Lubing Pistol Brass

[tanks]

I started having issues with .45 ACP brass hanging up on the powder/expander die on my 550B. I was getting a quite a workout every time. Called Dillon and also did a web search. Dillon's view is that wet tumbled brass gets cleaned so much that it causes the brass to hang up due to lack of lubrication.

Web search basically said the same thing and a lot of people had the same issue. Suggestions were from polishing the expander die to lubing the cases.

First I tried to polish the expander die. Worked for about 20 rounds or so, then I had to repeat. A bit tedious.

Last night I tried Hornady One Shot on a batch of cases. Dump them in a cardboard box, spray a couple of seconds, shake and spray again. Start reloading after a few minutes.

Such a difference, no more workout via sticky cases, smooth as silk. I am a convert. About 15 minutes in a tumbler cleans the cartridges afterward.

[hntnnut]

Are your dies carbide?

[prod39]

After a few thousand "sticky" cases, I resorted to spray lube, Dillon's. I spray the bin drop in 100+cases and shake em up ! The lube is magical and soo much easier to load !

[MarkG35]

I've had this problem with my Hornady Lock-n-load,loading 9mm.

I've tried using different brand dies,all carbide.

Web searches and a few calls to Hornady both suggested lubing cases even with carbide dies.

I use One Shot for handgun calibers.

[tanks]

Are your dies carbide?

Yes. Didn't have the issue with Starline new brass, but did with wet cleaned range brass

[bazineta]

If tumbling afterward is working for you, cool. However, to make you aware of an alternative, as part of final inspection, I just wipe off the lube from each finished round using a microfiber towel; I figure I'm inspecting it anyway, and the wipe adds almost nothing to that time.

The microfiber takes off lube with no effort, and $10 at Harbor Freight gets you what would probably be a lifetime supply of the microfiber towels.

[tanks]

Hmmm, that could work. I inspect as I am putting the rounds in case gauge, so could wipe at that time

[mikeyr]

ok let me have it for the dumb question.

Why remove the lube ? I never have. I use either one shot or Dilon's lube for pistol brass and I have never removed the lube and never any issues. I load 9mm and 45C, mostly 9mm. What does removing the lube do ?

I do remove it on my .308 with a towel after loading (and I don't know why I do, but I was told to) but never pistol.

[TMcC]

Anyone using Imperial Sizing Die Wax on pistol cases? I've done minimal rifle cartridge reloads on a Lee turret, just enough to learn the basics but have not started pistol yet.
Using some of that One-Shot spray seems like it would save a fair amount of time.

[bazineta]

Anyone using Imperial Sizing Die Wax on pistol cases? I've done minimal rifle cartridge reloads on a Lee turret, just enough to learn the basics but have not started pistol yet.
Using some of that One-Shot spray seems like it would save a fair amount of time.

When reloading rifle cases, I use the common DIY lanolin / alcohol spray lube, typically a batch of 300 at a time. My understanding is that Dillon spray lube is the same thing. Very convenient to use, takes very little time or effort to apply.

The cases have been fired in M240B machine guns, so they need a bit more resizing than what would be expected of cases fired in a typical bolt rifle, so every 10th case, I'll coat one with Imperial wax; it's a lot slicker than the lanolin, and it seems to make the headspace more consistent. However, it is really, really slick; the reduction in the press handle effort required for resizing is quite noticeable as compared to the lanolin alone.

I'd think that with pistol cases and carbide dies, Imperial would be overkill. Works wonders on rifle cases though.

[cloudsurfr]

I'm also a fan of the DIY Case lube. Mostly a match to the Dillon Case Lube.

Super super simple to make yourself - one 12oz bottle of *red* Heet (99.x Isopropyl alcohol) to one oz of lanolin. A 16oz sprayer from Lowes/Home Depot/Amazon and you are good to go! Drop in a couple .380 cases, a nut, or marbels, or anything to help swirl/mix in the sprayer - and Done!

I spray my cases lightly in a cardboard box, shake, and re-spray. Makes all cases easier. Also smooths out the progressive and makes drops more consistent vs some cases being a bit "jerky" when resizing or during powder drop. Worth the extra step IMO.

I do not clean and shoot them as-is. No issues so far (but i'm pretty new to reloading). Could toss them in the tumbler for 10-15 min if it ever becomes an issue.

HTH!

[csiddens]

I never had a problem using my dry tumbled brass on any pistol calibers, but had the opposite problem that Tanks did, new starline brass hung up until I tumbled it a few minutes in corn. That was .38 Special, not .45 though. I do lube my .223.

[tanks]

I never had a problem using my dry tumbled brass on any pistol calibers...

Problem seems to be wet tumbled brass in 45s.

[Par5In2]

quick wash
de prime
wash
lube
load
shoot

[JDay]

Are your dies carbide?

That was my first thought to. I have no problem running 45 ACP brass that's been wet tumbled through my carbide Dillon dies.