stupid LUBE question

[hillbillydruggist]

I just had the second stuck case of my short reloading career, can I use too much Imperial lube? I used to use Hornady one shot, but I kept getting dents in cases from it building up in my dies.


thanks

 

[Danger]

Are you lubing the inside o the necks ? Some cases May require deburing the inside and outside and OAL before sizing Hope this helps

 

[piie]

Too much may simply mean it can make its way to the shoulder where you will then get possible dents.

Check the vent hole in your die.

Also, did you clean the die properly before you switched between the one shot lube and the imperial lube?

Clean the die, check the vent hole for obstructions, and try again - perhaps try something lighter like baby oil - I use it even on my 458 Lott - which can easily get stuck if you don't lube properly...

 

[hogpatrol]

What cartridge stuck? Big, small? Lube the case, not the shoulder or neck.

 

[jepp2]

can I use too much Imperial lube?

Yes, but it will not help (once you have "enough" on, more doesn't make sizing any easier) and it can cause dents just like any other lube. Knowing more about what you are sizing might help troubleshoot.

One suggestion, whenever I have stuck a case (and thankfully it has been more than 10 years probably), I could feel things getting tight and I went ahead and forced it fully into the die. If you stop as soon as you feel it getting harder than normal, and remove it, you will save the aggravation of having to remove it.

I consider Imperial to be a pretty forgiving lube and it just takes a light film to allow for proper sizing. I'll use it when am setting up a new die or just have to size a handful of cases. But it is too slow for most of my sizing needs.

 

[hillbillydruggist]

Are you lubing the inside o the necks ? Some cases May require deburing the inside and outside and OAL before sizing Hope this helps

yes but not much, do I need to chamfer/deburr before sizing?

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

I have done the chamfering before or after sizing and I haven’t noticed it make any difference. I’m pretty new so I’m just doing most of this the way I learned from advice from a lot of forum members and a few reloading manuals they recommended.

I still use Imperial sizing wax and lately I have been sizing and wiping off the casings as the last step before I clean them in the tumbler. I use the stainless media in the tumbler and I have an induction annealer which will be damaged if any stainless media pins remain in the cases, so I use the following sequence to remove that possibility:

1. Inspect and cull any rejects
2. De-cap with universal de-capping die
3. Trim with Worlds Finest Trimmer
4. Chamfer necks and use primer pocket cleaner on a Lyman case prep express (or use pocket uniformer and reamer instead of the cleaner on new brass)
5. Anneal with Annie induction annealer
6. Full-length size with bushing die and using external wax lube on case webs only
7. Wipe the cases off
8. Tumble with cleaning solution, lemi-shine, and small handful of SS media
9. Strain out the water and use the Franford Arsenal magnet to remove ~ 99% of the SS media.
10. Lightly tap cases neck down on a large neodymium magnet to ensure all remaining SS pins are removed
11. Dry for 2-3 hours with a cheap fan on a wooden rack I made. The rack holds 120 cases so I usually do the whole process 120 at a time, but I’m probably going to add 5 more slots since 2 x 125 would make 5 boxes.
12. Prime with Sinclair hand tool.k
13. Drop charges with Auto-Throw / Auto-Trickle and seat bullets with competition seating die.

There are several steps that I could probably do faster such as using spray lube, but I enjoy the process and I’m not in that big of a hurry.

 

[bozo699]

yes but not much, do I need to chamfer/deburr before sizing?

Hillbilly,
I am a imperial supporter I’ve used it for years and even get it on shoulders and necks sometimes and have never had a issue but it takes very little lube. One shot on the other hand they want you to spray it into the necks and you need to let it sit a while after spraying before sizing. Maybe you have a excess buildup of lube in your die?.. I’m like jepp2 I haven’t dented a case in years!...knock on wood!....
Wayne

 

[hillbillydruggist]

Too much may simply mean it can make its way to the shoulder where you will then get possible dents.

Check the vent hole in your die.

Also, did you clean the die properly before you switched between the one shot lube and the imperial lube?

Clean the die, check the vent hole for obstructions, and try again - perhaps try something lighter like baby oil - I use it even on my 458 Lott - which can easily get stuck if you don't lube properly...

yes I cleaned, I might try the baby oil thing

 

[hillbillydruggist]

What cartridge stuck? Big, small? Lube the case, not the shoulder or neck.

6mm creedmoor

 

[bozo699]

yes I cleaned, I might try the baby oil thing

What are you sizing my friend?
Wayne

 

[bozo699]

What are you sizing my friend?
Wayne

Never mind we posted at the same time lol
Wayne

 

[hillbillydruggist]

6mm creedmoor

 

[hogpatrol]

My guess is the same as others. The die is loaded up with lube. Hornady should be ok. Just spray and let it sit for a minute or so.

Second, more important question, are these cases all from this rifle or have been used in another rifle?

 

[Rsadams]

I just had the second stuck case of my short reloading career, can I use too much Imperial lube? I used to use Hornady one shot, but I kept getting dents in cases from it building up in my dies.


thanks

Yes you can , just a little goes a long way when it comes to imperial.... You may want to brush the necks even though you're tumbling and try some imperial dry neck lube , buy the convenience pack....

 

[mikecr]

I had a problem 6XC die-chamber mismatch leading to stuck cases.
Was using wax, tried a spray,, ended up the miracle fix (like night & day difference) was RCBS case lube (on their pad).

Of course the right fix was to replace the die with one matching my chamber.
But I learned from this, as it's how I learn.
The RCBS lube also works as a great polish with a thin bead added to my vibratory medium. But while cleaning cases after bumping or body sizing with it, before neck sizing, this is enough.

 

[searcher]

You asked about chamfering and deburring before sizing. That is a task usually done after trimming - which is not done till after sizing, though the expander ball won't have anything to do with a case getting stuck as a general rule. It is pretty hard to get a case stuck with Imperial. If a case is going to get stuck - it is a result of that last 1/4 push into the die where the die is sizing the base of the brass. I might be inclined to pull out my Dremel tool with a polishing bit and go around the inside of the sizing die only the first 1/2" to 3/4" in from the bottom of the die. No metal removal - just a good polish. Can make a big difference. When applying the Imperial - it is that lower portion of the case you want to be sure has a nice film on it all the way around.

 

[K22]

Imperial sizing wax is the best, most economical lube I've ever used. I literally get thousands of full length sizings out of one 2 oz tin and I never had a case stick in the die using this lube.

The key to preventing dents is to not apply an excess of lube and brushing out the die after each sizing session with a nylon bottle brush to prevent lube built up.

Frank Shuster, RIP, taught me how to apply the lube effectively using your fingers and thumb lightly coated with lube and spreading it evenly over the body of the case keeping it off the shoulder. I lube a series of cases placing them in a Sinclair lube rack then size them. Works great.

After each sizing session, for me normally no more than 40 cases, I brush the die out with a 1/2" diameter nylon bottle brush to prevent excess lube from accumulating in the die.

Never had a problem with this lube or method.

 

[mikecr]

Imperial is not the best when cases are actually jamming in dies. Seen this side by side with RCBS,, RCBS won.

 

[hogpatrol]

I've had good results with Royal lube. Never a stuck case and smooth sizing. It's somewhat thinner and wipes off easily.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1012981057