Prepping for first reloading adventure

[dpop24]

My brother and I got our Dillon 650 all set up for .45 ACP, just waiting for our scale and sonic cleaner. Meanwhile, I've been de-priming brass like crazy and realized I may need to lube the cases since the die also re-sizes.

With the Dillon carbide dies, I've read that you don't have to lube but am I doing damage to my dies by not lubing prior to decapping/resizing? Do you guys lube to decap prior to case cleaning?

[xfer42]

No, but if it starts to get real sticky then I might lube a case or two.

[damndave]

I don't see any damage being done. Maybe you got mixed up with tumbling?

As for case lube on pistol cases, you don't NEED to, but it makes the process a lot smoother. Just give a quick spray of Hornady One Shot to the brass and you will always do so.

[HighLander51]

You weren't trying to deprime and size dirty brass??? Brass should be tumbled clean first, then start. You don't have to lube anything.

[drdarrin@sbcglobal.net]

No lube required with clean pistol cases and carbide dies.

Why are you depriming like crazy? You bought one of the best progressive reloading machines around. It's first step is to deprime and resize. When you get ready to load, you'll have to run them through that station again.

If you are in the Sac area, I'd be happy to help you get it running smoothly. I set mine up earlier this year.

[3006mv]

He can just start with the flare die instead of the decap resize.
Maybe he just wants a head start.
I only have a single stage and sort prep and prime my brass by the hundreds. So when I go to reload it is just powder, seat, and crimp time. Goes very fast at that stage.

[sr71brd]

My brother and I got our Dillon 650 all set up for .45 ACP, just waiting for our scale and sonic cleaner. Meanwhile, I've been de-priming brass like crazy and realized I may need to lube the cases since the die also re-sizes.

With the Dillon carbide dies, I've read that you don't have to lube but am I doing damage to my dies by not lubing prior to decapping/resizing? Do you guys lube to decap prior to case cleaning?

You won't damage carbide dies by not lubing as long as the brass is clean. Having said that, it doesn't hurt to lube a couple every 100 rds. or so. Some guys decap before cleaning, some don't. If you decide you want to decap before cleaning, get a universal decapper & have at it. This die only decaps & won't be bothered by dirty brass.

[dpop24]

Thanks for the tips guys, I'm depriming dirty brass. I am doing it this way because I figured it was the only way to get the primer pockets cleaned too. If I clean them first (it will be ultrasonic rather than tumbled), I don't need to worry about cleaning the primer pockets?

[HighLander51]

Thanks for the tips guys, I'm depriming dirty brass. I am doing it this way because I figured it was the only way to get the primer pockets cleaned too. If I clean them first (it will be ultrasonic rather than tumbled), I don't need to worry about cleaning the primer pockets?

You do not need to clean the primer pockets!

Ok, here is the deal, first clean your brass by either tumbling in corn/walnut media, or ss pins wet tumbling. Never heard of anyone using ultrasonic to clean brass, but whatever. Then when you have a thousands of brass ready to go, fill up the 650 and keep cranking. It's a progressive, it's suppose to run with all stations going at once. Keep pulling the handle until you need more primers, repeat.

[Chief-7700]

Loading .45ACP you will not see any difference with dirty or clean primer pockets. Tumble clean first! I use Dillon's Case Lube it makes pulling the handle on the XL-650 a bit easier, you don't need lube with carbide dies.
Chief