Progressive Loading 223 for AR

[Steve in Allentown]

I’ll no longer be using Hornady One Shot as case lube for rifle brass. Had two back to back stuck cases with it.

So, what lube have you switched to?

 

[jmorris]

I am another that tried one shot but didn’t like it for rifle. The Hornady unique case lube is good but not suited for progressives.

I use Dillon’s case lube.

 

[Demi-human]

Wet tumble a batch of brass using Woolite?

Yes. Though I haven’t done it. It’s good for sweaters, too.

I am one of those weirdos that likes OneShot. I use it on everything. Well, everything important. It’s a little expensive to use on everything, but I probably use more outside the loading room than in. It just works too well!

 

[Varminterror]

I use OneShot on everything except when using carbide dies. Never have figured out how guys get cases stuck.

 

[Phlier]

What is “lots”?

Are you going to get back 100% of your brass fired from the same rifle with 0% fired from anything else?

Most of my brass comes from either police practice (100% once fired) or 3 gun (majority once fired). I could pick mine out but that takes a lot longer than just processing everything the same.

I size/deprime and trim with a 650.

View attachment 875272

If a case needs to be trimmed after sizing, it is. If it doesn’t, it’s not. Not a lot of magic just 1000+ cases an hour ready to load.

From there I put the cases into a 1050 where they are swaged as part of the loading process.



If it’s all your stuff and “lots” is a few hundred at a time, that’s a tad overkill though.

FWIW, that’s how I do mine, too. Well, really close, anyway.

I have two tool heads dedicated to .223 for the 1050. The first is setup how JMorris’s 650 is setup, then I just switch tool heads to load.

My son and I do the brass prep in very large batches (like a five gallon bucket full), then just load them as needed.

Having the full size Frankford Arsenal Rotary Tumbler helps take the sting out of prepping large batches of brass. Maybe someday we’ll breakdown and get a small cement mixer from Home Depot...

 

[MikeInOr]

I am another that tried one shot but didn’t like it for rifle. The Hornady unique case lube is good but not suited for progressives.

I use Dillon’s case lube.

I find the secrete with Dillon case lube is to not use enough of it. If I put a bunch of brass in a cardboard box then put a pump or two of the Dillon lube in it doesn't seem like near enough... which is usually just perfect after shaking them around.

The worst part of most lube in a case feeding progressive is the snail slime on the inside of the case feed tube.

I tried the RCBS lube dies with my Dillon 650... they are worthless for bottle necked cases. The lube die lubes everything BUT the neck.... where you need the lube the most. The RCBS .223 lube die is EXCELLENT for 9mm cases though. The .308 die is likewise excellent for .45acp cases. Yes, I know you don't have to lube straight wall pistol cases but the go through the 650 so quick with that little bit of lube from the lube die on them. The lube just smooths everything out very nicely!

I love the Dillon .223 and .308 carbide sizing dies and highly recommend them!

 

[TBL65]

So, what lube have you switched to?

I’ve use the rcbs lube with pad with good results. I’ve also mixed the RCBS with isopropyl alcohol to make a homemade lube similar to mixing it with lanolin with good results.

Just ordered some imperial sizing wax to try as well

 

[jmorris]

I would order them in effectiveness from most to least, left to right.



The spray lubes are much faster to apply, I can lube hundreds of cases in seconds, with them.

 

[lordpaxman]

The spray lubes are much faster to apply, I can lube hundreds of cases in seconds, with them.

I’ve seen Dillon carbide dies for various rifle calibers including .223. I’m also thinking of .223 on a progressive and was wondering if anyone had any experience with these? Supposedly you eliminate the lubing step. You’d want your brass clean, and the cost of the dies aren’t for the faint of heart but I’m leaning that way.

 

[jmorris]

I have Dillon carbide rifle dies but you still need lube and they too will wear out, just takes longer. No, they do not have the same lifetime warranty as their presses do.