zxcvbob
Member
I'm resizing some .223 brass that I picked up at the range Tuesday. I've been reloading pistol cartridges for years, and I've loaded a few .30-06's, but not much. This is my first time with .223, and my first time to seriously load any bottleneck cartridge. I'm using cheap Lee dies, as is my custom. The brass was mixed headstamps, some .223 and some 5.56 NATO, so I picked out 50 "FC 223 REM"s to work with because that's what I have the most.
At first I was just lubing the outsides using Kiwi Mink Oil, but it was still taking more force than I tho't it should to raise the handle, so I switched to lubing inside the case necks with a Q-tip and a little castor oil. I didn't really lube the outsides, but my fingers were oily and just handling them was enough. They sized much easier now. (I didn't know Lee rifle dies had an expander ball)
Do I need to tumble the brass again to get the film of oil out of the case necks? How about if I use an emulsified wax in the necks next time, like GB wire-pulling lube?
I also need to trim these since I don't know where they've been, right?
At first I was just lubing the outsides using Kiwi Mink Oil, but it was still taking more force than I tho't it should to raise the handle, so I switched to lubing inside the case necks with a Q-tip and a little castor oil. I didn't really lube the outsides, but my fingers were oily and just handling them was enough. They sized much easier now. (I didn't know Lee rifle dies had an expander ball)
Do I need to tumble the brass again to get the film of oil out of the case necks? How about if I use an emulsified wax in the necks next time, like GB wire-pulling lube?
I also need to trim these since I don't know where they've been, right?