Jump to content
Brian Enos's Forums... Maku mozo!

Lubed Cases


dbletap_ed

Recommended Posts

I have always loaded my 40’s using a carbide die w/o any lube. I have been nursing a bad case of tennis elbow which is finally feeling better. However, when I went to load on my 650 today my elbow hurt some. I sprayed a little silicon on the cases in the case feeder which made things go much better. My question is do I need to tumble the silicon off of the loaded rounds?

Thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Larry Cazes

I don't think so. I've been using Hornady One Shot lube on my cases for years and just wipe the loaded rounds in a towel. This leaves probably 30-40% of the lube on the cases. After shooting a match, 150 rounds or so, I notice that quite a bit of the lube and sharpie marker ink has cooked off and coats the chamber, breachface, and the bottom of my scope on my open gun. Even though it does leave a mess, the residue has not caused any failures to function since mine and my wifes open gun have run 100% since we've gotten them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I recently read in my Sierra loading manual that leaving case-lube on after reloading is a "bad idea".

The theory is that the case temporarily expands when fired and is held by the chamber. When the gas pressure goes down, the case shrinks back down and is extracted.

If the case is lubed, it won't "stick" for that fraction of a second and too much rearward force is applied to the breachface.

Mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A whole lot of us have put a gazillion or so rounds downrange with lube left on the cases without problem one. I never clean the lube off my 223.

If a rifle's action is so pathetically flimsy that it can't take the forces generated, it needs to be turned into a wall hanger. The risk of detonating rounds during tumbling/cleaning, while small, certainly has to outweigh the hazards of firing rounds with a little lube on them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I recently read in my Sierra loading manual that leaving case-lube on after reloading is a "bad idea".

The theory is that the case temporarily expands when fired and is held by the chamber. When the gas pressure goes down, the case shrinks back down and is extracted.

If the case is lubed, it won't "stick" for that fraction of a second and too much rearward force is applied to the breachface.

Maybe on a blowback action it would be a problem. The 1911 and almost every other pistol 9mm on up have locking breeches. That's what holds the slide closed, not brass "gripping" the chamber. Nickel brass is plenty slippery, but there are no warnings for it.

FWIW, old machinegun actions used to have oiler pads to oil the rounds being fed into the chamber for better extraction..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm not so sure about firing a bunch of lubed rifle rounds. Has anyone else ever heard of a particular lab or firearm company "proofing" their action with a normal factory load that was well oiled? I read that somewhere. Maybe it was a military firearm years ago, but I did read that tale somewhere.

I do know that in my bolt actions a wet chamber will cause ejector marks on the case head similar to a hot load. All I know is I ain't shoot'n no 54,000cup round in my rifle with a lubed round or chamber unless it's an emergency.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, I probably read it in a gun rag, and you know better than to question a gun rag!!

Whoa! Sorry about that. I take it all back. Hope nobody revokes what little JuJu I have left for my blasphemy. :P

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Also, when I finally get an AR and I don't feel like tumbling my lubed rounds, I will appreciate it if the kind members here will remind me that it is O.K. to leave the lube on. :P

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...