case lube use, types/brands, clean up

[xr650rRider]

Make your own spray with the RCBS II and cheap isopropyl alchohol from Walmart. The highest percentage stuff and mix it and put in spray bottle. One bottle of lube with 16 oz. makes a lot. Put in plastic shoe box and spray and let evaporate. Wipes off easily with damp cloth.

 

[vern]

I shoot br. I use imperial for that.
However FWIW when I used to shoot combat pistol and had hundreds of .45 cases to size at one time about the only thing available back then was RCBS.

I FOUND a trick to cleaning that or any other lube (based like that) off. It is to lay out 15-20 cases in a line on a towel and spray them with engine starter fluid (basically either) in a can,,,,, DOING THIS OUTSIDE. It works great and fast.

 

[Irv Benzion]

I have been using RCBS Spray for a number of years. Normally load 1000 rounds at a time on a Dillion (Critter Shooter). Put cases in cardboard box and spray and shake. No pressure required to resize. Clean each case with paper towel watching TV. Easy to use and easy to clean up.

Irv Benzion

 

[LRPV]

I have used Hornady one shot for somewhere around 15 years on everything from 223 to 338LM and haven't stuck a case yet. I haven't kept track of how many rounds I've loaded but it's been several thousand without any problems whatsoever. I start off by cleaning the die with something like Butch's, patch that out and flush the die with brake clean. I put a little Tri-lube on the outside of the die and then spray the One shot liberally inside the die while it is disassembled and then stand it up so the excess runs out. If I'm using an expander ball I spray it too. Put the die back together and set it in the press. From there the die is good to go until the next time I clean it. Then I put the brass in a MTM loading loading block and set it on a bucket that I throw scrap brass and primers into under my bench. I spray across the block long ways and on the first pass I spray the first row right across the body of the cases, then come back with the can at a 45 degree angle making sure to get the lube inside the necks of the cases, the over spray will coat the body of the cases in the next row so I keep that angle and repeat this process on the remaining rows. After spraying all the cases on one side I rotate the block 180 degrees and repeat the process. When done, I pick the block up, set it on the bench next to the press and start sizing. The brass is basically still wet when I start and they get a little drier as I move through them. I clean primer pockets as I go (by hand because I've it to be quicker and does a better job than using the RCBS trim mate I got for father's day). I put the FL sized brass in a bowl or something till I'm finished with the batch and I then put them in a vibratory tumbler with walnut media to remove the remainder of the lube. I trim and finish prepping after taking the brass out of the tumbler, load and shoot.

After reading about imperial die wax on here I tried some of it and it works fine but I will continue to use the one shot.
Jason

 

[Martin52]

I changed from the Hornady One Shot to RCBS 2 case lube applied using the RCBS pad, never looked back. cases slide into the die like butter and wipe clean easily with paper towel or a rag. The Imperial wax is also very good but I have had one or two dented shoulders using this, operator error I am sure, but the RCBS is easy, no stuck cases as yet....

Martin

 

[BoydAllen]

None of my dies have shown any internal corrosion, and they have all been used with RCBS Case Lube II. Am I the only one?

 

[diriel]

@BoydAllen,

I do not use the RCBS II, but the lee paste has worked perfectly for me for nearly 20 years. My original RCBS 6.5x55 swede dies have loaded a BUNCH of ammo over the years, and they still look good inside. No idea about corrosion...

 

[Phil]

I have used Imperial exclusively....

Last night i tried the DRY Imperial (graphite????) and formed 200 .17AH cases.....NO SWEAT!!!

They are a little messy,but no wiping off,just load and fire form.

I think i like it enough to keep using it and skip the tumbling step that i was using with the wax...

Phil.

 

[vern]

Phil, I tried the dry Imperial once for neck expansions....
BE REALLY REALLY careful not to allow one of those little ceramic balls to get up inside one of your dies.
I did by accident. I didnt realize what it was but it scratched up the sides of some cases pretty bad and after polishing out the die body there were corresponding small scratches in the die body as well

 

[Phil]

Vern,

Good to know......

400+ pieces of formed brass so far and no issues,but i will keep my eye on that one...

Phil.

 

[edca]

Take one of the wife`s cookie sheets, lay several rds out on the sheet all in the same direction and give them a light spray of Pam or one of the cheaper brands. Shake the pan some to make sure all the brass is coated and size. Afterwards, lay the brass out on a towel sprayed with brake clean and take another dry towel and roll the brass back and forth a few times and you are ready for your next step.

 

[lpreddick]

i have used all of the above. i like to roll my own. i melt a bit of anhydrous lanolin in a double boiler. add a bit of 10w-30 synthetic motor oil and a bit of stp oil treatment and stir until uniform. let congeal and use sparingly. this stuff is SLICK! there is very little resistence to body sizing. a little bit messy but does wipe off..rather this than a stuck case.

 

[Juma]

A dude here in NZ who is a bullet maker's recipe is 1/2 petroleum jelly[vaseline] and 1/2 anhydrous lanolin mixed together.