Hornady Imperial Lube Wax

[Watcher]

Sorry chaps, loads of questions while I get back into reloading.

Do I need a lube pad if I just buy a tin of Hornady Wax? I know a few people recommend it. Is the best way of using it just to rub it on with my fingers? Do I need to lube inside the neck?

TIA

Watcher

[spud]

use your fungers mate and only a little inside case nexks will d be more than emough you dont need much on the outside either

[EagerNoSkill]

You can use earbud for inside

Spud right a little goes a long way

Made by Redding

[John25]

Don't use wax inside the neck, use graphite and a cotton bud.

A pad is't essential but it will give you more control over the amount of lube and prevent over lubing which will crush the shoulder of your case.

:cheers:

[Alpha1]

I have a tray of graphite on my re loading bench I rub the case with imperial what ever they call it wax then dip the neck in the graphite they whistle through the sizing die no problem.
I am fortunate in that we have a glass blower at work and he has cuboards full of graphite in all sorts of diferent grades and lots of it.

[phaedra1106]

I use RCBS Case Slick spray, best lube I've used yet and lasts for ages, pity I can't find a supplier in the UK. Last trip to the US they took 4 bottles out of my luggage.

I did find some on Ebays US site that would ship here but at almost 3x the price :(

[dromia]

Hornady do a few types of case lube. If you are talking about the Hornady One Shot Case wax that comes in a tin like Imperial then it isn't Imperial but every bit as good and comes in a larger tin, it is lanolin based and you can smell it upon opening the tin. There is then Hornady Unique case lube again every bit as good as Imperial and Hornady One Shot Case wax but even cheaper and comes in an even bigger container so the best value for money high quality case lube around. I've done some serious case reforming with this stuff and it has never let me down. I don't use Imperial any more purely because the Hornady products are every bit as good and cost a lot less. They don't need a pad I just keep some on my fingers and rub it over the cases, no dimples, easy sizing and no stuck cases.

Hornady also do spray lubes and the pressurised spray is first rate the non toxic pump spray stuff is worse than useless. If I want to lube a lot of cases quickly then i make my own lube by mixing one part pure liquid lanolin with 4 parts 99% isopropyl alcohol and putting it on with a pump spray. I mainly use this for cases that I will be putting through my progressives. I put the cases in a plastic bag, give them a couple of squirts, hold the top shut and roll them around in the bag 'till evenly coated.

[Watcher]

Thanks guys,

Next question will be along soon I'm sure :?

[John25]

There will always be more answers here than questions.

We all have our preferred method (yours will develop very quickly) and more than happy to share it.

Almost forty years of shooting and reloading and I still get one of those 'Oooh, I never knew that.' moments every now and then.

:cheers:

[phaedra1106]

I put the cases in a plastic bag, give them a couple of squirts, hold the top shut and roll them around in the bag 'till evenly coated.

Not just me that does that then

Now I have the STM steel media tumbler I've altered my reloading sequence,

De-Prime
Quick wash in warm water with 1tsp of citric acid to get the loose crud out then rinse with 1tsp of baking soda to neutralise
Another clean water rinse then into the tumbler - have lunch, go for a walk, annoy the kids or whatever else takes about 3 hours
Dry then spray and shake followed by full length size (.308 only)
Back in tumbler for 15mins to get lube off (.308 only)
Dry and prime with RCBS hand primer, I like this as it gives a really good feel (or tactile feedback if you're posh) when priming
Then for the .44 it's off to the turret press, for the .308 it's a single stage Lee Breech Lock Classic Cast and "hand checked" powder charge

Not the fastest system in the world but gives me very consistent results