Lubricated Unprimed Cases

[TheSouthernMarksman]

Is it potentially detrimental to primer reliability/viability to lubricate unprimed cases?

In my quest to solve my grievances with the Lee Pro 4000 (COAL variances up to .01) and reduce friction/drag I have taken to de-priming and sizing separately. Using the Lee APP I have deprimed and wet tumbled about 1000 9mm cases. This WAS my plan…

1. De-Prime using Lee APP
2. Wet tumble with stainless media/Brass Juice
3. Size/Prime on press (all other stations empty)
4. Remove Resizing Die, move faring/power die to station 1, Seating to Station 2, Crimp to Station 3, Station 4 Empty.

It just dawned on my I’d now be lubricating cases with exposed primer pockets, and I’m worried about that compromising the primer. Any worries here?

I didn’t resize and deprime the spent cases because I didn’t want to get my resizing die dirty.

 

[Blue68f100]

All depends on the lube used. OneShot is perfectly safe with primers and powder.

 

[bullseye308]

No problem. I universal deprime, wet tumble, lube, resize, flare, prime, then load my 9, 38, & 357 and have for many thousands of rounds with no problems. Primers are tough and sealed so unless your lube can defeat the lacquer coating and penetrate the foil disk to get to the priming compound I’d expect you will be fine.

ETA what are you using for lube?

 

[brewer12345]

I tumble, lube, resize, tumble, trim as needed, prime, load.

 

[ericuda]

OneShot is perfectly safe with primers and powder

Good call, I'll occasionally use it when sizing pistol cases.

 

[entropy]

All depends on the lube used. OneShot is perfectly safe with primers and powder.

Yup. One Shot. I do it all the time.

 

[film495]

I tumble brass before sizing and depriming. I've never really noticed any appreciable amount of dirtyness to the sizing die. The sizing die should get cleaned up after a loading session anyways - so, I'm not sure what the concern would be there. COAL from what I've seen will vary a bit due to bullet variations loading any round nose bullet. Cheaper bullets, more variation. .01 is a a bit much though. I've seen .0015 in either direction as normal devation.

 

[Skeptic13]

I always run my deprimed and resized cases back through the tumbler before I prime them. Don't know if it is necessary I like to do it that way to remove the lube.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I run my loaded pistol ammo through the rotary tumbler with wallnut for 10 minutes after loading to get the lube off unless I'm loading hollowpoints.
Then I do like Skeptic13 does so I don't have to dig media out of the hollowpoint.
It's perfectly safe, I don't put enough in at a time to even hear them hit the side of the can. Maybe 30-40 at a time.
I also use One Shot.

 

[lordpaxman]

@TheSouthernMarksman, welcome to THR.
I too use Hornady One Shot Case lube. Pay attention to the label, Hornady has One Shot cleaner/lubricant which is different. I have a cardboard box where I dump about 150 cases in, give it a 1-2 second shot, shake, 1-2 second shot and let it dry. I do use carbide dies but the one shot makes it so much smoother on my progressive. I wet tumble with primers in, and then let all stations do their thing, so there’s no step in removing whatever one shot remains. Good luck.

 

[243winxb]

I do not spray my accuracy away. But if your going to, use the correct one.

 

[TheSouthernMarksman]

I do not spray my accuracy away. But if your[sic] going to, use the correct one.

I use OneShot case lube and not cleaner. However. I am curious what you mean by “spray your accuracy away”…

 

[MakBaba]

I use lanolin/iso heet sprayed in a plastic container, add brass and shake. Resize then wipe the sides of the case off, giving no attention to the bottom of the case, with alcohol wipe, then prime. No problems

 

[mdi]

I wouldn't worry if the primer pockets was not full of lube. Primers are pretty tough and a film of lube, if it got into a pocket won't have any effect, IMO...

 

[edwardware]

I don't use OneStuck, but I do use Lee Lube and various lanolin products extensively. Primers are not nearly so easily contaminated as you might think.

Also,

. . . solve my grievances with the Lee Pro 4000 (COAL variances up to .01).

I think the problem might be your expectations. I don't see a problem with +/-0.010" COAL on a progressive press, and an inexpensive one at that.

 

[243winxb]

I am curious what you mean by “spray your accuracy away”…

Lube build up on one side of the case mouth may move the bullet off center when seating. I used to apply Lee case lube with a Q Tip inside the 223 case necks. To much on 1 side allowed the boattail bullet to trap the lube and expand the brass neck on 1 side. Not good for accuracy.

Lube on the shoulder of a bottle neck cartridge is something to be avoided, when sizing. Imo.

Bullet hold may be different between light & heavy coatings of lube. Not all brass will get the same amount.
Non-issue with 9mm, may be a problem with precision rifle?

Lube in a primer pocket, NEVER. Just seems very wrong to me. As always, personal choice. Be safe.

 

[alfsauve]

Old school still using a heavy grease on an ink pad, but then I only reload about 100 rounds a year that need lubing.

So for me:

Lube, resize & de-prime. Tumble/vibrate until dry, then prime, charge seat and crimp.

 

[Seedy Character]

Use a carbide sizing die and no lube is necessary.

 

[gonoles_1980]

After depriming and sizing I tumble in corncob with Franklin polish with an empty primer pocket. Probably not quite the same as lubing with no primer, but I've never had an issue.