Reloading 5.56 question/Hornady Die

[msinc]

I have had the exact same results with the Hornady One Shot. I can cut it to almost zero if I hold the can up above the cases and spray down {which gets the neck inside} and I have them in a reloading tray on the side that allows the most to show of the sides. Reloading trays typically have two sides...one side the holes are deep, I guess so the cases wont dump over as easy when full of powder waiting for the bullet. The other side is shallow for applying the lube.
Not having lube in the neck WILL NOT stick the case in a die. It's not good to expand the necks dry, but they cannot stick from it. I turn the whole tray and spray all four sides. As posted, you must allow some time for the cases to kind of dry. If you spray and try to size too soon they will positively stick.
All the "sizing wax" and small containers of stuff you rub on each individual case works great, but it gets a little impractical when you want to size several hundred {or more} 223 cases. I use the wax when I have 25-30 280AI cases to do, it works great for that...but when I have 500 223's...not a chance.
As stupid as this sounds, and I am pretty skeptical of most cheap easy fixes, it works and works great....get a bottle of "Ivory Liquid Ultra" dish soap. Put about 100 cases at a time in a big ziplock bag and squirt in a good jag of the dish soap. Shake the bag until all the cases are coated good and dump them out on a table with a new plastic trash bag or something they cant leak thru. Let the cases completely dry, which will take a few hours. When good and dry you will feel the lanolin and how slippery they are. Run them thru the size die and enjoy the most effortless, dent free, sticking free fastest sizing you will ever know.
I went to this method after somebody posted it on here several years ago. I find that I have to set up my size die for the proper headspace each time I size cases so I do as many as I can at a time, typically 500. This method is not that great for doing 25-30 at a time, even 100, I still spray with One Shot. It takes a lot to impress me these days {usually a trip to Tijuana!!!} but I was impressed with the way this works.

 

[Sportsdad60]

I make my own lube, 90% or better alcohol and Lanolin. About a 1 to 12 mixture (12 ounces of Iso-Heet to 1 ounce of lanolin)

I've never had problems with sticking cases with Hornady LNL and their American die set for .223 using my recipe above. I probably make 500 rds a month in the fall and winter, with the temp around 45 deg in the garage (WA state)

 

[Drm50]

I have been loading for over 50 yrs. I have never loaded for
quantities, like guys are doing now for ARs and combat pistols.
I don't own a Hornady or Lee die. I have, that's why I don't
own any now. I'm not a bench rest shooter, but the whole point
of hand loading to me is to make precision ammo. I never put
lube in case necks, although I do brush them. I still lube on
Pad. Many lubes will work as long as it is applied correctly. Case
prep is 50% of loading. I usually load 100 rifle cartridges per
session, 500 pistol. Over the years I have had very little trouble
that wasn't my fault. If you are sticking that many cases it isn't
very probable its lube, it's the dies. Get a set of RCBS, Lyman
Redding, ect- do your prep & lube and have less problems.

 

[MJFlores]

I really like RCBS lube. I use a pad, damp it up with lube, roll the cases a few times and be sure to use a qtip and lube the neck inside. I've never had sizing trouble or a stuck case.

 

[Dennis]

Imperial wiped on with fingers. Neck dipped in graphite that Sinclair sells. Put in press, resize, wipe off with paper towel. On to the next step.

 

[MichiganScott]

I've used RCBS water soluble lube and pad since it first came on the market and use mica for neck lube. I've stuck exactly one case since 1974 and that was with the older non-water soluble RCBS lube. The water soluble lube easily rinses off. No having to use a rag or another trip through the tumbler to remove the lube.

 

[AveragEd]

I didn't know RCBS changed their lube so obviously I've never tried it. Mine is from the 1970s and the bottle still is less than 1/4 used since I usually neck-size my rifle cases and use carbide handgun dies. I'll have to try the newer stuff.

Ed

 

[DWalt]

For a great many years I have used only STP as a case lube (or, as someone else mentioned, Johnson's Paste Wax works OK too, and is also a fair bullet lube) and powdered graphite for an inside case neck lube.

By the way - the easiest way to remove a stuck case in a die is dry ice - If you can find it. Let the die and case soak in dry ice for a few hours, and the case will fall right out. Brass shrinks far more under low temperature than steel does, over twice as much.

 

[gwpercle]

Like DWalt mentioned , STP is an excellant case lube , It is a bit greasy , but gets the job done.
I had some 303 British , once fired in the largest chamber in creation, STP was the only thing that worked as a lube .
In a pinch the honey thick stuff will do the jod and it's not expensive .
Gary

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The two once tin of Imperial Sizing Wax costs less than $9.00 and will last you A LONG TIME, a little goes a long way! You will not stick a case ever again.
Imperial Sizing Die Wax 2 Oz by REDDING RELOADING PRODUCTS

Which part did you break on your die? The decapping pin?

 

[DWalt]

The two once tin of Imperial Sizing Wax costs less than $9.00 and will last you A LONG TIME, a little goes a long way! You will not stick a case ever again.
Imperial Sizing Die Wax 2 Oz by REDDING RELOADING PRODUCTS

And a 16 ounce can of Johnson's Paste Wax is about $6 last time I looked. And it also works every bit as well as the much vaunted and far more expensive Renaissance Wax for use on your guns.

 

[linde]

For years, I used RCBS case lube with the case lube pad. I recently started reloading 223/5.56 . . . and needed new case lube . . . 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

I use RCBS dies but had the exact same great experience as MyDads38. Am a former case lube pad user for necked cartridges and recently started using the wax-like Hornady UNIQUE Case Lube for .223 Rem.

Apply it very lightly with fingers on the outside (as you inspect the case carefully) and a little on a Q-Tip for inside the neck. Remember . . . a little dab'll do ya.

I do still apply One Shot on straight walled pistol cartridges using Dillon dies and continue to have great success.

Russ

 

[old&slow]

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.

+1 !!!
I've tried several different case lubes on bottle neck cases.. Then started using Imperial Sizing Wax ,, good stuff. I use the Hornady One shot on pistol cases also.

 

[M16]

I'd junk those Hornady dies. That should solve your problem. Hornady makes some good stuff but reloading dies ain't one of them.

 

[ken158]

You have received good info on case lube... I use Hornady spray without issues but I would really like to see a pic of the die you broke in half - can you post a few?