New to reloading. After the reload how do you get the lube off

[Mikelindsey]

Just wondering, after cleaning and polishing empty cases and reloading a bunch. What is the best way to get rid of any case lube left over? Do you just tumble it? Also which is best and what's the difference between walnut and corncob media? Thanks

[Steve RA]

Yes, just tumble. If using lead bullets don't tumble very long. Walnut cleans faster/better, corncob will give a little better shine. Use Nu-Finish with either.

[Sarge]

I tumble 15-20 minutes in corncob after loading.

The basic difference between walnut and corn is walnut cleans the best and corn polishes the best. Some mix them as a shortcut but I like 2 hours of walnut followed by 2 hours of corn.

[Mikelindsey]

Just talked to someone at Dillon. They recommend running your reloaded brass bullets in the tumbler for around 15 minutes. He also said corncob was the best media to use. It's from the horses mouth so that's what I'll be doing.

[pmt]

For pistol: I don't use lube. I tumble the cases for an hour in corn before reloading

For .223 I tumble for an hour before resizing. Lube/resize/swage/etc then tumble in corn again for an hour before dumping into the casefeeder.

For .308 I tumble, then lube/size/reload on a single stage, then clean each round by hand.

[Sarge]

Just talked to someone at Dillon. They recommend running your reloaded brass bullets in the tumbler for around 15 minutes. He also said corncob was the best media to use. It's from the horses mouth so that's what I'll be doing.

I tumble 15-20 minutes in corncob after loading.

Eerily similar recommendations.

[Mikelindsey]

Yep Sarge. You were right on

[TBeazlie]

Does not work so well for rifle, but in the past for pistol I used One Shot and Did not worry about removing it. Now I still use One Shot but tumble with stainless pin after size and deprime.

[Mikelindsey]

Hey TBeazlie. Could you explain what stainless pin is? Thanks

[TBeazlie]

It is wet tumbling with stainless steel pins, Dawn and Lemishine in a tumbler . gives you shinny brass. Search this site or you tube and you will get all the info you need.

[Yeti]

Hi Mike, try some Hornady One Shot Case Lube spray already referenced after tumbling cases, but prior to resizing your pistol brass. Works well and no need to clean it off unless you are crazy with the spray can. Find yourself a smallish plastic tub (~12"x 12" works well) and put clean cases in to cover only the bottom. Spray and aggitate...spray and aggitate a wee more, if nec. Load away. I think you will like it.

I like walnut/Nu Finish for media.

[Sarge]

I only use one shot and I still tumble after loading. The rounds stay shiny longer and they are not even slightly tacky. Even using sparingly one shot is just tacky enough to attract powder flakes and other residue that eventually starts clogging up case gauges

[Ace38super]

Using One Shot here's what works for me: lay towel on flat surface and dump one layer of ammo on it, maybe 100 rounds, then spray with glass cleaner. Roll rounds in towel and you are done. Use only glass cleaner with NO ammonia!

[427Cobra]

With precision rifle rounds I wipe each case off as I go, with the stuff I load on my 650 I dump the loaded rounds in a ammo can

[overdriv]

With carbide pistol dies, no you don't need case lube. But put some One Shot or in my case my lanolin/alcohol mix, on the corner of a rag. Rub the rag between your finger every third case, then as you feed the cases just rub them between your fingers.

The ease of pull on the press handle will be very noticable as compared to no lube at all. And there isn't enough case lube on the finished rounds to hardly feel.

[Yeti]

Yup, I like to use a bit of OS lube with carbide dies too. Much smoother operation.

I understand some will want to remove the lube entirely from loaded rounds. I've always strived to use as little as possible and the small amount of residue left has never been an issue for me...yet.

[Mikelindsey]

Thanks to all. There are so many different ways to do things

[ano]

with high volume short ammo like 40 , 45 etc I dont bother with lube, but for my precsision loads of 38spl, 357 mag etc, I lube.

[Tom Freeman]

With carbide pistol dies, no you don't need case lube.

You might not need it, but a short spray of Hornady One Shot sure makes things easier.

[Rob Tompkins]

Another vote for One Shot and done. I have rolled cases in an old towel after reloading but only when I went a little heavy with the One Shot.

[purecharger]

I roll my loaded rounds on a tray with a little bit of mineral spirits, then use a towel to dry.

[mikeinctown]

One shot here and no tumbling after finished. I don't notice anything on the cases when I am done. A couple shots in a bag of 150 cases goes a long way.

[SixBarSpur]

I lube everything I load. Makes cycling easier with carbide pistol dies and is a must with rifle brass (no carbide here).

Using Midway or Dillon at present until gone, then will move to OS for lube.

I usually lube rifle brass before processing via decapping, trimming, sizing on my 650. I find that I

don't need to re-lube prior to loading since I back my sizing die out just so the decap pin pushes thru the

flash hole to remove any corn cob that may still be in there (or brass chip from trimming). No more

resizing takes place so no more lube is needed. Reloading takes place on my RL1050 where the primer

pocket gets swaged during the final loading.

I will then tumble every loaded round for min of 1 hr in corn cob in a dillon tumbler.

I use a Gralab darkroom photo timer to run my tumbler as it runs for an hour max and I don't have to

babysit the tumbler; set it and forget it in my well insulated/soundproof restroom area of my shop.

Get's 'em all clean, shiny with great feel. I especially like this because I then have to handle each and

every round testing it thru a case gauge to ensure proper size. YMMV...

Edited December 8, 2014 by SixBarSpur

[techj]

After de-prime/re-size I just run them in my ultrasonic cleaner to get the wax off and cleans the pockets a bit too. FWIW -- I also clean the cases initially in my U/S before resizing.

Just finished a hair over a 1,000 of 9's running about 300/batch. Once cap of the Hornday cleaner and didn't change solution.

I have enough brass always ready where waiting for it to dry is no big deal.

If I didn't already have the U/S (and weren't "thrifty" as well) I would use the steel pins.

[ams30gts]

I tumble my loaded pistol rounds in corn for maybe 30-1hr.