Silicone for Cases?

[ulflyer]

I've begun reloading recently after a long lay off. Am using Dillon case lube but have seen mention of using silicone spray. Is this an accepted lube? Do the reloaded shells need cleaning/tumbling?

Thanks

 

[Kamicosmos]

I think Black Snowman tried silicon spray and had bad results....hopefully he'll drop in to confirm.

 

[P95Carry]

ulflyer - welcome

Silicone spray per se is not a true lubricant. Acts great as a ''release agent'' for fiberglass work etc.

It does make things ''slippery'' but IIRC under pressure does not have the properties of a true mineral oil based lube ... tho I fancy silicones might be introduced as a lube component.

The pressures on a case when resizing are I believe in very high orders and to avoid siezure, there must be a high-pressure-resistant long chain molecule structure, per true lubricants.

Any resident tribologists can perhaps give a more informed answer.

 

[yesterdaysyouth]

i tried it one time, third case got hung in the die....

 

[BluesBear]

I used pure silicone for years. You need a healthy dose though. Hornady One Shot works better.

DO NOT use a silicon based TV Tuner Cleaner it will evaporate too fast and your cases WILL stick. (Don't ask me how I know this - let's just say I did a lot of experimenting back in the 1970s)

 

[ulflyer]

Bluesbear, how about the stuff they sell in auto stores in spray cans?

The Dillon lube works fine; I'm just lazy and looking to avoid that final tumbling to get the lube off.