Is there a way to lube rifle brass in batches that will equal doing them individually?

[Al Lu]

Called in to my die manufacturer about sizing and he asked what kind of lube am I using? The one that uses aerosol spray and was instructed that wasn't what they recommend? I have done internet search and the defacto #1 is Imperial Wax. Is there a way to do batches that will equal doing them one by one?

 

[F Class John]

You'll get every answer on this pro and con I imagine. I currently use just a lanolin and alcohol product and spray 500 at a time and shake them in a tub. Works perfectly for me with near perfect runout. I also use OneShot (which gets a crazy amount of hate on occasion) with no issues either. Believe it or not (and some with probably call me an idiot) the only time I've locked up brass in a die is with Imperial but to each their own. With nearly every lubing process you'll find someone who swears by it and someone who's had catastrophic results. It's just the way lubing cases seems to go.

 

[piie]

Start watching at 33:30 if you're impatient, but I think you will want to watch the full video and maybe even some of his other videos as well.

 

[PatMiles]

Called in to my die manufacturer about sizing and he asked what kind of lube am I using? The one that uses aerosol spray and was instructed that wasn't what they recommend?

Just out of curiosity, who made your dies?
Hornady One Shot with brass flat on a cookie sheet, 100 at a time.

 

[Fotheringill]

F Class John- truer words were never written. Same goes for cleaning products for carbon, copper and lead, which brand and type of dies, scales, powder dispensers, etc., etc., etc.

 

[spclark]

I use RCBS II liquid lube.

Got a covered plastic food storage container about 10x12x2-1/2” with a piece of 1” foam rubber padding cut to fit the bottom. Lube’s applied to foam, worked in well.

Then 50 cases (usually 308 or 6XC) get dumped in, rolled around a little with one hand, then as each gets picked up for sizing gets rolled again.

Haven’t had a stuck case since switching to this stuff from 1 Shot, saves the Imperial for serious brass work.

 

[F Class John]

^bingo @Fotheringill

1000 ways to skin a cat in this game and in my opinion it ultimately comes down to the shooter. I’ve seen HMs clean targets with factory ammo and Marksmans shoot 150 with a top end rig and pro reloaded ammo. Too many variables in this game to say any one thing is the difference maker.

This is a game of confidence. Load how you need to in order to have confidence that wind is your only variable and you’re golden. Then the rest is on you.

 

[jr600yd]

Only time I ever locked up a case in the sizing die was when using Hornady One Shot. Now I use Dillon case lube in the spray bottle never had another problem

But that’s just me!

 

[Nowhere Man]

I use an old plastic Walmart meat pan. I lay 50 pcs of brass and give it one quick spray of lanolin/alcohol. Shake them up and they are ready to go.

 

[rardoin]

.........snip.... Is there a way to do batches that will equal doing them one by one?

Yes, there is. As mentioned one can use a lanolin/alcohol combination in a spray bottle, as I do, but I do it differently. I take a ziplock gallon freezer bag and spray the interior with 5 or 6 squirts then rub the bag's sides together to evenly coat the bag interior. i add 25 or so cases to the bag, zip it closed, and rub it around between my hands (massaging the cases against the bag walls) for a minute or so. I dump the cases out into a clean tupperware container then process some more, adding a couple of squirts of lube between batches. I lube all the cases that will need to be sized of that lot and store in the tupperware box until I size them. You can use this method with homebrew lube or any other spray lube. If I am correct in my understanding Hornady One-shot is a lanolin based spray so it should work well with this method if you did not want to mix up your own lube. I have processed thousands of cases and never stuck a single one with the exception of running a case I sprayed directly (but did not allow the alcohol to evaporate) into the die wet. If you wait a couple of minutes for the solvent to evaporate you should never stick a case. This method works as well as Imperial wax (which is excellent) but much faster.

Robin

 

[Ledd Slinger]

What's the mix ratio of the lanolin-to-alcohol? 50/50?

 

[Uncle Ed]

Called in to my die manufacturer about sizing and he asked what kind of lube am I using? The one that uses aerosol spray and was instructed that wasn't what they recommend? I have done internet search and the defacto #1 is Imperial Wax. Is there a way to do batches that will equal doing them one by one?

You can use a lanolin and alcohol spray and a large zip-lock bag to spray the cases in then work the cases around inside the bag, but the lube will have to be removed.

Hornady One Shot works well if you follow the instructions and also spray inside the neck and it does not have to be removed. The most critical instruction with One Shot is to clean the die of all old types of case lubes and then spray with One Shot.. And this is the main reason for stuck cases. And I use One Shot with pistol cases and carbide dies with large batches and take the strain off the arm.

 

[nmkid]

Hornady One-Shot, gallon size bag. Drop about 40-50 cases in, spray for about 15 seconds. Close bag, massage cases for about a minute. Let sit for about 5 minutes, get to sizing.

 

[dcali]

What's the mix ratio of the lanolin-to-alcohol? 50/50?

More like 1:10 by volume, give or take.

 

[dsculley]

Watch the video above. I use his method, a dollop of Lee Resizing Lubricant in a plastic bag or tub, agitate and you are good to go. Doesn't take much. I will do 50 pieces at a time. By the way, the Lee lubricant is the same thing that brass companies use when drawing brass. Is easier to wipe off than lanolin to me as well.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I just use imperial on my fingers, not enough to even see it on the cases just a rub down

 

[dickn52]

You'll get every answer on this pro and con I imagine. I currently use just a lanolin and alcohol product and spray 500 at a time and shake them in a tub. Works perfectly for me with near perfect runout. I also use OneShot (which gets a crazy amount of hate on occasion) with no issues either. Believe it or not (and some with probably call me an idiot) the only time I've locked up brass in a die is with Imperial but to each their own. With nearly every lubing process you'll find someone who swears by it and someone who's had catastrophic results. It's just the way lubing cases seems to go.

Me too. But use it sparingly as a little will go forever. I use a plastic 'xmas cookie round can. Put about 100 223's in it. ONE spritz and shake them up. Done.

 

[Fotheringill]

If you are a lanolin guy, DON'T dump the leftovers down a drain. At best, you will have a nasty surprise, at worst, a plumber.

 

[dickn52]

You can use a lanolin and alcohol spray and a large zip-lock bag to spray the cases in then work the cases around inside the bag, but the lube will have to be removed.

Hornady One Shot works well if you follow the instructions and also spray inside the neck and it does not have to be removed. The most critical instruction with One Shot is to clean the die of all old types of case lubes and then spray with One Shot.. And this is the main reason for stuck cases. And I use One Shot with pistol cases and carbide dies with large batches and take the strain off the arm.

This where I hand inspect each case. When I'm wiping the lanolin off. Gives me an excuse to touch and inspect everything.

 

[ryewhiskeybent]

One shot user here. As specified, it doesn’t play nice with other lubes. I’ve not had a stuck case with it.