Small Base Brass Forming

[zedhound]

I started reloading 300blk and because cases were jamming in my AR I switched to RCBS SB dies.

now I realize after 2 stuck cases that I need imperial die wax to prevent this.

how is the best way to apply this to the die? or do I apply it to each case?

Thanks

 

[BigKev]

I started reloading 300blk and because cases were jamming in my AR I switched to RCBS SB dies.

now I realize after 2 stuck cases that I need imperial die wax to prevent this.

how is the best way to apply this to the die? or do I apply it to each case?

Thanks

RCBS makes a "case lube pad" that looks like an old ink stamp pad, with this you can apply RCBS case lube to the foam pad. Afterwards you simply roll your cases on the pad which in turn distributes the case lube prior to sizing your brass. I then put my sized cases into a vibratory tumbler to clean off the lube. This should prevent any sticking cases.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Put some on your fingers and very lightly apply to the case body only- from the shoulder to the base. If you can see your fingerprints or smear marks youre putting too much on. Once you size them wipe them off with a towel. A little dab will do you here- that tin will last for many thousands of rounds

 

[Rsadams]

Put some on your fingers and very lightly apply to the case body only- from the shoulder to the base. If you can see your fingerprints or smear marks youre putting too much on. Once you size them wipe them off with a towel. A little dab will do you here- that tin will last for many thousands of rounds

I then have been putting to much on.lol

But that's exactly how I do it , I just keep a hand towel under my bench to wipe my fingers and the cases off....

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I then have been putting to much on.lol

But that's exactly how I do it , I just keep a hand towel under my bench to wipe my fingers and the cases off....

Too much is just as bad as not enough. Try different amounts and if youve been putting a lot on em clean your die out. If you get any on the shoulder and neck it will cause uneven sizing and even wrinkled shoulders. Think about that case pad talked about above and only lube what that pad would lube.

 

[Bart B.]

If you get any on the shoulder and neck it will cause uneven sizing and even wrinkled shoulders.

I lube necks and shoulders, no dents or wrinkles anywhere. Good consistency sizing, too.

That's how new cases are made. They don't have wrinkled shoulders but have consistent sizing.

 

[WillyTP]

RCBS instructional video

 

[Dusty Stevens]

RCBS instructional video

Dammit willy there you go searching for answers again

 

[#40Fan]

Make sure that it isn't your brass that is causing the chambering issues. If you are forming your own brass, the neck thickness can bite you.

 

[ckaberna]

I have found it easier to take a 1 gallon zip lock bag and turn it inside out and rub the “unique case lube” by hornady in a couple of places on the plastic. Turn the bag right side out and drop in 20-30 pieces of brass and rub around on the top of your leg in a circular fashion. Remove a case and size. This is the quickest way I have found and haven't stuck one yet. You will get a feel for how much wax to put in the bag, doesn't take much. Once complete, I zip mine up and save it for next time. I also wear nitrile gloves when performing this, no mess

 

[Rsadams]

I have found it easier to take a 1 gallon zip lock bag and turn it inside out and rub the imperial sizing wax in a couple of places on the plastic. Turn the bag right side out and drop in 20-30 pieces of brass and rub around on the top of your leg in a circular fashion. Remove a case and size. This is the quickest way I have found and haven't stuck one yet. You will get a feel for how much wax to put in the bag, doesn't take much. Once complete, I zip mine up and save it for next time. I also wear nitrile gloves when performing this, no mess

If this works than I have been putting Way to much on for years now... I was told it only takes a tiny amount but my tiny and what tiny seems to be is way different... Thanks for posting...

 

[ckaberna]

If this works than I have been putting Way to much on for years now... I was told it only takes a tiny amount but my tiny and what tiny seems to be is way different... Thanks for posting...

You can still get too much on them. If can see the “white wax” it’s too much and if it’s on the neck or shoulder you could wrinkle the shoulder.. throw some more brass in the bag and rub a little more. After a couple of times you will get a feel for the amount of wax vs pamount of brass.

 

[ckaberna]

If this works than I have been putting Way to much on for years now... I was told it only takes a tiny amount but my tiny and what tiny seems to be is way different... Thanks for posting...

I do apologize but it’s “unique case lube” by hornady I have been using. Just thought about this while reloading

 

[Brians356]

Put some on your fingers and very lightly apply to the case body only- from the shoulder to the base. If you can see your fingerprints or smear marks youre putting too much on. Once you size them wipe them off with a towel. A little dab will do you here- that tin will last for many thousands of rounds

Bingo. There's no substitute for the exquisitely sensitive feel of bare fingertips. I use Imperial wax and simply lay the pad of my index fingertip on the wax in the tin, then roll the case body around between index and thumb pads, controlling distribution and thickness entirely by feel. It's slow, granted.
-

 

[jepp2]

Everyone has their own idea of what the "best case lube" is. Just like everyone has their favorite rifle bore cleaning products and technique.

But for case sizing, everyone will benefit by applying the lube uniformly from case to case. My personal favorite at this junction is Bootleg case lube. Not because it is cheap and easy to make. But because it lubricates extremely well and is almost impossible to over apply and get dents in the neck and shoulder region. My method to apply to cases and inside the case necks is to align the cases on a cookie sheet facing the direction of spray and mist the cases. Then roll them around on the sheet.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Bingo. There's no substitute for the exquisitely sensitive feel of bare fingertips. I use Imperial wax and simply lay the pad of my index fingertip on the wax in the tin, then roll the case body around between index and thumb pads, controlling distribution and thickness entirely by feel. It's slow, granted.
-

The way i see it is im picking that brass up to put in the press anyway so i keep the lube on my left hand and operate the press with my right. Lay them on a towel then when all are sized i wipe them off then get ready to prime

 

[dmoran]

@jepp2
What do you do about the lube that gets inside?

Cool picture....

 

[jepp2]

What do you do about the lube that gets inside?

To remove ALL the lube (inside and outside), I just toss them 20/40 corn cob media for 30 minutes. To me much faster than wiping every case by hand (and by wiping you don't get it all off). By lubing inside the case neck, the carbide expander comes back out sooooo smooth.

 

[Brians356]

The way i see it is im picking that brass up to put in the press anyway so i keep the lube on my left hand and operate the press with my right. Lay them on a towel then when all are sized i wipe them off then get ready to prime

Yep. And there may be enough wax on fingertips to do the next case without dipping for more. As the die accumulates a film it takes less or very little on the cases anyway. It's an adjust-on-the-fly affair, all by feel.
-

 

[joshb]

Everyone has their own idea of what the "best case lube" is. Just like everyone has their favorite rifle bore cleaning products and technique.

But for case sizing, everyone will benefit by applying the lube uniformly from case to case. My personal favorite at this junction is Bootleg case lube. Not because it is cheap and easy to make. But because it lubricates extremely well and is almost impossible to over apply and get dents in the neck and shoulder region. My method to apply to cases and inside the case necks is to align the cases on a cookie sheet facing the direction of spray and mist the cases. Then roll them around on the sheet.

View attachment 1044605

Your wife is going to have a fit when she finds out you took her cookie tray!