Do you lube handgun brass with carbide dies?

[dannyd]

yes, makes things easier for me. Hornady One Shot

[Blindshooter]

Yes.
I use progressive presses and lots of times run 2k at a time.
A shot of Hornady lube in a closed plastic coffee can then give them a shake.
Load another primer tube or 2 while it dries a bit.
Helps smooth out the operation and most important it reduces the force needed to cycle and my messed up shoulder really thanks me.
I also use some wax in dry tumbling media.
Don't bother trying to remove whats left of the lube after loading.
This has worked well for me over many thousands of rounds.

[scottyp99]

I don't lube straight-wall cases, per se, when using a carbide sizing die. I give them a quick wash in soapy water using dish detergent, and I don't really rinse them very thoroughly, so there is still a residual amount of soap on them, I guess you could call that lube. After sizing and knocking the old primer out, the primer pocket needs to be cleaned out anyway, and after that is done is when I give them a more thorough wash and rinse before they are left to dry out, and then they go into the tumbler, with some crushed walnut media I get at the pet store, and a small amount of NuFinish. I like 'em shiny!

Scotty

[Bazoo]

Pretty interesting replies here. So almost 50% don’t lube. So... not as high a margin as I reckoned.

[45_Colt]

Pretty interesting replies here. So almost 50% don’t lube. So... not as high a margin as I reckoned.

I too was surprised at the number that do lube. But after some thought, there is also a lot of folks that are wet tumbling their brass. Which makes it really, really clean. Hence the need/nicety of lube.

I'm still old school vibratory tumbling with walnut grit and mineral spirits. No lube works for me.

45_Colt

[Bazoo]

I use a vibratory tumbler too. Even if I wet tumbled I’d still run them through the vibratory so I didn’t have to lube.

[dannyd]

Everyone has to do what they thinks best. But if you shoot over 10,000 rounds a year it definitely does help because I have done it both ways.

[LAH]

I use Hornady One Shot on pistol brass. Makes things so much easier on long runs of ammo.

[gypsyman]

Put another one down for One Shot. Don't spray much, as I feel if I only get partial number of cases, there's enough left in the die for a couple more.

[gnostic]

I've never lubed a case sized with carbide dies, that's why I use them...

[725]

I have mixed up a dash of lanolin w/ some alcohol and spritzed a tray of brass with a spray bottle. worked good.

[gloob]

My corncob is filthy. It gives all the lube I need for most pistol cases.

When sizing a hefty batch of 9mm, I sometimes use a sparing amount of lube. I believe the Frankford Arsenal spray lube I use is castor oil? When doing 9mm cases, I don't even add any fresh lube. The residual lube inside the plastic bag I use for rifle cases is enough to lube them. Dump the lot in, and shake them around.

[Alferd Packer]

Yes

[Kenstone]

Yes, I lube handgun brass but NOT with One Shot.
Not a fan of spraying brass with lube, so I "tumble-lube" with some cloths moistened with STP or Bag Balm.
I have been using the same premoistened cloths for 1000s of rounds without adding more lube.
Note the small hole poked into the STP foil top, easier to pour small amounts, and 20-year-old rags:

Bag Balm:

Square Plastic nut "jar":

Actually, the rags are usually on at the bottom and the brass (more than pictured) is on top.
With the container about 1/3 full, I just screw on the top, grab it by the top, and swirl it around for 10-20 seconds to uniformly/lightly lube the brass.
no spray, no waiting to dry, no lube inside cases or in primer pockets, easy-peasy,
jmo,

Edit: I make no attempt to remove the lube after loading as it aids in the feeding/ejecting when fired.

[Bazoo]

Yes, I lube handgun brass but NOT with One Shot.
Not a fan of spraying brass with lube, so I "tumble-lube" with some cloths moistened with STP or Bag Balm.
I have been using the same premoistened cloths for 1000s of rounds without adding more lube.
Note the small hole poked into the STP foil top, easier to pour small amounts, and 20-year-old rags:

Bag Balm:

Square Plastic nut "jar":

Actually, the rags are usually on at the bottom and the brass (more than pictured) is on top.
With the container about 1/3 full, I just screw on the top, grab it by the top, and swirl it around for 10-20 seconds to uniformly/lightly lube the brass.
no spray, no waiting to dry, no lube inside cases or in primer pockets, easy-peasy,
jmo,

Edit: I make no attempt to remove the lube after loading as it aids in the feeding/ejecting when fired.

That’s neat. Thanks for sharing that. It may come in mighty handy in the future.

[farmbif]

no. never lube when using carbide die. there is no need as long as brass is clean

[B1GB1RD]

I lube everything from 380 - 45lc, but I run a lot for the club and personal use, but I do not lube my silhouette 357 cause I only load a 100 at a time, go figure ...lol

[Kenstone]

no. never lube when using carbide die. there is no need as long as brass is clean

I hate to but, I'm going to just say, "Yea But" it's a lot easier to work the lever with lubed brass...
And it loads/strips from mags, and ejects smooothly.

.
That and I have learned not to make many no/never type rules to live by as someone may have a different/better way.
You do you, I'll do me, and we can both be happy in our own little worlds...

.

[Messy bear]

Kenstone, really like that idea! So simple and no lube in mouth. Thanks for sharing. Another good one about the cases ready at the progressive for bad ones.

I have been lubing cases for progressive use. Especially if cases are squeaky clean. My vibratory cleaning is with corncob wetted with mineral spirits or paint thinner. This holds dust down and cuts bullet lube. They come out kind of prelubed from the bullet lube but dust free and clean enough for me. That does it for most calibers but hard to size stuff like 500 Linebaugh and 9 mm I usually add a bit of lube. It really cuts down on wear and tear on me and press. I load all straight wall including 500 with carbide. Also hate the dust left behind by rouge type polish. Just increases effort for sizing as it is an abrasive. Lots of interesting stuff here. Thanks

[Kenstone]

Kenstone, really like that idea! So simple and no lube in mouth. Thanks for sharing. Another good one about the cases ready at the progressive for bad ones.

I have been lubing cases for progressive use. Especially if cases are squeaky clean. My vibratory cleaning is with corncob wetted with mineral spirits or paint thinner. This holds dust down and cuts bullet lube. They come out kind of prelubed from the bullet lube but dust free and clean enough for me. That does it for most calibers but hard to size stuff like 500 Linebaugh and 9 mm I usually add a bit of lube. It really cuts down on wear and tear on me and press. I load all straight wall including 500 with carbide. Also hate the dust left behind by rouge type polish. Just increases effort for sizing as it is an abrasive. Lots of interesting stuff here. Thanks

Thanks for reading/responding to my post.
Actually there is a minute amount of lube on the case mouth edge that lubes the expander.
Well, at least I'm claiming there is.
.