Bag Balm as a case lube?

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Steve in Vermont

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I've used Bag Balm for years (for chapped skin), it's made by a company here in Vermont about an hours drive from me. I have a Redding crimp die that recommends lubricating brass and I was about the put it away when I realized the ingredients in Bag Balm should work. Did some research and found it is being used, by some people, for that purpose. I'm curious if anyone on this forum uses it and what has been their experience (for lubing cases, after all this is a family forum).
 
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My own brand...

Steve in Vermont said:
I've used Bag Balm for years (for chapped skin), it's made by a company here in Vermont about an hours drive from me. I have a Redding crimp die that recommends lubricating brass and I was about the put it away when I realized the ingredients in Bag Balm should work. Did some research and found it is being used, by some people, for that purpose. I'm curious if anyone on this forum uses it and what has been their experience (for lubing cases, after all this is a family forum).
Click to expand...

I'm going to make my own brand..... Udder Butter.
 
My own brand...

Steve in Vermont said:
I've used Bag Balm for years (for chapped skin), it's made by a company here in Vermont about an hours drive from me. I have a Redding crimp die that recommends lubricating brass and I was about the put it away when I realized the ingredients in Bag Balm should work. Did some research and found it is being used, by some people, for that purpose. I'm curious if anyone on this forum uses it and what has been their experience (for lubing cases, after all this is a family forum).
Click to expand...

I'm going to make my own brand..... Udder Butter. Darn, I see that name's been taken.

Udder Butter - Jeffers
 
I've never seen the product Bag Balm but I've used Chapstick lip balm for rifle case resizing lube for over 30 years. Chapstick is about the same as the little round tins of wax resizing lube that you apply with your finger tip except that you don't have to touch the Chapstick. I forget the brand on the resizing lube in the tins but it became my favorite before I replaced it with Chapstick. With either after the first couple of cases you only have to wipe a light ring of lube around the case near its head because the lube creeps further up in the die on its own. It's best to wipe both off with a rag after resizing.

Those who reload rifle cases on progressive presses may want a faster method but for my use there's nothing better than Chapstick.
 
Bag Balm makes a good lube for mini balls when shooting your musket. Darned good stuff for burns and dry skin too.
 
The best case lube I have tried so far is muzzle loaders Bore Butter. I just put a little ball of it in my hand and rub it on and work the cases through my hands in a plastic bag. It dosen't take much. I have used it on .223 and 30-06 and have never stuck a case in my dies.
 
Udderly Smooth!

This stuff works for me. Keeps my hands nice, too.
41NIwOaPstL._SY450_.jpg
 
I've heard there are actually companies making lube specifically for sizing cases, comes in a tube or tub usually :rolleyes:
 
Boy, I have learned some things on this thread! Never thought about Chapstick! Bag Balm should work. I have been using Hornady Unique Case Lube 4oz Tub for a long time on my RCBS Rockchucker with steel and carbide dies. No stuck cases. Bought a progressive Dillon about a year ago and needed to speed up the process. I finally settled on a home made spray that is cheap and effective. Works great. Reloading Case Lube - how to make it yourself CHEAP! - YouTube I am fortunate to live in a bigger city and went to a health food store and found the liquid lanolin for about $6. You can also find the 4 oz. bottle on the internet. It is a bit more expensive. But that 4 oz. bottle I can't think of all the cases I could lube. I like my spray lube! Works great. I also have bought 2 lbs of anhydrous lanolin from my local pharmacy with hopes for the same thing. Now that is going into my Ed's Red bore solvent.
 
After many decades of reloading, I'm convinced that anything slick, including fresh manure, will work as a case lube for ordinary calibers; however, THE REAL DIFFERENCE IS HOW EASY IT IS TO CLEAN UP AFTER SIZING!!

For that reason alone, I now only use commercial water-soluble case lube that wipes off completely with a damp rag. A very little dab will do ya!
 
I've used Bag Balm and it works well. I like STP oil treatment the best because it spreads so well with so little effort. A uniform coating is more important than the amount of lube used. The STP also wipes off easily after sizing so there is no residue left. When using a spray lube such as Dillon (lanolin and Isopropyl alcohol), I've had to retumble to get the gunk off because it left a sticky residue.
 
I have read that Bore Butter is really repackaged Chap Stick, so it should work well. Personally, I use the Hornady One Shot spray, and it works very well. never thought of using Bag Balm, thanks for the tip.
 
novalty said:
Redding / Imperial Case Sizing Die Wax has been the best thing I have used on cases.
Click to expand...

Imperial was the brand of wax in a tin that I quit in favor of identical except more convenient to apply Chapstick. It’s nicer to work with clean fingers. Both wipe off easily and leave the brass feeling clean rather than sticky.

They’ve probably changed it since the 1970s, but the hardest case lube to wipe off was the first lube I used, RCBS.

Lee’s water based lube is an easy one to wipe or tumble off.
 
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