Your case lube

[kerreckt]

Imperial works for me. I apply as needed, with my fingers, so all brass ends up with some on it. Works out pretty well. I don't have to do anything except get it on my fingertips. Goes a long way.

 

[Stumper]

All this stuff works. Most of it works well. For several years I have been using soap. For easy application and removal at low cost it is hard to beat. My method has been to grate about half a bar of Ivory into a microwavable container add a cup of water(or maybe it was a half cup-It has been years since I made a batch) microwave for one minute or whatever it takes to liquify the soap shavings then pour into an empty waterless handcleaner container. It remains a clear gel for a few hours to days depending on how much water you added then turns white but remains soft. Over time it drys out some even when stored with the lid on but a few drops of water thrown in every now and then keeps it at just the right consistency to apply with the fingers. A little wipe across the case mouth with a lubed finger takes care of the expander ball and is harmless to the powder/primer. after sizing a damp rag removes the lube to squeaky clean. I came up with this one day when I couldn't locate any case lube and wanted to load. It has worked so well that I have never wanted to go back to commercial products. I have no doubt that the same result could be obtained by simply dropping a bar of soap in the container and adding water since bar soap turns to mush in a wet dish. The grating and microwaving just got it all to an even consistency in a couple of minutes. I have no idea how many thousands of cases I have sized with a few cents worth of soap.

 

[howlnmad]

For large batches, I'll use the RCBS lube pad. For small batches, Imperial sizing wax or Kiwi shoe polish.

 

[bikemutt]

Hornady One Shot, a little goes a long way.

 

[HEAVY METAL 1]

I use Imperial and it works great. I take an amount while wearing nitrile gloves and rub my hands together briskly enough that I feel warmth from friction then line up a doz. or so cases on the palm of one hand and give them a quick rub rolling them with both hands. WAY faster than rubbing some on with fingers. I put a dab on a Q-tip and rub a bit inside each case neck. I don't get any of that screeching drag of the expander ball through the case neck. I then tumble to clean unless I am doing a small batch. Decades ago when I began loading I used the old ink pad method. Major PITA. I tried the RCBS spray and aside from its horrible odor it didn't seem to work very well.

 

[Hondo 60]

lanolin/alcohol is my lube - the only other lube I use, is the sometimes HATED, Hornady OneShot.

A solution of 1 part liquid lanolin and 4 to 5 parts parts 99 percent isopropyl alcohol (4 oz of liquid lanolin to 16 - 20 oz of isopropyl) works well.
Stole the solution from someone, most likely here on thr.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

This question has been asked many, many times, and answered.
There is no "best" of anything. Imperial Sizing Wax is economical, easy to use, not messy, and cleans-up easily.

 

[farmerboy78]

I use tap magic

 

[OS11085]

I was using Lee resizing lube but I found it was drying and causing the cases to stick started using vasoline now no problems.

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

I doubt there's a definitve answer to your question because the factors that make one lube or another "the best" (i.e. effecitveness, ease of application, ease of removal, etc.) are going to vary from one person to the next.

I suggest you read up on them and then buy a couple and experiment.

Personally, I use Lee or Hornady Unique.

^^^ that and ill add cost as a reasoning to choice. As good as some are they can get expensive if you load a lot.

 

[gonoles_1980]

I mix roughly 10 parts rubbing alcohol, and 1 part Lee lube. Shake it up in a spray bottle, spray into a ziplock freezer bag, pour in brass and shake it up.

 

[murf]

baby oil applied with my fingers for pistol and rifle. smells funny, though.

murf

 

[adcoch1]

When I first started loading years ago, I couldn't find Imperial Sizing Wax at the store, so I picked up some Hornady Unique.
I have been using it ever since.

Today's Helpful Hint:
Do not keep it in the garage and let it freeze.
It ends up kinda "curdled" even after it warms up and you try mixing it up again.

And, if residue in your dies gets frozen it can lead to a stuck or deformed case. Like what happened to me yesterday. Use the wax lubes above 40 degrees and no problems...

 

[otisrush]

For users of Imperial or Unique: Do those "waxy" lubes increase the frequency that dies should be cleaned?

 

[dredd]

For users of Imperial or Unique: Do those "waxy" lubes increase the frequency that dies should be cleaned?

I'm going to say no.
All I have ever have to do is swab the inside of my dies before I use them each time to make sure nothing out of the norm is in there.

 

[chas442]

Midway spray lube has worked great for me for the last 20 or so years. I use it for all my rifle cases up to and including 338 lapua mag. The only time I had a problem is when I tried it on 50 BMG. A number of years ago Midway had it on clearance for $0.99 an 8 oz. pump spray bottles. Bought a dozen. Down to my last 2. I also use it on all my magnum pistol cases as it makes it so much easier to work with. I clean it off with my brass tumbler and it really helps to keep the dust down and it doesn't seem to adversely affect the cleaning properties of the walnut media.