Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Homemade brass sizing lube?

I used STP during my youth, and it worked as well as most other branded "case" lubes. Times were tight, and my 1960 Chevy stove-bolt six ran on a 50-50 mix of 30wt and STP. I had what was still left sliming the innards of the STP cans, and collected it for sizing lube.

If you use Lee Collet dies the lubrication problem goes away.

For times I'm not using these, I find One Shot is about as easy as it could be. Stand the batch of cases in a loading block, a quick spritz with the aerosol from above, to get it inside and outside the cases, let them have a few minutes to dry, and you're good to go. I don't know how it could be easier, and a little goes a long way. There's no need to worry about the stuff being left inside the cases, and I give each loaded round a quick wipe with a paper towel or clean cloth before boxing them up.

Google 6.5 Guy on Youtube. They make a lube consisting of Lanolin oil mixed with 100% Isopropyl alcohol. I'm a big fan of Imperial Sizing Die Wax and have used it for over 20 years and still on the same small tin! Just incredible. But I recently started to shoot the 6.5 Creedmoor to shoot steel and you burn up a lot more ammo. I tried the formula and could not believe the results!!! The cases size so smoothly with the lanolin. If anything better that Imperial Wax and you can feel it. A bonus is that since you spray it on the insides of the necks are lubed too! I used to lube that is a separate step.

Hornady One Shot is horrendously expensive in Australia so I don't use it and have never used it. But the lanolin does work and the ratio suggested by 6.5Guys appear to be spot on! Its brilliant stuff! Certainly a time saver in bulk reloading

Big fan of this stuff; squirt some on a piece of foam and roll cases, resize while wet. Costs a couple of bucks for a big jug at walmart. Wipes off after sizing with a paper towel.

You have either not seen Imperial or you have not seen lanolin, they are not the same at all.

Not a problem I have ever had.

Must be doing something wrong with the Imperial, probably using too much. Instead of fingers I will try a rag to apply.

Thanks for the info on the Lanolin recipe, just ordered some as I was going to get some anyway to rejuvenate my wool clothes, same recipe may work for both and will be easier than washing it in in the bath tub. I didn't know it was soluble in alcohol. I used it for sailboat rigging where even stainless and bronze hardware especially the cables would corrode after salt build up.

I have always used those little tubes of Lee. They are cheap and they work great. You can even mix it with water and spray it on.

I use my fingers but there is very little Imperial on them. The application actually looks like I'm trying to wipe something off of the case with my thumb and first two fingertips. None goes on the case shoulder.

Was at SW today, Hornady One Shot (10oz) was $17.99. Add tax and there goes a 20 dollar bill. The stuff ain't cheap.

I switched to lanolin and heat last spring. I much prefer it over other lubes I have used for resizing my dies.

I use the Imperial sizing die wax for most of my reloading......................but if I'm doing 500 cases I use a product called Brass Butter, night and day better than One Shot.

This

DBoston,

I use Imperial on a typical lube-pad--and use very little. It doesn't get on the shoulder, and merely handling the rounds during the rest of the loading process gets rid of 99% of what's on the body.

Maybe there's Canadian Lanolin that's different. Like back bacon.

This thread is like a lot here - minutiae and alchemy. Why do things the easy way when you can impress the crowd with your magic and take the long way around?

Jesus man, I got a picture of back-boob from the Walmart thread!

Erk...not good.

I just got a lifetime supply of Lanolin for less than one can of One Shot. Both the glycol and 90+ percent Isopropyl worked, heating the Lanolin helped.
I also made a DIY version of Imperial with 1/3 each of Lanolin, Paraffin, and mineral oil. Melt in a double boiler and take off the heat before adding the mineral oil. Add half and let cool and then add more to get the consistency you want, reheat if necessary. If too thick add mineral spirits away from the stove. I made a heavy duty version of this with motor mica in it. Tried it on forming 264 brass to 257 Weatherby and it felt like it wasn't even contacting the die where as before it took some effort. I like the Alchemy.

And you saved how much money?

I handload a LOT of ammo, and a 2-ounce tin of Imperial lasts several years. Of course, i also don't always FL size, and use One-Shot for some stuff, especially smaller cases. But still find Imperial to be a bargain.

I've had the same experience with Hornady Unique. I'm not sure how much difference there is between it and Imperial, but I suspect not much. Dab an index finger in it and roll the base of the brass between that finger and thumb. It takes very little and you'll have to be careful not to get too much. It isn't messy and wipes off your fingers and/or brass easily. Adds practically no time to the process of picking up the case and sticking it into the shell holder. Only have to add Unique to fingers every 3rd or 4th case. I'm on my second or third little tub of it and suspect the remainder in this tub might outlive me. There is a new tub in the stash in case it doesn't.

I just checked the current price at Midway and was surprised to see it is now $6. I think I paid $2 each for the two I currently have.

A friend who happens to be a druggist makes large quantities of the lanolin/alcohol concoction and puts it in spray bottles. He loads huge quantities of pistol and rifle ammo in several Dillon 1050s. He gave me a bottle of it....worked well but the Unique does fine for my single stage press.