I have to resize about 4000, 5.56 cases. I normally use rcbs case lube on a pad, 10-15 at a time. I am looking for a method that would be as good, only faster. If you have a method that would be as good, yet faster please inform me.
Doug

For that many cases, I'd buy a carbide size die.

No need to buy a die just use a good spray lube or make your own.

There is a recipe for making your own here and it is cheap.

I use midway in the pump bottle and one is enough to do a lot of cases.

I most likely well make my own after the ones I have run out but that well be a long time yet.

Thank you for the search suggestion, (I should have thought of that).
Looks like the Castor oil will be tried first.
Doug

I've tried 'em all.... and have settled on vegetable coking oil spray- olive oil, canola oil- it doesn't seem to matter much. Put the cases into a plastic bucket, give 'em a spritz and a good shaking, and you're ready to resize.

To remove the excess oil afterward, cut the leg off an old pair of blue jeans, sew one end closed to form a long pouch, throw the cases in and roll them around. Takes the oil right off. This also works well for removing excess bullet lube when loading cast boolets.

When the pants leg becomes loaded with oil, throw it in the washer. Good as new!

Yes- I'm cheap. But it works better than any of the commercial lubes I've tried.

Porosonik.

I use Imperial wax on all of my small batch loadings of about 100 or less.

That being said, I use Hornady One Shot spray lube when I'm loading batches of .223 in one of my progressive presses.

I dump about 500 at a time into a large plastic mixing bowl and spray them down wet then I use a motion much like panning for gold and spray them some more if needed. Continue swirling the brass to distribute the lube evenly and speed the evaporation of the carrying agent.....then load.....repeat

I use a giant plastic bowl that can be found at Walmart in the kitchen area for a couple bucks

I use one shot, for batches of 50 or 100 rifle. If had that many case too do I would own a set of carbide die.
I load aprox 7 to 10k of 38spcl a year and I use carbide. real good investment for me

I think the spray lubes would be the way to go, and there are several options there. One Shot claims to not require cleaning (won't mess up primers) so that might save some time. The DIY lanolin spray works well too, but you may want to wash the cases after sizing to get the lube off.

Are you using a progressive press?

quote:

One Shot claims to not require cleaning

I found one shot works well but stopped buying it when I had to many half empty cans around that wouldn't spray any more.

I use the Hornady one-shot. dump the cases in a large tupperware tray, spray, shake, spray. shake and size away...

the number of cases you do at a time is governed by the size of your tupperware tub.. I try not to put so many cases in the tub that would make more than one layer.. usually about 150 at a time for me..

I use home made case lube of lanolin and alcohol for my bulk sizing of Lake City cases.

I put the cases in a large zip lock bag and then spray and massage the bag to spread the lube.

quote:

Originally posted by bigrdp51:
I use home made case lube of lanolin and alcohol for my bulk sizing of Lake City cases.

I put the cases in a large zip lock bag and then spray and massage the bag to spread the lube.

Same here.

4K is a bunch! If it was me I would set up my Dillon with only the sizing die in. Lay out a row of a couple hundred necks facing one way and hit them with Dillon spray case lube giving the inside of the necks a good shot, put in a plastic tub and shake the bunch of 4K around. Wash & clean after I size the batch them inspect & sort again.

Have fun. Inspect the process often, large batch's are easy to get in a pickle.

quote:

Originally posted by McKay:

quote:

Originally posted by bigrdp51:
I use home made case lube of lanolin and alcohol for my bulk sizing of Lake City cases.

I put the cases in a large zip lock bag and then spray and massage the bag to spread the lube.

Same here.

You must be almost as smart, good looking and modest as I am.

Cheap and easy!
In a 10" x 10" x 4" Tupperware bowl I put 3 handfuls of brass, 2 pumps of PAM non-aerosol vegetable oil. Another 3 handfuls of brass, another 2 pumps. put lid onto bowl, shake and roll thoroughly. All cases are lubed sufficiently and runs through die with no problem.
Yes, I will clean the brass a second time now but that is no problem.
Doug

I finished this lot of brass.
Here are my statistics:
Approximately 6 +/- hrs.
4000 cases sized in single stage press.
Approximately 10-11 cases sized per minute.

I am pleased with the results.
Thank you for your suggestions,

Doug

Sounds like you knocked it out, but I was going to add something.
If you wet tumble your brass, try using Armor All wash and wax soap in your tumbler instead of dish soap.
It leaves a nice waxy film on the brass. I've done pistol brass without lube when using it and it works smoothly. Haven't tried 556 brass with it yet though.

Some interesting ideas here. Always good to find an economic (read cheap)way to do things.I have used the oil on bulk runs.The point here is that there are so many items that we use daily that can be purchased as the base product. 2 cases in point. #1= tandy's leather cement. It is formica cement sold in little bottles for a grand profit. #2 (your wives are love this) Nail polish remover is MEK, (methyl ethyl ketone)+ can be purchased by the gallon at your local chem. store.

I also consider how easy it is to clean up after sizing. Most oils work well but are difficult to get off after sizing and most reloaders will tumble their brass to get them clean. Spray cooking oils are the same, so my favorite easy to use is the lanolin/alcohol mix (get 90% alcohol as 70% has too much water that won't evaporate). Lanolin left on cases after sizing is easily removed and I don't mind handling the lanolin coated brass (keeps my hands so soft ) . Another method I use for lubing a lot of brass at one time is Mink Oil Boot Dressing cream. Toss a bunch of brass in a large plastic bag 100-200, use a teaspoon full of MOBD and squish the bag to coat all the cases. This method has worked for me with batches of LC brass both 30-06 and 5.56...

Wiping down the cases is really not that time consuming (especially when you are doing something you enjoy).It is an American tendency to always try for a faster + more effient method.It draws to mind the character of Orr in "Catch 22"

quote:

Originally posted by drm-hp:
I finished this lot of brass.
Here are my statistics:
Approximately 6 +/- hrs.
4000 cases sized in single stage press.
Approximately 10-11 cases sized per minute.

I am pleased with the results.
Thank you for your suggestions,

Doug

This is why I use a progressive press for. 223/5.56

4 more pulls of the handle and you would have had 4000k loaded rounds.....finished and done

MEK ? The better carburetor cleaners have a good bit of MEK , it works ! BUT MEK is a powerful chemical and should be handled very carefully !! It's dangerous especially to the liver .

I bought a quart of MEK.
Cost me $8!!

George

When I have the time Hornady Unique Case Lube
Otherwise, Dillon spray
Neither has ever failed