How are you guys applying dry lube?

[Benchrest Braxton]

I recently took the plunge and purchased the small jar of Neolube #2, it's graphite suspended in alcohol. I apply it with a small foam tipped applicator, got a bunch off Temu for cheap. I just get it lightly wet, and run it around inside the neck. I use a small desk light that is shining on the end of the neck, to verify I got an even coat as I spin it. Works great, and I can do it pretty fast on a batch of 100 at at a time. The bottle is expensive, but I thin it'll last me the rest of my life.

i do it the same way, i agree that little bottle is good for at least 5,000 cases, if not tens of thousands

 

[Webster]

So I am new to the world of expander mandrels and bushing dies. Just dipping the neck into the redding dry neck lube is kinda messy and I think results in too much lube. There has to be a better way. So two quick questions.

1) Should I use any dry lube on the inside of the neck while using a FL bushing die?

2) What is your preferred method to apply dry lube inside your necks?

Never used a mandrel.

 

[bozo699]

Never used a mandrel.

You must have never turned a neck then.
Wayne

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I use a small plastic container with a screw on lid(1/2 cup) 1/2 full of #8 lead shot. I spray dry graphite in, dip case neck in with a twist, before bushing size and mandrel. If I need just I.D. mandrel sizing, I use an old case neck brush I keep because it has carbon on it and dip the brush into the shot every couple cases. If new brass I use a q tip, dipped into the shot every couple cases. The q tip will transfer more dry lube than dipping the brass.

 

[6.5 forever]

I only use Sinclair graphite on the inside of new Lapua brass on the first loading. Makes for a more consistent first firing.

 

[Klong]

So why do you use lube in first place. Is it just for sizing?

 

[6.5 forever]

So why do you use lube in first place. Is it just for sizing?

There is no carbon on the inside of the neck when the case is new. New cases have a very inconsistent "grip" on the case. I found when I put graphite inside the necks that the first firing had much better SD's.

 

[Bill K]

So I am new to the world of expander mandrels and bushing dies. Just dipping the neck into the redding dry neck lube is kinda messy and I think results in too much lube. There has to be a better way. So two quick questions.

1) Should I use any dry lube on the inside of the neck while using a FL bushing die?

2) What is your preferred method to apply dry lube inside your necks?

I stopped using the dry lube with ceramic parts and went to spraying the neck and a little into the neck with Hornady's One Shot, works better, in my opinion, and dries so I don't even ripe it off or out.

 

[Dimner]

So why do you use lube in first place. Is it just for sizing?

For my purposes, I'm learning the neck expansion via mandrel method so I have some experience for when I start up with my 6br. I don't want to practice on that brass.

This weekend I have only been using dry lube and expander mandrels with 30-06 and 7x57. Both sets of cases having fired many times. I can straight up say that dry lubed cases really do help with drag, even on multi times fired cases.

Being inexperienced in this method, I started working with freshly annealed 30-06. I ran it through a 0.3070 expander. There was a lot of drag. I started worrying that it might alter my case shoulder length. With dry lube I was able to go from FL sized neck to 0.3080 and no shoulder movement.

I also went the whole gambit of testing for the 6 mandrels I have. This is because I had originally totally forgot about springback. And I was initially surprised that at some diameters my mandrels were actually causing slightly tighter neck tension due to spring back. For example, my 0.3055 expansion mandrel actually causes an average of 5 necks to reduce in diameter by 0.0002. In practical terms, that's zero expansion, but, it opened my eyes to what was happening to the brass.

 

[Webster]

You must have never turned a neck then.
Wayne

I put oil on the neck turning mandrel after that they never see a mandrel.

 

[bozo699]

I put oil on the neck turning mandrel after that they never see a mandrel.

How do you expand the case far enough to fit the mandrel?…fired there to large, sized there to small.
Wayne

 

[Webster]

How do you expand the case far enough to fit the mandrel?…fired there to large, sized there to small.
Wayne

Don't remember details it's been 3 years since I neck turned. I do remember the mandrel was snug fit. Sometimes after a few firings I turn them a second time, there is always some cleanup. I have not fired my rifle since I had back surgery 3 years ago. I cannot walk down range to hang targets.

 

[bozo699]

Don't remember details it's been 3 years since I neck turned. I do remember the mandrel was snug fit. Sometimes after a few firings I turn them a second time, there is always some cleanup. I have not fired my rifle since I had back surgery 3 years ago. I cannot walk down range to hang targets.

I’m really sorry to hear that!… hope this year you can do it .
Wayne

 

[Killick]

I use the Redding dry lube with the application beads. Dip it, wipe the outside with an old clean towel and it's ready for the expander mandrel. Refill the bead reservoir with the graphite occasionally and shake it upside down to get the lube to the top...'Bob's yer uncle'