What's The REAL Story?

[345 DeSoto]

I was looking at the Lee full length carbide dies...that eliminate the "ring" at the bottom of cases sized with a carbide ring die. Lee says that you don't need to use any lube with their full length carbide sizing die. Posters here say to ALWAYS use case lube with a carbide die. I'm going to size .30 Carbine cases (tapered?) with a Lee full length carbide die. DO I or DON'T I need to lube the cases with this die?...

 

[jwrowland77]

...

 

[56hawk]

I have those dies, and never lube the cases. No idea why you would need to.

 

[plmitch]

No, not with carbide dies.

 

[Moreno]

Lee says that you don't need to use any lube with their full length carbide sizing die.

I'd say you have the instructions right there.

 

[dbmjr1]

I was taught that lube is not necessary on straight walled cartridge cases if using a carbide dies, but the .30 carbine is not a straight walled case, as you mention.

It seems to me that a little lube on the cases would be much less expensive, and less frustrating than having a case head separation in your die.

 

[cfullgraf]

Lee indicates that lubricant is not needed with their 30 Carbine carbide sizer die. The other manufacturers do recommend using lubricant with their 30 Carbine carbide sizer dies.

Generally, straight walled handgun carbide sizer dies do not require lubricant as recommended by their manufacturers. Some folks do use use lubricant as it makes the resizing process a bit easier. I have recently started lubricating large diameter handgun cases like 44 Magnum, 44 Special, and 45 Colt.

As far as I know, Dillon is the only commonly known company that makes some bottleneck rifle case carbide sizer dies. Dillon recommends using lubricant with them. The dies are for high volume loaders that would wear out a steel die in short order.

Hope this helps.

 

[gamestalker]

If it's a carbide that is intended to be used without lube, I don't lube, and I've never had a problem. I've never had one that required any serious muscle to run it through the die, in fact, even my 5 yr. old Grand daughter can resize a .357 or 44 mag case with little difficulty.

GS

 

[WVRJ]

I think I read somewhere that the 30 carbine brass is heavier than pistol brass,and lube should be used for that reason.Not 100% sure though.

 

[tyeo098]

Lube is used with steel dies.

Its not needed with carbide dies.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

Lube is used with steel dies.

Its not needed with carbide dies.

there are some exceptions to this rule

 

[dickttx]

When I first started reloading carbide pistol dies (and carbide expander balls for rifle) were fairly new. RCBS advertising at the time stated there was no need to even clean off the cases before sizing. About three years ago they had the same comment in their catalog, but I don't find it now.
I don't load the 30 Carbine, but with 9mm (pretty tapered case and longer carbide ring) a little lubrication does make it much easier to size. I puff a little graphite on my bench top and occasionally roll a case through it. Don't have to, but can if you want to.

 

[Grumulkin]

It doesn't hurt to lube carbid dies but you usually don't need to. Sizing longer cases might be facilitated with lube but I wouldn't think you would need it with 30 Carbine cases. I size 460 S&W Magnum brass with no lube and no problem.

 

[higgite]

FWIW, this from Lee's website:

Lee 30M1 Pistol 3-Die Set includes Carbide Full Length Sizing Die, Bullet Seating Die, Powder Thru Expanding Die, Universal Shell Holder, Powder Dipper and Instructions/Load Data.

Lee case resizing lubricant is recommend for this cartridge.

 

[ddc]

I don't yet load .30 carbine but am gearing up for it.

I've done a bunch of reading on the milsurp websites and the conventional wisdom, sometimes stated quite strongly, is something like: "Don't treat the 30 carbine case as if it was a straight wall pistol case. If you don't use case lube you will eventually, if not sooner, regret it."

When I start loading the carbine I'm planning on using lube initially. Later on I might experiment without it? Maybe...

I've also read that not a lot of lube is necessary compared to bottleneck cases.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Like said above, no "need" to use lube when using a Carbide sizing die but I do hit cases with a slight taper with a little One Shot to make sizing easier. That works well for me especially when sizing 9mm, 45 Auto and 30 Carbine cases. Not needed but no harm especially since you don't have to wipe off the lube when you use One Shot. If I had to spend time clean off the cases I wouldn't use the lube at all...

 

[torqem]

use dry graphite if you lube at all. If you use any sort of a "wet' lube, you'll have to delube the cases. If you don't, sooner or later,that lube will kill some powder or a primer.

 

[howlnmad]

I don't load for the 30 carbine any longer but when I did, I would lube about every third case even thoigh I was using a carbide die. That 30 carbine brass can be tough on the press. But as others have said, you don't have to lube them with carbide dies.

 

[345 DeSoto]

Lube or No Lube Update: I set up my dies, Lee Full Length Carbide Sizer die included, and ran off 100 M1 .30 Carbine rounds. Had ZERO problems not using any lube on the cases. No excessive resistance going into the resizer, and being a tapered case, couldn't even feel them coming out. Now I know. The only case I need to lube is for my full length sizer for my 22-250 cases. Thanks for all the info and help. It's really appreciated...

 

[mdm]

I load a lot of .30 carbine using the Lee carbide die. I didn't lube the brass for quite a while when I first started. After a while I started using lube on the brass and it was instantly one of those head slapping moments "Why did I not do this long ago?" I use One Shot. I put 30 +/- in a bag, spray, shake, dump, let dry, and go.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Lube is used with steel dies.

Its not needed with carbide dies.

It's not as cut and dried as you're making it sound. Lube is not needed with carbide HANDGUN dies.
If you're using Dillon carbide dies for bottlenecked cartridges, you better lube em up or you're gonna stick the first one.

Posters here say to ALWAYS use case lube with a carbide die.

I've been here for a long time and have never heard anyone say that. I've heard several say that THEY always do, but not that it was necessary. BTW, I do a lot of the time. If I'm going to size a large amount of pistol brass, I'll put a couple hundred in a large zip bag and give it a spray, then pour into a clean bowl for a few minutes and start sizing. It makes it easier but it is not something you have to do.

 

[Rule3]

Like said above, no "need" to use lube when using a Carbide sizing die but I do hit cases with a slight taper with a little One Shot to make sizing easier. That works well for me especially when sizing 9mm, 45 Auto and 30 Carbine cases. Not needed but no harm especially since you don't have to wipe off the lube when you use One Shot. If I had to spend time clean off the cases I wouldn't use the lube at all...

I do the same with a diluted Lee sizing lube.(with rubbing alcohol)

No, I do not need to with carbide dies but it real does make the rezing a whole lot smoother. It is such a small, dilute amount and water based so no need to remove it. I spritz 500 cases at a time.

So for the OP size a bunch with no lube and then size some with a tiny bit of lube and determine for yourself.

 

[Jim Watson]

You don't HAVE to lube straight cases for a carbide sizing die, but a light spritz of spray lube sure makes them run more easily. Learn to apply little enough and you won't have to reclean them.

 

[USSR]

Unless you are some kind of masochist, if you resize .30 Carbine brass you WILL use lube regardless of what anyone says about not needing it for carbide dies.

Don

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I use spray lube on all my pistol brass with carbide dies only because I use auto-progressive presses and lubing the shells helps keep my OAL down to about .002" variance.

Do I have to? No but it does really reduce the load on the press and makes resizing so much easier. I also use One Shot spray lube.