9mm case lube?

[hairtumor]

new to reloading, is it necessary to lube 9mm cases or is that for rifle cases only?

[Gringo Bandito]

I always lube pistol and I have been using Hornady one shot. Works way better than the RCBS case lube I used 20 years ago.

[drdarrin@sbcglobal.net]

You can lube them if you want but if you are using carbide dies, it is not necessary.

That said, should you choose to lube them, I'd use something like Dillon's spray lube. I tried it once and didn't find it worth the trouble.

[hairtumor]

You can lube them if you want but if you are using carbide dies, it is not necessary.

That said, should you choose to lube them, I'd use something like Dillon's spray lube. I tried it once and didn't find it worth the trouble.

I'll be using the Lee carbide dies. I guess I'll try it both ways and see which one I like better

[area51]

I use carbide dies and still use a light spray of one shot or dillon lube...
They seem to run a lot smoother on my presses.

[fullrearview]

I'll be using the Lee carbide dies. I guess I'll try it both ways and see which one I like better

I use the lee in .40 without lube and it works fine.

[DRAB_81]

I use Hornady One Shot on all my pistol cases, and I use Dillon carbide dies. It's cheap, easy to apply, makes the press run smoother, and one can lasts a REALLY long time.

[Bill Steele]

As noted by others, with carbide dies it is not required.

On the other hand, I use Hornaday One Shot exclusively when I load with my carbide dies. It greatly eases the operation, I have to believe it helps the brass as well, less drag on the brass as the sizing ring moves down the case.

I use Dillon spray lube (basically liquid lanolin based lube) on rifle cases when F/L sizing in larger batches. I don't like it so much for pistol brass as I get more powder clinging to the case mouth when charging. With One Shot I get very little powder around the mouth of the case when setting the bullet.

[damndave]

If you use carbide pistol dies, you don't NEED to. But I do as it makes sizing super smooth. Hornady One Shot seems to work best for me.

[jwc]

I use Hornady One Shot on all my pistol cases, and I use Dillon carbide dies. It's cheap, easy to apply, makes the press run smoother, and one can lasts a REALLY long time.

+1. One Shot makes pulling the handle much easier.

[ExtremeX]

I use carbide dies and I don’t use lube for pistol loads.

I tried it in the past and while it does smooth up the operation, I decided just not to deal with it because it isnt nessaary.

[Prophet]

I have never needed lube if using carbide dies. If the lube works for you then use it. I have a friend using the lee carbide dies for 9mm, and I know he does not use case lube.

[GeoffLinder]

I loaded straightwall pistol cases without lube in carbide dies for a long time. Tried using lube for a few years, now I am back to no lube. No negatives on lube, just decided to stop because of the extra step. Either way is fine as long as you have carbide dies and use something like Dillon or Hornady. I would not run lubes like oils or the the goopy RCBS lube for pistol cases without cleaning it off before priming and charging. With Hornady or Dillon lubes you are good to go without cleaning lube off, just make sure to use very little, not much is needed. I would put several hundred cases in a cut down cardboard box, give them a very light spritz and then shake them around a bit. You don't need much at all this way.

[hairtumor]

Good info, thanks.

[Swagman00]

The smaller the brass, the less likely you need any case lube. X2 on anything nickel plated.

One caveat to that though. Smaller bottleneck rifle brass is my biggest nemesis (.223, .22-250, .204 Ruger etc.) as the neck sticks hard during resizing. The rim separates more often then most other rounds when removing it from the die. I usually have to cover the the whole shell if I want it back out one piece with a straight rim.