Case lube - The Firearms Forum

gun-nut · 11-26-2011, 10:33 AM

Has anyone here made thier own case resizing lube or has substituded something for it?

JLA · 11-26-2011, 11:08 AM

I use Lee paste lube duluted with alcohol so it will spray thru a spray bottle. 1 tube to about a pint of alcohol works good, you can go thinner and it still works good.

Just put the brass in a ziploc freezer bag and spray them about 10 or 15 pumps. Then shake them around in the bag, then open the bag and spray them again about 10 pumps. then shake again. and set them out to dry and size away. makes one single 4 dollar tube of Lee paste lube size about 10K rifle cases. Maybe more..

And I have never gotten a stuck case with it, in fact I think its better than HDY oneshot and the RCBS and Lyman roller pads.

Alpo · 11-26-2011, 11:35 AM

Many years ago, when both I and the sporting good store were out of RCBS case lube, the counter guy told me that Alberto VO5 Hair Dressing worked just as good, if not better, and was much cheaper.

That's why I now own an RCBS Stuck-Case Remover.

Howsomever, when I find I just have a couple of cases, for some reason, and don't want to mess with getting the case lube out, a drop of Ballistol on my finger, rubbed lightly around the bottom of the shoulder and gingerly at the mouth has always worked fine. That's labor-intensive, as it would be very easy to get too much, and cause shoulder dents, but it DOES work.

gun-nut · 11-26-2011, 11:54 AM

I will have to try them ideas out! I just got off the phone with another reloader friend and he said he has used Crisco cooking grease. The reason i ask in i dont want to drive 20 miles just for some lube. I would spend more in gas.

Caneman · 11-26-2011, 05:33 PM

anyone ever use motor oil on their lube pad?

reynolds357 · 11-26-2011, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gun-nut

Has anyone here made thier own case resizing lube or has substituded something for it?

I just use a lube pad and RCBS lube on everything except my benchrest cases. I hand apply wax to the bench rest cases.

JohnTheCalifornian · 11-26-2011, 08:57 PM

I think motor oil has the possibility of degrading your primer/powder to the point where they wont ignite. If I remeber correctly.

gun-nut · 11-26-2011, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reynolds357

I just use a lube pad and RCBS lube on everything except my benchrest cases. I hand apply wax to the bench rest cases.

What kind of wax?

gun-nut · 11-26-2011, 09:16 PM

The Crisco seems to work ok. But use it very very thin. It dents the case.

JLA · 11-26-2011, 09:21 PM

Most likely liquid paraffin gun-nut..

murphy's law · 11-28-2011, 11:30 AM

I've always found "HOS" to be excellent lube and not all that expensive and surly goes a long ways. Still use the old "baggie" trick and have yet so experience a stuck case in my 550B. I even use it for pistol loads as it makes for a smoother operation of the press as well.

reynolds357 · 11-28-2011, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gun-nut

What kind of wax?

Redding Imperial

mikld · 11-28-2011, 01:19 PM

Mink Oil Boot Dressing is available anywhere yoiu can find shoe polish. It has worked for me on thousands of .223 brass and a bunch of 30-30 stuff too. Dab a little on my finger, smear a very thin layer on the case and size. Works great and the Mink Oil is good on my hands too! I've read of Lanolin dissolved in alcohol (80%+ rather than the cheap stuff;70%) and used in a spray bottle.

reynolds357 · 11-28-2011, 01:58 PM

I like Redding Imperial because I do not like to tumble my highly prepped brass. I just wipe it down with a micro fiber cloth after it is loaded and it is good to go. My bench rest brass has never been tumbled. Hopefully, it never will have to be.

Caneman · 11-28-2011, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikld

Mink Oil Boot Dressing is available anywhere yoiu can find shoe polish. It has worked for me on thousands of .223 brass and a bunch of 30-30 stuff too. Dab a little on my finger, smear a very thin layer on the case and size. Works great and the Mink Oil is good on my hands too! I've read of Lanolin dissolved in alcohol (80%+ rather than the cheap stuff;70%) and used in a spray bottle.

very nice... i have a tin that i use for my IWB holster that i thought was a lifetime supply, now i can lube cases with it as well...

gdmoody · 11-28-2011, 11:12 PM

I can tell you that Josh's Lee Lube/Alcohol mixture works absolutely great. I have not used any other since he gave me the recipe.

gun-nut · 12-25-2011, 02:55 PM

Well i not shure if its the cases or the lube. but i dont think i like the RCBS lube-2. I used it on 38 spl in my laymans tru-line jr and the cases still liked to stick!! I had found just a little bit of the Lee's case lube and it worked much better! I still working on some home made lube. I will share that resipe when i get it perfected. It will be made out of just stuff that most everyone has in there homes.

sting75ray · 12-25-2011, 05:43 PM

I used to use the Lyman lube pad but after picking up a can of the Hornady One Shot I threw the pad and lube in the trash. I place all cases on a towel, spray them, wait a few seconds and then size away. Never have had any problems with stuck cases.

Bindernut · 12-26-2011, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gun-nut

I will have to try them ideas out! I just got off the phone with another reloader friend and he said he has used Crisco cooking grease. The reason i ask in i dont want to drive 20 miles just for some lube. I would spend more in gas.

I know one guy in my hometown that used Crisco exclusively. And yes it worked just fine, no stuck cases.
You don't want to smell rancid Crisco in your reloading room though so make sure you clean up your brass and dies afterwards though.

I'm still a fan of the Imperial Case Sizing Wax, but Hornady Unique and the Lee paste seem to work just as good and are sometimes easier for me to find locally.
This is just my preference for case lube.

11-26-2011, 10:33 AM	#1
gun-nut Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: ohio Contributor Posts: 945	Case lube Has anyone here made thier own case resizing lube or has substituded something for it? __________________ Don't retreat just reload. -->

11-26-2011, 11:08 AM	#2
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,407	Re: Case lube I use Lee paste lube duluted with alcohol so it will spray thru a spray bottle. 1 tube to about a pint of alcohol works good, you can go thinner and it still works good. Just put the brass in a ziploc freezer bag and spray them about 10 or 15 pumps. Then shake them around in the bag, then open the bag and spray them again about 10 pumps. then shake again. and set them out to dry and size away. makes one single 4 dollar tube of Lee paste lube size about 10K rifle cases. Maybe more.. And I have never gotten a stuck case with it, in fact I think its better than HDY oneshot and the RCBS and Lyman roller pads. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

11-26-2011, 11:35 AM	#3
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,771	Re: Case lube Many years ago, when both I and the sporting good store were out of RCBS case lube, the counter guy told me that Alberto VO5 Hair Dressing worked just as good, if not better, and was much cheaper. That's why I now own an RCBS Stuck-Case Remover. Howsomever, when I find I just have a couple of cases, for some reason, and don't want to mess with getting the case lube out, a drop of Ballistol on my finger, rubbed lightly around the bottom of the shoulder and gingerly at the mouth has always worked fine. That's labor-intensive, as it would be very easy to get too much, and cause shoulder dents, but it DOES work. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

11-26-2011, 11:54 AM	#4
gun-nut Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: ohio Contributor Posts: 945	Re: Case lube I will have to try them ideas out! I just got off the phone with another reloader friend and he said he has used Crisco cooking grease. The reason i ask in i dont want to drive 20 miles just for some lube. I would spend more in gas. __________________ Don't retreat just reload.

11-26-2011, 05:33 PM	#5
Caneman Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 1,287	Re: Case lube anyone ever use motor oil on their lube pad?

11-26-2011, 08:57 PM	#7
JohnTheCalifornian V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Bakersfield Posts: 439	Re: Case lube I think motor oil has the possibility of degrading your primer/powder to the point where they wont ignite. If I remeber correctly. __________________ Im not a complete idiot.... parts are missing

11-26-2011, 09:16 PM	#9
gun-nut Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: ohio Contributor Posts: 945	Re: Case lube The Crisco seems to work ok. But use it very very thin. It dents the case. __________________ Don't retreat just reload.

11-26-2011, 09:21 PM	#10
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,407	Re: Case lube Most likely liquid paraffin gun-nut.. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

11-28-2011, 11:30 AM	#11
murphy's law Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Tampa Posts: 10	Re: Case lube I've always found "HOS" to be excellent lube and not all that expensive and surly goes a long ways. Still use the old "baggie" trick and have yet so experience a stuck case in my 550B. I even use it for pistol loads as it makes for a smoother operation of the press as well.

11-28-2011, 01:19 PM	#13
mikld Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oregon Posts: 577	Re: Case lube Mink Oil Boot Dressing is available anywhere yoiu can find shoe polish. It has worked for me on thousands of .223 brass and a bunch of 30-30 stuff too. Dab a little on my finger, smear a very thin layer on the case and size. Works great and the Mink Oil is good on my hands too! I've read of Lanolin dissolved in alcohol (80%+ rather than the cheap stuff;70%) and used in a spray bottle. __________________ My Anchor is holding fast.

11-28-2011, 01:58 PM	#14
reynolds357 Former Guest Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Georgia Posts: 707	Re: Case lube I like Redding Imperial because I do not like to tumble my highly prepped brass. I just wipe it down with a micro fiber cloth after it is loaded and it is good to go. My bench rest brass has never been tumbled. Hopefully, it never will have to be.

11-28-2011, 11:12 PM	#16
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,407	Re: Case lube I can tell you that Josh's Lee Lube/Alcohol mixture works absolutely great. I have not used any other since he gave me the recipe. __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

12-25-2011, 02:55 PM	#17
gun-nut Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: ohio Contributor Posts: 945	Re: Case lube Well i not shure if its the cases or the lube. but i dont think i like the RCBS lube-2. I used it on 38 spl in my laymans tru-line jr and the cases still liked to stick!! I had found just a little bit of the Lee's case lube and it worked much better! I still working on some home made lube. I will share that resipe when i get it perfected. It will be made out of just stuff that most everyone has in there homes. __________________ Don't retreat just reload.

12-25-2011, 05:43 PM	#18
sting75ray Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,093	Re: Case lube I used to use the Lyman lube pad but after picking up a can of the Hornady One Shot I threw the pad and lube in the trash. I place all cases on a towel, spray them, wait a few seconds and then size away. Never have had any problems with stuck cases.