Do you lube handgun brass with carbide dies?

[Bazoo]

I do not. A recent thread though prompted a lot of folks saying that they did indeed lube pistol brass that is run through a carbide sizing die. It does make it easier but it is not needed unless you are using new or squeaky clean brass. For new brass I run it through my tumbler so there is a fine dust on the brass. This negates lubing for that first time.

I’m interested if it’s the norm for folks to lube pistol brass or not. I say not but I guess the poll results won’t lie.

[super6]

Do as you will, Lube and be a happy camper! It just can not be detrimental. I lube.

[sukivel]

I do not…


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[salpal48]

I lube all Cases no exception

[JimB..]

Very rarely. If I’m running a hundred I don’t bother, if I’m running a thousand I’ll give them a quick spray.

[Wheelguns 1961]

I also lube them all.

[45DUDE]

I have reloaded since the early '80's and never lube pistol but I do use a little liquid car wax in my media to make it smoother.

[Binky]

Sometimes. Cases that are usually thin (45Colt 44-40 ect. ) can benefit from a little imperial sizing wax. Not every case but one in 15 or 20. When I have deep cleaned a sizer, I will lube the first case just to help it along. And of course, 30 carb., because the die makers recommend it. Cases vary a great deal in thickness and lube makes those old GI cases a lot easier to deal with.

[Pine Baron]

I have reloaded since the early '80's and never lube pistol but I do use a little liquid car wax in my media to make it smoother.

This right here.

[toallmy]

I would say I almost always in one way or another lube my handgun brass . Really clean unlubed brass gets sticking and squeaks when expanding case mouth .

[Mal Paso]

Sorta. I am still running Glen Fryxell's Lube in my handgun loads and especially at 44 Mag pressures that lube goes everywhere including the outside case walls. I lube in gun and don't let my brass hit the ground so I size/deprime in one operation before tumbling.

[rcslotcar]

Using lube makes sizing much easier/smoother with less stress to the cases.

[Iowa Fox]

I sure do for two reasons

1- the handle pulls much easier

2- dry on dry friction will eventually build metallic debris on the carbide ring causing scratches on the case. Usually it cleans off easy with bore solvent but its a pain in the butt.

[45_Colt]

Not: when dry/damp* vibratory cleaning with walnut grit, that lubes the cases enough. Never had an issue, and the cases run through the dies effortlessly.

Brass that is too clean**, such as SS pin & Dawn washed, can create issues.

45_Colt

*Damp means with some mineral spirits to keep the dust level down.

** funny that even Starline recommends that their NEW brass be vibratory cleaned prior to resizing.

[Daver7]

If I'm reloading a lot on the progressive I'll lube a few just to make it easier on this old man.

[Moleman-]

Been reloading since the late 80's and started off with carbide for most things (my 30 carbine sizer was steel for many years). Never had the need to lube cases going into the carbide dies until getting a wet pin tumbler. Those cases came out super clean and all of a sudden my carbide sizers were scratching cases and having brass stick to it. I changed out the dawn soap for a car wash and wax which seems to have fixed the issue. Recently I'd bought 1000 Starline 45 colt cases after my son bought a 45 colt Henry lever gun and there was no 45 colt ammo in the house. They didn't have good bullet tension as they came out of the starline box so we started sizing them and the familiar too clean brass gremlin showed up. I use lanolin/alcohol mix to size bulk 5.56 and 308 range plinker brass, so I sprayed a couple sprays in the bag and worked the cases around to spread out the lube and cleaned out the die while the alcohol evaporated. No issue sizing the full 1k box of cases and loading them.

[fc60]

Greetings,

Wet washing with Stainless pins I use dish soap for cleaning.

A very slight amount remains on the brass after rinsing.

This acts as a nice lubricant for the sizing and expanding operations.

New brass does not get sized.

Cheers,

Dave

[Bazoo]

Interesting replies. In the other thread I was informed that organic dust was a form of lubricant. Well that explains to me why dust from the tumbler is all that’s needed for new brass.

[redriverhunter]

since i have start using the lee app I lube. the shell holder does not have the grip of regular shell holders, nor does it have the leverage as the rock chucker.

[Budzilla 19]

Yes I lube them. Always have, probably not going to quit now! Makes the handle of whatever press im using at the time, a lot easier to operate. Just my .02.