Carbide dies + no lube?

[MrPhil]

I'm with Amici on Dillon's carbide 223 sizing die. They are far and away easier to use than steel sizers. Tremendously reduced effort and NO stuck cases. With 223 that's saying something. I load rifle rounds on a pair of RCBS Rockchuckers.

 

[Amici]

Nope - never have - don't use carbide rifle dies since the cases have to be lubed anyway

True.

HOWEVER, one uses far less lube and resizes with far less effort by employing both carbide dies and a touch of lube. It also reduces the risk of a stuck case or damaged rim to negligible levels.

 

[HAWKEYE10]

These Guys are telling you right.
Go carbide! Nuf said. Don

 

[NFrameFred]

I use the Dillon spray on lube and I've probably loaded in excess of 12,000 rounds of 223 over the years in regular steel dies. Don't notice any particular "effort" to size them on my Rock Chucker and my RCBS sizing die and I've NEVER had a stuck case or pulled off a rim.

Bought the die set years ago for about $15 as I recall (ordered new) and with the results I've had I see no reason to spend that kind of money on carbide rifle dies that have to be lubricated.

Glad you guys like them and that they work well for you . . . I just don't need them.

Used to shoot a lot of competition, and went through a bunch of rounds for several years. Not so much anymore, but I load my "blasting" ammo in bulk after the brass accumulates. I still load my hunting and long range rifle shells one at a time on the Rock Chucker.

Checked into having Fred Huntington make me some custom carbide rifle dies before Dillon was even around, and what he told me along with the research I did convinced me it wasn't worth it to me.

I appreciate all the pity bestowed on an old duffer who can't get with the new-fangled ways, but I totter along just fine with my rounds, the freezer stays full of deer meat, and there are several younger bucks who are still waiting for my skills to degrade somewhat more before they'll challenge me again on the range . I'll just keep doin' it my way

 

[alde]

I have been using TC Bore Butter as a case lube for rifle loads (30-06 Garand) but use Carbide dies without lube for straight wall pistol cases. I am however glade I opened this thread as I am going to start loading 30 Carbine soon. I plan to get Carbide dies and thought I could skip the lube. Thanks for clearing that up. I will use a small amount of TC Bore Butter on them. BTW, I think the Bore Butter is just lanolin.

 

[Wayne M]

It's been awhile since I bought rifle dies but my understanding was that carbide rifle dies use a carbide EXPANDER button(to reduce neck stretch) and that the case body sizer is steel thus they still need case lube. Even with the carbide neck button I think most die makers still suggested a touch of lube on that button. Please let me know if the die manufacturers have come up with a new wrinkle on this. Would be nice to not have to lube rifle cases even tho the spray on's save a lot of time and effort over the old case lube pad! I might even take up loading for semi auto rifles if it could be done without the lube process!

 

[MTKTM]

Even though the 9mm has some taper, more than say a 38/357 or 40S&W or 45acp, they don't need to be lubed with good carbide dies. I've loaded thousands of all of the above on a Dillon 550B with no lube and no problems in the sizing/expanding functions. I tumble my brass, but don't polish it to a high sheen prior to reloading, just get the crud off and burnish it a little.

In any necked case like the 223, you definitely need to lube or you're asking for trouble. Stuck cases are not even a little bit fun.

 

[caseydog]

Hello,
Is that correct? Is the Dillon carbide set
a good one for any press?

NO , Dillon carbide pistol dies do not have a mouth expander die which is necessary on non dillon presses. Dillon presses have the expander on the powder measure as part of the caliber conversion kit.

Ray

 

[epj]

I use Lee carbide dies for .45, .38, and 9mm. Have never lubed a case and probably never will. The 9mm's do seem to take a little more effort than the others, but not enough for me to deal with the lube. The residue from the Dillon Rapid Polish that I use in my tumbler does seem to leave the cases slightly slick. I do lube .223's.

 

[Spotteddog]

Alde, (.30 M-1)
Use Carbide, lube them, and don't forget that there are only certain phases of the moon and tide you can effectively ream out the primer pockets during as well!

 

[oldRoger]

Use Carbide dies!! I accidentally put an old Lyman steel die in the press and was quickly reminded how dies have improved for the better.
I clean my cases, usually indoor range cases I wash in simple green and hot water, then sundry, sometimes filthy cases I tumble in plain walnut hulls after washing.
As I size when I start feeling abnormal resistance, I will dip one case in Imperial Dry Lube, all goes back to normal. Occasionally I feel resistance in pulling the neck expander, same treatment fixes that as well.