Reloading 5.56 question/Hornady Die

[MattO]

I started reloading my first rifle rounds this past week. Using my Hornady Lock and Load and a new set of Hornady Dies. I am using One shot Hornady lube. My question is, this.


This lube does not seem very good. Many cases are getting stuck, hard to resize. In fact I sprayed them all really good as I was doing them, and the 75th case got stuck and I had to order a stuck case removal tool. I got the case out, but as it pulled out the neck resizer on the die broke in half. What is the best case lube to use?

Second question, where can I get a new piece for the die. Kind of disappointed that my first stuck case broke a piece of a new die. Do I just call Hornady and ask to buy the piece that broke?

Thanks in advance.

Matt

 

[SRT]

I've always used Dillon Precision case lube with good results. Just remember to wait 10-15 minutes after spraying your cases so that the alcohol evaporates. Call Hornady, explain what happened, and they should take care of you without charge.

 

[gregintenn]

I use Lee dies, and Lee wax lube. So far, no stuck cases.

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

Don't take this as being too critical, but it sounds like you're not getting complete coverage with the One Shot.....been there done that. I probably use more than needed , but I make sure ALL cases get a good dose of lube.

 

[Mad_Charlie]

There have been a LOT of posts around the web about the Hornady one shot lube sticking cases,especially with Hornady dies.

Many handloaders use Imperial Case Wax, including myself. Forster case lube also works very well.

Good luck.

 

[MattO]

Don't take this as being too critical, but it sounds like you're not getting complete coverage with the One Shot.....been there done that. I probably use more than needed , but I make sure ALL cases get a good dose of lube.

I understand. Here is how I lubed the cases. I put 50 in a reloading tray, sprayed it on all 4 sides and then also sprayed the die down good inside.

Matt

 

[Clovishound]

Did you lube the inside of the neck? I found that this is a necessity. I have used both the Lee wax lube, and RCBS case lube 2. Both are water soluble. I have used a cotton swab, and made a small tool with the wood lathe, gluing a small strip of cloth wound round the end. The homemade tool does a better job and lasts longer.

I would call Hornady and see if they have replacement parts available.

 

[Ballistic147]

I've also got the LNL with both the Hornady dies and the Lee sizing die. So far resized about 1,500 cases and never had one stick. I'm using the Imperial Sizing Die Wax. It only takes a very light coat on each case and using a Q-tip I apply a little in the neck on every 10 cases or so. I also use the Q-tip to prelube the die too.

I use the Hornady One Shot on pistol cartridges and it's fine but the Imperial wax works much better on rifle.

 

[mtgianni]

I understand. Here is how I lubed the cases. I put 50 in a reloading tray, sprayed it on all 4 sides and then also sprayed the die down good inside.

Matt

Put them in a baggie, spray the baggie and roll it all around together. have stuck a couple of cases in 30 years but not many. A Lube change is the easiest and cheapest next step, along with asking hornaday for a replacement part.

 

[MattO]

I called and asked Hornady about a replacement part. They are sending me one, I also bought an extra.

I was asked earlier about lubing the inside of the neck, honestly I can't say 100% sure if I got them all done well or not. I will certainly be doing more of that when I get a new neck sizer.

Thank you everyone for the input. I've been reloading for over a year, and have thousands of handgun rounds under my belt. These rifle rounds are the first for me, and it's a very different beast to say the least. I've gotten my case trimmer in and set up and did a few cases. As soon as I can sit down and get them all ready I'll go find some powder and put a few together and see how they do.


Matt

 

[gwpercle]

I know it sounds slow and old school, but using something like the Lee sizing lube wax or the Imperial Sizing Die wax ( I have been using Lee) and applying it to the case with finger tips and a bit inside the neck with a Q-tip then letting it dry will take care of stuck cases.
Apply by hand insures they are lubed all over...hand gun cases are not so particular but rifle cases are...one stuck case messes up your whole day.
Gary

 

[H Richard]

Imperial sizing wax here also, and do lube the inside of the case neck. I would also recommend RCBS or Redding dies. Only cases I ever had stuck were with a Hornady die.

 

[mikld]

I've read several bad reviews of Hornady One Shot. Personally I use Mink Oil Boot Dressing Cream (lots of lanolin). I resize .223/5.56, 308 Win/7.62x51, and 30-06, all full length sized and have never stuck a case. If I were to suggest a commercial case lube it would be Imperial Case Wax. Imperial Case Sizing Wax 2oz It's no big deal to get a bit of case lube on your fingers as it doesn't contaminate anything and comes off easily with just a paper towel...

 

[Ballistic147]

Hey Matt, just curious what headstamp is the brass? I've loaded a bunch of different stuff and all have been fairly easy but the Pivi Partizan gives me trouble. The headstamp is PPU and it is "sticky" in either the Hornady or the Lee sizing die. It's also particularly difficult to bump the shoulder back within spec. I've never had a problem with the expander sticking in the neck. My problem has been the case trying to stick in the die as you begin to lower the ram with the PPU brass.

 

[MattO]

Ballistic147 this was all Federal brass. Once fired by me.

 

[MyDads38]

For years, I used RCBS case lube with the case lube pad. I recently started reloading 223/5.56 and 308 again and needed new case lube. I tried the LEE case lube and ended up sticking 3 pieces of 223 brass in my sizing die, never had this problem with the RCBS! So on a whim, I ordered the Hornady UNIQUE case lube in the 4 ounce tub. I cannot say enough good things about this lube!! You use very little, and is so slick as to be almost effortless resizing your brass. Apply sparingly with fingers on outside and just a little inside the case mouth. I wipe clean with a cotton cloth. It's very inexpensive and this 4 ounce tub will outlast me, I'm afraid

 

[lrrifleman]

Matt,

I have been reloading for about 40 years, and reloading 223s for about 20 years. On a rare occasion, I have had stuck cases, but not on a regular basis. In looking back, it seems that my cases stuck when I didn't shoot the case lube up into the sizing die.

When I full length size my brass for my ARs, I lube the inside of my sizing die for every 50 rounds of cases. I also spray my loading block at a diagonal from above so that the lube also sprays into the neck. I use the same procedure when I neck size for my bolt gun. I have noticed, that when I feel a tight case, I pull the case out and respray the cases in the loading block.

As a side note, I use both RCBS and Hornady dies. I use Hornady One Shot spray lube, but I preferred the One Shot pump spray, which has been discontinued ... I find that the aerosol spray can be a bit inconsistent in the distribution of lubricant.

 

[andyo5]

I use Dillon dies, which have a built-in feature for removing a stuck case. But I switched from Dillon case lube to Frankford Arsenal lube and am getting much better results. I don't spray the lube onto the cases. This seems too indirect a method to me. I place a paper towel into a shallow cardboard box, and spray the lube onto the towel. I then roll each case over the towel just before resizing it. Works like a charm and no lube gets sprayed into the case.

 

[Pisgah]

Imperial wax is great stuff -- but honestly, plain ol' Johnson Paste Wax is, too -- available in any supermarket, and a whole lot cheaper.

I started to say I have been using it for years, but to tell the truth -- it's decades.

 

[AveragEd]

For over 40 years, I've used RCBS case lube on an RCBS pad - I roll 10 bottleneck rifle cases at a time back and forth across the pad twice and that's it. Never stuck a case and there's no messy sprays or waiting for anything to evaporate.

For necks and when neck-sizing alone, I use Imperial dry case neck lube. It's basically graphite, I think, on tiny plastic balls that I dip the necks into two times. I do the necks first so the plastic balls don't stick to any case lube on the sides of the cases.

Don't make the job more difficult or involved than it has to be.

Ed