Are you supposed to use lube with carbide dies for handgun rounds?

Are you supposed to use lube with carbide dies for handgun rounds?

Doesn't hurt; not required for straight cases.

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Science plus Art

Not needed, helps a bunch on those high pressure rounds though!

I never have used lube and haven't had any problems.

Using carbide dies, I don't for my .357 and .44 rounds, but I lube every other case when I load the .460s so I don't have to stand on the lever.

RCBS says every 4th or 5th case, but I find every other one is just easier.

Thanks everyone, a thread here caught my eye about rifle cases and carbide dies with using lube.
I've never used it for handguns cases, having no problems, but I guess it wouldn't hurt.

As you say, it won't hurt, but unless you have some cases that are hard to size it's sort of a waste of time. Not to mention the mess of cleaning up the cases after sizing. That's why I use carbide dies in the first place.

As everyone else has stated, it is not required. That said, I lube straight wall cases using the "shake and bake" method. Spray a little Hornady One Shot case lube in bread bag, add a few hundred cases, shake/mash them around. Finished. Just enough lube to make handle pulling easier.

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It's around here somewhere!

I use a wipe of imperial on 357 cases.

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Doug "N Frame Addict"
CO

I give really hard brass like 454 Casull a light spray of Hornady One Shot, but otherwise not.

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" I said, good DAY! "

That's why they made carbide dies, so you don't need to use lube.

No, you don't need it with carbide dies. But with straight-walled cases, as is mentioned several times above, it makes it much easier. I use a tiny bit of Imperial Sizing Die Wax about every fourth or fifth case (rub it on the case very slightly) and it makes the sizing so much easier. I have barely used this small "tobacco-tin snuff size" can and I've used it for 40-50 years. It makes sizing so much "nicer." I use it with .44Mag and .45Colt cases.
sonny

I generally load in batches of a couple hundred at a time. Get some pure, unscented lanolin. Put 2-300 cases in a box. Dab a spot of lanolin on your hand that's maybe 1/3 the size of a pencil eraser. Work the lanolin into your hand (it softens as it gets warmer) and then run your hands through the cases in the box....just swish them around.

The cases will load easer and require no cleanup afterwards. Oh, the lanolin won't contaminate gunpowder either.

Most drug stores carry pure lanolin, but you'll normally have to ask the pharmacist for it....it's commonly used by nursing mothers.

A tube costs about $10 and will last for tens of thousands of cases. In fact, lanolin is the active lubricating ingredient in many commercial case lubes.

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USPSA TY23298

+1

On .30 carbine cases they recommend you use a little lube, I put on every 6-8 case or so and it helps. Not necessary on any other straight wall cases like .44, .357, .40's or others.

With straight walled cases, I lube every 8th to 10th case. It just keeps everything running smoothly during sizing. FWIW

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1st Signal Brigade, RVN '70

Altough I use carbide dies, resizing effort is pretty high with the .500 Mag so I use Hornady One Shot. It's quite unnecessary for my .357 reloading. Don

There isn't much reason to pay extra for carbide dies if you still lube! I never lube when using carbide dies.

Actually there is. If you use lube with carbide dies you reduce the effort needed to size your brass. I'll take anything I can get. Load a couple thousand rounds per month for a year or two. Your elbow and shoulder will thank you for using lubrication.

What I'm saying is "Try it. You might like it." If you don't like it, you've lost nothing.

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It's around here somewhere!

Well.......load a couple thousand a month for 40 years and lube gets to be a real pain in the wazoo. Carbide: good stuff. Rifle cases(bottleneck) need to be lubed because the only part of the die that's carbide is the neck expander button unless manufacturers have come up with something new since I bought my last rifle dies...it's been a few years. Give it a try both ways as MrPhill suggests, you've got nothing to loose!

I've loaded thousands of rounds of 9mm, .40 and .45ACP without lube but my last batch of (300) .45 ACP was given a quick shot of Hornady One Shot only on one side of the casings while laying flat and they were very noticeably easier to size. I think I'll lube them lightly from now on just to make my job a little easier.

Thanks again everyone for your input, very interesting.
Think I might try some spray lube or the lanolin every now and then, can't hurt.

I like to use a little dillon spray case lube. when using my carbide dies. it just reduces the effort to move the press ram and thats good.

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Navy Seabees "can Do"