Wait

Thanks for the advice!. I'll order the Imperial and see how that fairs.

Wait! You have a bolt action that your are loading for correct. Take advantage of this fact and neck size only. You will need a Neck Sizing Die of course for this and the powdered Mica and similar products are great. Just dip the cleaned case neck into the powder about a 1/4 inch. and tap it on the side of the container to knock of the excess. Loads that are neck sized are sized perfectly for the chamber of the gun in which it was fired. This is a boon for accuracy if you are looking to maximize it. If your are going to hunt dangerous game or you are on a quest for a special animal always size full length to eliminate any chance of poor feeding.