Carbide pistol dies?

Armory » Reloading

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Carbide pistol dies?

Posted: 9/16/2009 12:02:04 PM EDT

Do you still need to use lube or are you good to go without?

Posted: 9/16/2009 12:18:47 PM EDT

[#1]

No lube, that's the beauty of reloading the humble pistol cartridge along with the 30 carbine round.

Posted: 9/16/2009 12:40:56 PM EDT

[#2]

You don't need to use lube, as above. I've gotten into the habit of spritzing a little Dillon lube into the box of brass to be sized as it makes things go MUCH easier and more smoothly. I then tumble it off afterward with clean corn cob. It is definitely not necessary, however.

Posted: 9/16/2009 12:49:42 PM EDT

[#3]

Lube on .30 Carbine cases is necessary on my bench. It's too much work to size it otherwise.

Lube with carbide dies makes the operation run smoother, but almost no one uses it. Thick wall cases and long, large diameter cases will go through the die much easier, even with a bench mounted press with lots of leverage.

ETA:

My .30 Carbine dies are from LEE. If I don't use lube, the sizing force is high and I've had cases that squeaked and darn near galled when running them through without lube. I have no trouble with 9mm, .357, .45 ACP, or even .44 Mag without lube.

Posted: 9/16/2009 12:54:24 PM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
Lube on .30 Carbine cases is necessary on my bench. It's too much work to size it otherwise.

Lube with carbide dies makes the operation run smoother, but almost no one uses it. Thick wall cases and long, large diameter cases will go through the die much easier, even with a bench mounted press with lots of leverage.

That's what happened to me, only with .44 mag. The Lee size die I was using was VERY difficult to size, so I started using lube. I later tried it on other calibers and found it agreeable. Maybe I'm just getting lazy in my old age.

But again, to answer the OP's question––you don't HAVE TO use lube.

Posted: 9/16/2009 1:01:06 PM EDT

[#5]

i lube the bigger cases, 44 caliber and up except for 45 auto

Posted: 9/16/2009 1:24:38 PM EDT

[#6]

With carbide pistol dies (.38 special/.357 Mag., 9mm, .45 ACP)......I don't lube.

I don't even bother to clean my brass either.

However, if you want to do it........there is no harm in it.

You get to choose..........how YOU want to do things.

Aloha, Mark

Posted: 9/16/2009 1:27:32 PM EDT

[#7]

Ya this is for 45 auto.

Posted: 9/16/2009 2:12:40 PM EDT

[#8]

I do clean all my brass before reloading. It at least makes them easier to find in the grass and gravel on our range. I do not lube pistol brass becasue the

carbide dies do not neet it and I do not want to have to clean it again

Posted: 9/16/2009 3:41:56 PM EDT

[#9]

I lube everything. It just runs through the machine that much easier. You don't need much, but a little is better than nothing. I like to think it's easier on the dies too.

Posted: 9/16/2009 4:28:53 PM EDT

[#10]

It's always a good idea to use lube, even if it's just alittle, size does matter and if it's too big someone could get hurt, Oh wait ,

is this thread about........never mind.

Posted: 9/16/2009 4:34:38 PM EDT

[#11]

I used to use lube on pistol brass, then finally quit. It seemed to me that some powder would tend to cling to the walls up near the case mouth, then get "flung" off when the shellplate advanced. I quit using it, and my workspace is much cleaner for having done so.

I find the difference in effort required neglible as long as the brass is fresh & shiny coming straight from the tumbler to the press. If it has had a chance to dull, the difference in effort is very noticable.

Posted: 9/16/2009 5:56:59 PM EDT

[#12]

I have never used any lube with a straight wall cases and carbide dies.

Including 30 Carbine and 44 mag.

All of my carbide die sets are RCBS or Hornady.

Try it both ways, and see for yourself.

Posted: 9/16/2009 6:16:06 PM EDT

[#13]

Also, consider.....

If, you lube the cases.....you'll need to remove it later. That's one more step.

Aloha, Mark

Posted: 9/16/2009 9:11:27 PM EDT

[#14]

You usually don't really need to lube pistol cases. However, depending on the brass I usually do the following: get a tube of 100% pure lanolin at the drug counter ( a product used by breast feeding mothers ). Put about 200-300 empty cases in a little plastic tub. Put an small amount of lanolin ( about 1/2 to 3/4 of the size of a pencil erasure) in the palm of your hand. Rub your hands together quickly to heat it up. Then run your hands through the brass kind of rolling handfuls of brass between your hands. Then load. The cases will resize with very little effort. There will be such a small amount of lube on the cases you will not need to clean it off after loading.

Posted: 9/17/2009 6:06:20 AM EDT

[#15]

I don't lube 9mm, but I do lube for .30 Carbine. It's not really a straight-walled case, and running the die over that much length is a lot easier with some lube.

Posted: 9/17/2009 9:21:21 AM EDT

[#16]

I lube the first couple for the session and it really helkps keep things moving. I do not clean it off since its such an insignificant amount.

Posted: 9/17/2009 9:41:19 AM EDT

[#17]

AeroE;
You might have a rough die, or brass galled on the carbide.
I have an RCBS 30 carb carbide and it is very easy sizing the brass without lube, same for 44 mag, 45 LC, 45 acp,357 mag, 9mm, 41 mag, 40 S&W, all RCBS and all are easy sizing without lube.
'Borg

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Carbide pistol dies?

Armory » Reloading

Win a FREE Membership!

Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!

You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.

Warning

Confirm Action

About AR15.COM

Stay Connected

Newsletter

Contact Us