Case Lube Recipes

[jski]

Does anyone use this recipe for case lube:
Pure Lanolin + 99.9+% Isopropyl Alcohol ?

 

[algaeguy]

Yep. it is ALL I use now in a ratio of 1:10

 

[AJC1]

It's a very common mix, I have the stuff but never made a batch. Redding is my jam an I wont change.

 

[bullseye308]

One bottle of red iso heet and one ounce of lanolin and you are good.

 

[Skeptic13]

I use 10:1. Has always worked great for me.

 

[Ranger99]

Since I started using the Imperial some
years back, I've never needed any other.
It lasts and lasts and lasts and lasts.
The little tin can does many many many
many many many many many cases worth.

I can't imagine needing a larger quantity
of lube than a tin of that stuff

 

[Highland Lofts]

I use ten parts red dry gas one part liquid lanolin.
I.bought the lanolin off of e bay or Amazon.
The red bottle of dry gas came from walmart.

I cheap semi see through plastic spray bottle.
Place a black sharpie line 5 inches up then another a 1/2 inch up.
Fill to the 5 inch mark with dry glass then to the next line with the liquid lanolin.

Shake it to mix, it stays mixed really good, but I always give it a little shake before using it.

I place the cases in a plastic tray, spray a little lubricant roll them around, spray a little more then let them sit for ten to fifteen minutes for the alchohol to evaporate before you resize.
If you rush it you will get a stuck case.
I use to use Hornady One Shot, but it is a little pricey.

 

[jski]

I use ten parts red dry gas one part liquid lanolin.
I.bought the lanolin off of e bay or Amazon.
The red bottle of dry gas came from walmart.

I cheap semi see through plastic spray bottle.
Place a black sharpie line 5 inches up then another a 1/2 inch up.
Fill to the 5 inch mark with dry glass then to the next line with the liquid lanolin.

Shake it to mix, it stays mixed really good, but I always give it a little shake before using it.

I place the cases in a plastic tray, spray a little lubricant roll them around, spray a little more then let them sit for ten to fifteen minutes for the alchohol to evaporate before you resize.
If you rush it you will get a stuck case.
I use to use Hornady One Shot, but it is a little pricey.

How well does this alcohol + lanolin concoction work in comparison to something like Hornady’s One Shot?

 

[.38 Special]

Since I started using the Imperial some
years back, I've never needed any other.
It lasts and lasts and lasts and lasts.
The little tin can does many many many
many many many many many cases worth.

I can't imagine needing a larger quantity
of lube than a tin of that stuff

I think there must be a certain type of personality which simply cannot be satisfied with such an easy answer.

I don't have that personality. Rather, I have the type which causes me to wonder why folks scour the earth to find a recipe as good as the one which can be had for ten bucks and lasts for decades.

I've been accused of being no fun, though.

 

[Hondo 60]

Yes, I use it too.

Just a note:
After 5 years of inactivity, it has separated, and won't remix.
It's been stored in a pump bottle in my basement.

But until very recently, its worked GREAT.
I will definitely make up some more.

 

[Highland Lofts]

How well does this alcohol + lanolin concoction work in comparison to something like Hornady’s One Shot?

I quit using Hornady One Shot about three years ago when I started using the home made mix.
The home made mix last a long time and is better then the store bought lube.
A little bit goes a looong way.

 

[Big Wes]

I drop a couple marbles in my spray bottle to shake / mix the lube up.

 

[Slamfire]

I think there must be a certain type of personality which simply cannot be satisfied with such an easy answer.

I don't have that personality. Rather, I have the type which causes me to wonder why folks scour the earth to find a recipe as good as the one which can be had for ten bucks and lasts for decades.

I go through these periods where I want to be independent, make my own. Then find the time and effort was not worth it and go back to buying the stuff over the counter.

RCBS water soluble for me.

 

[FROGO207]

Want to add that I got my marbles from old empty spray cans that I had used for targets afterwards.
When this present batch is used up I plan on trying some wire lube instead of lanolin in the mix. It may be easier to remove afterwards.
I also use Imperial wax and the Lee toothpaste at times but like the convinence of spray on lube. I take a large ZipLoc gallon freezer bag toss in the brass spray in a few squirts, close and massage the brass around. Dump, let the alcohol flash off and resize.

 

[Bcwitt]

Will 10:1 work in something like an RCBS lube pad?

 

[mdi]

Just like reloading, there are some things that produce great satisfaction, feeling of achievement. Home made products are high on the list. Making a case lube that works quite well, for less than one woud pay for a "dedicated reloading" product adds to the satisfaction of reloading (I don't reload to save money, or reload any obsolete cartridges. I reload because I like to!) .Ever take some dirty, gunky scrap lead, clean it up and make some clean alloy ingots? Then take your clean alloy and cast some "perfect" bullets? Then lube them with some home made bullet lube and size them perfectly for your particular gun? Then load them in your clean, processed brass and shoot them getting very good accuracy and no barrel leading? Not much more satisfying/prideful than that. Or you could plunk down the credit card and buy a box of factory ammo (not really satisfying). Or go to the laboratory, mix up a bunch of (secret) ingredients with mysterious methods and produce a case lube that works as well as any commercial concoction? Or enter your credit card number and click on "Purchase now" and wait 2 weeks?

I made up a bottle of the lanolin/heet but before I could use it all it evaporated (loose cap?). It worked as well as any commercial case lube I've tied on my bottle necked brass, much easier to get, and costs less.

 

[lightman]

How well does this alcohol + lanolin concoction work in comparison to something like Hornady’s One Shot?

In my opinion there is no comparison! Not a One Shot fan.

 

[AJC1]

Your process and end result will change what works best. I wet tumble and there is zero on the case. When I use redding I just wipe the off after leaving behind wax to protect the case. Lanolin needs to be cleaned back off requiring another cleaning procedure. I expand necks with a mandrel and redding graphite.or nothing at all.

 

[jski]

Your process and end result will change what works best. I wet tumble and there is zero on the case. When I use redding I just wipe the off after leaving behind wax to protect the case. Lanolin needs to be cleaned back off requiring another cleaning procedure. I expand necks with a mandrel and redding graphite.or nothing at all.

So if I use the lanolin+alcohol concoction, I’ll need to wash them again to remove residue unlike a wax lube?

 

[barnfrog]

I take a large ZipLoc gallon freezer bag toss in the brass spray in a few squirts, close and massage the brass around. Dump, let the alcohol flash off and resize.

Does this sufficiently lube the inside of the necks if one is resizing and decapping with the same die, or does one need to lube the necks in a separate step?

 

[AJC1]

So if I use the lanolin+alcohol concoction, I’ll need to wash them again to remove residue unlike a wax lube?

I would if your spraying it in bulk and using it to lubricate your expander ball. It is an oil, a natural one but not something I would want in my powder space or primer pocket. I get none of the case lube in my cases so i can just move forward.

 

[peels]

Does this sufficiently lube the inside of the necks if one is resizing and decapping with the same die, or does one need to lube the necks in a separate step?

With the brass in the zip lock bag, shake them until most of them have the mouth facing upwards. Spray the lube at a slight angle and you should be able to get enough lube on the inside of the neck. I do this with 223 brass and it seems to work sufficiently.

 

[peels]

So if I use the lanolin+alcohol concoction, I’ll need to wash them again to remove residue unlike a wax lube?

I wash the brass after sizing if using lanolin.

You can mix Lee lube with 99% alcohol in 1:8 ratio. I use that for pistol brass and I do not wash after sizing since it is wax based.

 

[jmorris]

How well does this alcohol + lanolin concoction work in comparison to something like Hornady’s One Shot?

I think One Shot is the worst lube, intended for the job, I have ever used.

Their Unique lube is much better. The lanolin/alcohol mix is easy to apply like one shot and gives better performance, just remember to give a few seconds for the alcohol to evaporate.

 

[runner3264]

I used to use the lanolin mix but I find the Hornady One Shot lube better because it has less chance of fouling and the powder doesn't stick inside the neck as it does with the lanolin. Saves me a step of having to clean the inside of the neck with alcohol before reloading.