Steel sizer and 45 Colt

[blackhawk man]

Howdy all,

For those of you who use a steel sizer instead of carbide for your 45 Colt, what lube do you recommend? Is Hornady One-Shot spray sufficient, or is it better to use something like Imperial?

Thank you.

[Ozark mike]

I use a little of my bullet lube which is crisco beeswax usually just don't overdo it

[blackhawk man]

Wow, that was fast. Thanks.

[M-Tecs]

Hornady One-Shot spray is all I use. I do find the directions stating 1 minute dry time is enough may be an issue. Ten minutes is much better.

Some good discussion here https://www.ar15.com/forums/armory/-/42-305248/

[blackhawk man]

M-Tecs,

Thanks. I like the idea of the spray because you don't have to clean it off. I even use it sometimes with the carbide die, because it makes it smoother and easier. I agree about the longer drying time.

[hc18flyer]

I like 'Imperial for my 45 Colt sizing.

[M-Tecs]

M-Tecs,

Thanks. I like the idea of the spray because you don't have to clean it off. I even use it sometimes with the carbide die, because it makes it smoother and easier. I agree about the longer drying time.

Agreed

"As far as I know One Shot is the only spray lube commercially available that will not degrade powder or primer. If I am to use a progressive press in a truly progressive manner and not remove the lube before adding primer and powder I don't want a lube on and in my cases that stands a chance of damaging the powder and primer."

[blackhawk man]

Thank you hc18flyer. So far, one vote for home brew, one for One-Shot and one for Imperial. Guess I could have done a poll.:-P

[blackhawk man]

There is also Hornady Unique Case Lube. According to Hornady, like the One-Shot it does not affect powder or primers. Anybody using that?

[mattw]

I use Unique case lube and tumble them for about 5 minutes in fine walnut with a little mineral spirits to remove the lube.

[Sig556r]

1 part lanolin to 12 parts alcohol (99%)

[USSR]

1 part lanolin to 12 parts alcohol (99%)

Yep. Although with a straight wall case like the .45 Colt, you can probably get away with Hornady's One Stuck. Just don't use it with bottleneck cases.

Don

[gnoahhh]

Coincidentally the only times I ever got cases stuck in dies was when I used homebrewed concoctions or spray lubes. It's Imperial wax for me.

Better yet, snag a carbide sizer for that .45 and stop worrying about lubes!! :)

[Larry Gibson]

1 part lanolin to 12 parts alcohol (99%)

That's what I use also or Dillon spray lube. I have also used the OneShot lube and it works fine also. I tumble the lubed/sized cases in sawdust for 20 - 30 minutes to remove the lube then finish loading on a Dillon SDB.

[blackhawk man]

Thanks for all the input, folks.

I'm thinking that this thread should have been in the "Reloading Equipment" forum. Sorry about that, Mods. Feel free to move this.

[gwpercle]

Just about any lube will work on the low pressure straight sided old timer.
Lee Case Lube is a water soluble metal sizing wax that will dry and not contaminate and wipes away easily... I like it's non greasy/oily composition. Mix it with alcohol and put it in a spray bottle for a spray on lube.
Gary

[Harter66]

Die hard here ...... still using STP . 3 wet 1 dry . I have carbide dies too but the carbine I shoot has a stoooooooopid fat chamber and the carbide dies over size the brass in the .481 diameter pistol cambers let alone the .49? carbine . I like to keep my brass around a while . I can't remember now but it takes them down to like .474 , plenty of neck tension if you don't mind the rattle .

[Ozark mike]

The last time I needed to size a case I wiped a little diesel on it because I didn't want to mix up lube just for cases when I can use what I have on hand so I guess any lube will work fyi I am captain cheapskate that's why I reload

[georgerkahn]

I use nothing other than Imperial (now purveyed by Redding) wax. I recently got an RCBS "Cowboy" sizer which is carbide (in .45 LC), and use the Imperial for this, too. The wax can neither affect primers nor powder; will make denting cases on bottleneck cartridges an impossibility; and, with many thousands of cases it has been used on -- still on my first can. 240502

[Wayne Smith]

I don't load 45 Colt but use Bag Balm for all my resizing - including forming cases. And George, if you find something that can actually kill a primer let us know! One advantage of Bag Balm is that it is good for the skin, too.

[blackhawk man]

Thanks, guys.

[greenjoytj]

Imperial Sizing Wax, its the first case sizing lube I purchased. Mine is about 10 years old now and it looks and works as good as the day I bought it. I’m down to half a can now as I have been using more now that I’ve changed my application method instead of finger application, I now smear the wax onto an RCBS foam lube pad and roll the 45 Colt cases on the lube smeared pad.
The sizing wax works perfectly in my 45 Colt Redding steel sizer die.
I also use this wax with my Redding 45 Colt & 357Mag Dual Ring carbide sizing dies.
I like now easily the wax can be removed with a sheet of paper towel or a micro fibre cloth.
This wax can be easily washed off the foam pad with Dawn dish detergent.

[6bg6ga]

1 part lanolin to 12 parts alcohol (99%)

Use it for everything. Swore off one shot.

[blackhawk man]

If anybody's interested, I posted a follow-up to this in another thread about my intial experience with the steel sizer and the performance of the loads.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?381216-45-Colt-steel-sizer-update

Since this thread has been revived, I'll post another update here, too. I picked up a tub of the Hornady Unique for $3.00, and it works just fine.

I've seen lots of recommendations for the alcohol/lanolin mix. I may try that at some point too, along with the Imperial. Since I'm only doing 45 Colt, they will all probably do the job.

Thanks again, folks.

[blackhawk man]

I probably should have just kept this all in a single thread. Oops. If the mods want to merge them, that's okay with me.

[waco]

1 part lanolin to 12 parts alcohol (99%)

This. Only I use 10 parts 99% alcohol.