Expanding lube

[oconeedan]

What do you like to use when expanding a neck? I am about to make 7tcu from 223 commercial brass, and will use a Hornady tapered expanding plug.
I have on hand: Hornady lube in tub, graphite, oil, grease, transmission fluid, paste wax. But I can buy something else if it is necessary. I have heard STP works too.
Thanks in advance!

[high standard 40]

I've always used powdered graphite. I can't claim it to be the best, it's just all I've ever used.

[wddodge]

I use Imperial sizing wax. It works so good that I never tried anything else.

Denny

[BLAHUT]

I use the one-shot spray lube.

[littlejack]

I've had good results with powdered graphite. But, I don't know if sizing from .224 up to .284 will be to much for the graphite. I don't really like putting any kind of petroleum products inside the necks of my cases, but have used it in the past. I use a cleaning swab of the appropriate size for the neck diameter, covered with graphite. Works very well. I tried powdered mica, but that did not work well at all. Sounds like you have a library of good lubricants. Try them all, and pick the one that works best for you.

[Gofaaast]

Anneal first then use graphite is the process I would use.

[WRideout]

I have a bottle of STP that may be old enough to qualify as an antique. I use it for a general case lube, and also when expanding case necks. CAUTION: a little goes a long way. If you can barely feel it with your fingers, it is good.

Wayne

[TurnipEaterDown]

I use imperial size die wax for necking up, and even some thicker neck brass I have in correct stamp for chamber.
Applied on a q-tip, cleaned afterward w/ alcohol on another q-tip.

I will agree w/ a prior poster -- I found mica stinks for neck lube.
I was wondering where a container went that I bought years ago. Now I think I remember: it Was the trash.

Most of the time I don't inside lube, just don't seem to find a need on most of my stuff. 3 or 4 applications I have, yes, so Imperial size die wax for me.

BTW: STP is not a lubricant. I learned that from Joe Mondello.

[farmbif]

as an experiment one time running out of imperial wax and just being plain old tired of using the gooey lube that Lyman and rcbs sells to use on the roll around pads I tried Johnsons paste wax and it worked just fine. I always keep a can of it around just to be sure I got some sort of case lube.
keep a pile of cotton q tips to clean the wax out of inside of neck

[stubshaft]

Powdered graphite has always worked for me.

[littlejack]

One of the other members is trying to size 280 to 257 Robert's AI. He annealed the 280 cases prior to sizing, and some of the cases collapsed. Just sayin.

[oconeedan]

Thanks for all of your replies, I knew I would get good answers here. I always have!
TurnipEaterDown, how do you classify STP?
I do plan to run all formed brass in the vibratory cleaner afterwards.

[15meter]

Anneal first then use graphite is the process I would use.

Annealing before forming is rarely the way to go, it may work in this instance, but I'd try annealing just a handful of cases then try necking up. Before I'd anneal a big batch. Once it's annealed and you're collapsing necks, the brass can be used for the original caliber but there is no way to un-anneal brass with out firing it that I'm aware of.

I use Imperial on a Q-tip wiped in the case neck. After forming, I then polish the cases WELL, then anneal. The clean cases seem to anneal with less ugly staining than cases that are not pristine.

I can't imagine the staining has any effect on the reload-ability of the cases. I just like purdy cases.

[15meter]

What do you like to use when expanding a neck? I am about to make 7tcu from 223 commercial brass, and will use a Hornady tapered expanding plug.
I have on hand: Hornady lube in tub, graphite, oil, grease, transmission fluid, paste wax. But I can buy something else if it is necessary. I have heard STP works too.
Thanks in advance!

And is this a candidate for fire forming? Not familiar with the 7TCU. I've done a bunch of KABOOM forming over the years. Way more fun then just forming.

And the stock of old weird primers and WWII era powder works great for that kind of wife/neighbor annoying.

Entered as exhibit 1 in my defense of fire forming:

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...ng-458-Win-Mag

7mm Rem Mag to 458 Win Mag in one whack is just too much fun not to do.

[Mk42gunner]

As long as you tumble the brass afterwards, it really doesn't matter what lube you use nor how gooey it is as long as it works.

Annealing before expanding may work well.

Annealing before necking down results in collapsed shoulders, in my experience.

Robert

[scooterwrench]

Peterson and Armscor uses liquid detergent when forming cases,don't know about Federal. I'm guessing Dawn dishwashing liquid would be a good choice. The only downfall I see is having to rinse and lube your dies after use. I use STP for sizing and ATF for hydro forming cases. If you anneal only heat the neck and shoulders till the brass just starts to change color.

[oconeedan]

Thanks everyone!

[pworley1]

I use graphite applied with a neck brush. It works great for me. I always anneal the necks before expanding the necks.

[steveu]

RCBS case lube, the water soluble one. I made some 280 Ross from 300WM and tried a number of different lubes and this worked the best for me.

[OS OK]

Either one will do...I use the graphite inside the neck as all I have to do is dip the neck in the graphite media & I like the wax on the outside of a case.



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