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View Poll Results: Do you lube handgun brass when using a carbide resizing die?

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  • Yes.

    119 34.39%
  • No.

    176 50.87%
  • Sometimes...please specify.

    51 14.74%
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Thread: Do you lube handgun brass with carbide dies?

  1. #21
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    Winger Ed.'s Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bazoo View Post
    In the other thread I was informed that organic dust was a form of lubricant.
    I wouldn't trust it for that.
    I'd be concerned about dust from some of the abrasives/polish being in there.

    I doubt it would polish away the tolerances of the die or even the brass being rubbed with it too much.
    I just don't like the idea of any abrasives left on the brass and possibly getting on the ram.
    Maybe it's just an old habit from working on airplanes and everything being squeaky clean.

    After tumbling, I always rinse the cases in Lacquer thinner.
    There's a fair amount of grit that washes off them.
    Last edited by Winger Ed.; 11-04-2022 at 10:08 PM.
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  2. #22
    Boolit Grand Master jmorris's Avatar
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    I didn’t for 25 years, then I tried it once. Made me wish I had tried it, just once, long before that.

    If you are looking for a reason to not try it don’t let me stop you but be sure that you never try it then.

  3. #23
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    Walks's Avatar
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    I have never lubed straight walled cases that are sized in a Carbide size die. Seems like a waste of time and effort.
    Been using the same RCBS .38Spl sizer since I bought it new in 1976. Nickel and brass cases come out with out a scratch.
    So does every other straght case I've shoved into a Carbide sizer,
    .32Short&Wimpy up to .454Casull.

    Although I would like to see the .44-40 cases that go into a sizer without lube.
    Last edited by Walks; 11-04-2022 at 11:17 PM.
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  4. #24
    Boolit Mold
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    No. Tried it once and did make it easier on my progressive but it's not worth messing with to me.

  5. #25
    Boolit Grand Master Bazoo's Avatar
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    I never new lubing pistol cases was a thing. The manual said it ain’t needed so I didn’t.

    When I tumble, the dust that’s left is too much so I roll a handful of cases on my leg on a rag.

  6. #26
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    toallmy's Avatar
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    Does A little wax in the tumbler count ?

  7. #27
    Boolit Buddy
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    Carbide dies cost extra. If they didn’t eliminate lubing cases I would not pay the difference.

  8. #28
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    If I'm having problems with a certain lot of brass, like it requires a great deal more effort than usual to size, I'll add a dot of lube on every other case or so. I don't make it a habit to lube all cases that are going through a carbide sizer.
    For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Ecclesiastes 1:18
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  9. #29
    Boolit Master trapper9260's Avatar
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    I started to lube all the case and stay that way . It works for me, first I tumble them in ground up walnut then after I lube and size, I put them in round up corn cobs to get the lube off and the cases comes out nice and shiny. Then I load them , it works for me. I know we each have our own way of doing things and there is no wrong way in it for this .
    Life Member of NRA,NTA,DAV ,ITA. Also member of FTA,CBA

  10. #30
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    No, with one exception.
    I have a Lee 9MM carbide die that needs maybe 1 in every 4-5 cases lightly lubed.

  11. #31
    Boolit Buddy Sig's Avatar
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    I used to lube about 20 or so cases with imperial wax. I would run one lubed case through maybe every 20. The difference in the effort needed was night & day. Much less stress on the press. About a year ago I made a batch of case lube with lanolin & isopropyl alcohol. Now I dump a bunch of brass in a tub and spray a mist or 2 & swirl around. It takes less than 5 minutes & makes a world of difference IMO.

  12. #32
    Boolit Grand Master Bazoo's Avatar
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    My question to those that do lube cases. How do you remove the lube? Or do you just not worry about it?

  13. #33
    Boolit Grand Master Bazoo's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by toallmy View Post
    Does A little wax in the tumbler count ?
    I don’t think so, though it is performing the function of lube probably.

  14. #34
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bazoo View Post
    My question to those that do lube cases. How do you remove the lube? Or do you just not worry about it?
    The cartridges that get lube, go into the vibratory tumbler. Using walnut grit and mineral spirits. About 15 minutes does the trick.

    This is usually done after resizing and before final loading. Other times it is fully loaded cartridges. Being a low volume cartridge they are done on a SS press.

    45_Colt

  15. #35
    Boolit Mold
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    I do not lube straight wall cartridges; I lube 357 sig which has a baby bottleneck. I do load clean brass only.

  16. #36
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    Sometimes. I know that it is not necessary, but I usually lube everything above 38/357. I think it is easier on the brass.
    NRA Benefactor Member NRA Golden Eagle

  17. #37
    Boolit Buddy
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    I don't lube straight wall cases. So far, I have never found the need.

  18. #38
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    I only ever lube my 357 brass if it's a bit on the carbonized side and I don't want to run a full load of brass through the tumbler while working up a load.
    I'm a big fan of data-driven decisions. You want to make me smile, show me a spreadsheet! Extra points for graphs and best-fit predictive equations.

  19. #39
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    mdi's Avatar
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    Yes, no, maybe. My 44 magnum brass is the hardest to resize, not impossible but a dab on maybe one out of 3 or 4 helps quite a bit. My 9mm, 38/357, 32 ACP, 380 ACP, 45 ACP brass no, most of the time. Occasionally one out of 3 or 4 some 45 Colt brass gets a bit. I don't have anymore steel dies (except for rifle/bottle neck dies) so the only reason I have to lube handgun brass is easier sizing...
    My Anchor is holding fast!

  20. #40
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    I usually do it now. Never use to do it. It really depends how many cases Im doing. If just working up a load and doing a few I just wipe them off and make sure there is nothing on them that will mar my dies.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check