What are you guys doing for case lube?

Originally Posted By: arlaunchFor those 2 dies i normally use Redding imperial wax for the outside body and inside case neck. Then it is butter smooth. 

The problem is that when i pull the cases from the tumbler the imperial wax always finds itself down into the inside of the case shoulder and is holding a bit of media inside the case shoulder. 
I wouldn't use Imperial Wax inside the necks unless you also have plan to remove it. That's why most use One Shot or dry lubes- they don't need to be removed.

How are you applying the Imperial Wax to the inside of the necks? Qtip I'd guess? That very thin layer of wax could be building up on the expander on the way down and leaving a rim of wax as it starts it's way back up out of the neck. Scraping off a ring of excess lube at the bottom of the neck. Then tumbling media sticks to it. If this is the issue, and you insist on using wax in the necks, then you need to clean it out before you tumble.

If Imperial Wax from the outside of the cases from FL/body sizing is getting inside the necks, then you must be using way too much. I don't even see how that could happen.

Maybe you're better off just not using any lube at all inside the necks. I don't.
 
[/quote]How are you applying the Imperial Wax to the inside of the necks? [/quote]

I just kind of rub over the top of the case mouth with my finger, a tiny bit comes off my skin and into the case mouth.

It works wonders and is smooth. I don't like hard pulls on expander balls. Lots of fellas i know have bent them. I have bent 1.

Accuracy suffers when that thing is not perfectly straight. If it is slightly tweaked, coupled with a hard pull accuracy will suffer too.

I am going to get a carbide expander ball and try that. I read a book by a pro shooter who recommended this denatured alcohol trick. 2nd time i have heard that now. Interesting!

One shot sounds nice. I have never tried it. They sell it in 2 stores that are less than 10 minutes from my house.

I could also try nothing on the case necks and see what it did. I have lots of old throw away cases.

 
One thing I have experienced and heard from others is you use Imperial Wax for period of time then decide to try One Shot.

Now refer back up Fw707 said about alcohol removing Imperial wax. That wax is still in your die and if you don’t let the One Shot dry it still has alcohol and as you shove that case into the die it starts cleaning the wax out and yep stuck case and now One Shot is the worst stuff made.
 
venatic, you might be on to something there.

I did use some imperial way back in the before-time, on another guys tools. worked fine.

never used it once I tooled up though. dillon had their lube so I bought some when I ordered the press.

I did spray out my dies with one shot though. for that matter, I still give them a shot before starting a session. I set up the brass, spray it, spray the inside of the sizing die & give all of it at least 10 minutes before starting.

I've only stuck one case in my life, a 30-06 in a Redding die. That was with one shot & happened before I understood that you're supposed to let the stuff dry a bit before starting. I had gotten away wth it for a while, sizing wet brass with one shot & no problems, until that one stuck.

and it stuck so good I had to send the die to Redding. I don't know if they got it out or just replaced the die, but they did send me a die without a case in it LOL
 
Dip necks in the pre- loaded Imperial dry lube beads. Then rub Imperial wax on case between thumb and finger on body, neck , but not shoulders.
 
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I threw away my first can of OS after sticking the only case ever (been loading since 1952). Then I someone mentioned letting it dry so gave it another "shot". Cleaned sizing die thoroughly, sprayed sizer w/OS for good measure, applied to cases and let dry per OS instructions on a new can and have had no problems since.

Venatic nailed the problem, I think. The wet alcohol in OS removes coating left in die from previous lube.

Imperial wax did not cut it on 243 WSSM cases (a true test for any lube); cases squalled like a pair of tomcats in a dark alley. Hornady Unique much better lube IMO. Don't think I'll try the OS spray on the WSSM.

Regards,
hm
 
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