Should I lube before sizing these?

[shoebox1.1]

Just did my first batch of powdercoated 240SWC bullets and have a Lee sizing die kit coming today. Comes with the Lee factory lube. Should I tumble these in a bowl with a couple drops first? New die and all.. was thinking might be good idea? Your thoughts gentlemen…

 

[Varminterror]

I lube everything I size. Even if I CAN size without lube for some bullets, lube simply makes the job easier and imparts less stress to the equipment and less potential for damage to the surface of the bullet.

 

[Rule3]

Dilute the Lee lube in alcohol, one part lube to 10 parts alcohol (guess) put in a little spray bullet and shake shake shake Sprits on the bullets (I use it on all my brass)

 

[Bearded Phil]

It's not strictly necessary but can be helpful if you find it hard to push the bullets through the sizer.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

Dilute the Lee lube in alcohol, one part lube to 10 parts alcohol (guess) put in a little spray bullet and shake shake shake Sprits on the bullets (I use it on all my brass)

I do exactly the same. I use it on brass and also on cast bullets that I push-through size prior to lubing.

It drys to a waxy coating; no need to clean it off prior to loading.

 

[WeekendReloader]

Dilute the Lee lube in alcohol, one part lube to 10 parts alcohol (guess) put in a little spray bullet and shake shake shake Sprits on the bullets (I use it on all my brass)

I do the same thing. I found that the 70% alcohol works best. I bought the 99% alcohol once and the LEE wax lube wouldn't dissolve. I added some water and bingo, it dissolved. It does require a heck of a lot of shaking to get it broken up and fully mixed.

I give my powder coated bullets a spritz, roll them around and use a heat gun to dry them. Everything sizes and loads without issues.

 

[Mk-211]

I think the powder coating is going to come off, even with lube.

 

[Bearded Phil]

I think the powder coating is going to come off, even with lube.

Doubtful, unless the bullets weren't properly cleaned prior to coating or not baked correctly.

Powder coated and Hitek coated bullets size perfectly fine as long as the coating is applied properly.

 

[shoebox1.1]

Hopefully it stays on there. Fingers crossed

 

[IWAC]

Just did my first batch of powdercoated 240SWC bullets and have a Lee sizing die kit coming today. Comes with the Lee factory lube. Should I tumble these in a bowl with a couple drops first? New die and all.. was thinking might be good idea? Your thoughts gentlemen…

Couldn't hurt!

 

[1942farmall]

If done properly, the powder coating won't come off when using Lee push thru sizers with or without any lube.
I don't ever lube and have cast, powder coated and sized thousands of projectiles.
I typically use Eastwood powders.
You can do a smash test with a bullet and hammer to confirm the adhesion.

 

[jmorris]

I think the powder coating is going to come off, even with lube.

If it was applied correctly, it shouldn't come off even when he fires it, lubed or not, that is the point of coating the lead.

 

[AJC1]

Lube helps if the bullets are really hard or your moving a lot of material. Because the die is brand new I suspect it will trash the first one, and it will go much better after. If it were me I'd rub the first one down with Redding sizing wax and just roller after that.

 

[bullseye308]

I’ve cast and coated several tens of thousands of bullets and never lubed any. That said, I size them after casting then coat and size again, so they are not far off of final size. An example is my 357, after casting they get sized .357 then coated then sized .358. It never occurred to me to lube them, but I never had the need. I lube all my pistol brass to resize them, but not the bullets. Maybe I’ll give it a try on the next batch.

 

[shoebox1.1]

Lee instructions say lube every round before use.. no mention of PC but I figured “it’s a new die, I have the LLA.. let’s do it”

 

[MEHavey]

Powder Coating (the baked-on kind) is its own lube.
Save in extraordinary circumstances, no sizing lube req'd using Lee sizers

 

[Show Me]

Measuring show you can't use as is? Only time I push my home cast bullets through is setting gas checks.

 

[shoebox1.1]

So I got impatient before bed and pushed 6-7 through with the lube not 100% dry. There was some light “force” required to get through but not much. Like they are pretty good as is. I can tell you this the Alox lube is messy! Maybe I did too much. With deeper thoughts on the subject going forward I am not going to lube any after this batch. The PC is the lube! I’m going to run these 165 through tonight, clean everything else up and go from there. I did not caliper anything yet. Need to measure coated then sized.— will have update tonight

 

[WeekendReloader]

So I got impatient before bed and pushed 6-7 through with the lube not 100% dry. There was some light “force” required to get through but not much. Like they are pretty good as is. I can tell you this the Alox lube is messy! Maybe I did too much. With deeper thoughts on the subject going forward I am not going to lube any after this batch. The PC is the lube! I’m going to run these 165 through tonight, clean everything else up and go from there. I did not caliper anything yet. Need to measure coated then sized.— will have update tonight

You don't need to use sticky Alox. Alox is typically used for bare lead bullets.

I use the LEE case lube that comes in a toothpaste tube. It is a white waxy lube that you can dissolve 10:1 into 70% alcohol and use in a spray bottle. It dries to a thin, waxy film that mostly rubs off during sizing. The result is a dry, non-sticky, non-messy bullet. No need to clean anything off. I also use this lube on the brass to ease sizing. No need to clean the brass afterward either.

 

[shoebox1.1]

Gotcha.. this came with it and I didn’t think about the other stuff

 

[shoebox1.1]

Awesome results! Let alox mix coated rounds dry overnight and they went right through sizing die Zero issues!! Easy peasy. All measure dead nuts .430 after pc and sizing and the coating did not come off. I just have to get the Schmuttz oil off now!

 

[dartor]

Awesome results! Let alox mix coated rounds dry overnight and they went right through sizing die Zero issues!! Easy peasy. All measure dead nuts .430 after pc and sizing and the coating did not come off. I just have to get the Schmuttz oil off now!View attachment 1206217

Load 'em up and choot 'em. Your paper/steel target doesn't care about the Schmuttz on the bullets. Skip the alox on the next batch. Coated bullets slide right through a Lee sizing die without the need for any kind of lube.

 

[shoebox1.1]

That’s the Plan!

 

[jmorris]

Awesome results!....I just have to get the Schmuttz oil off now!

Next time, just lube half the batch. That way you will be able to see if the mess and clean up are worth the extra work you created.

 

[AJC1]

Awesome results! Let alox mix coated rounds dry overnight and they went right through sizing die Zero issues!! Easy peasy. All measure dead nuts .430 after pc and sizing and the coating did not come off. I just have to get the Schmuttz oil off now!View attachment 1206217

This is all just first go learning cycle. Lube helps a lot of processes but cleaning takes time and effort. Lubes that dry and don't require cleaning are very useful....