Dorobuta

I use a mixture of liquid lanolin and isopropyl alcohol for case lube. It’s cheap, easy to make, and works like a charm.

I use the 99% alcohol - it’s the stuff they use for cleaning electronics.

It’s cheaper and better than any of the off the shelf case lubes.

BigBassMan

For rifle cases I use the old standby RCBS an lube pad. For 9 mm on the Star, every dozen or so cases a quick finger wipe of Imperial as case heads towards the sizing die makes things a little smoother, but don't really need it.

BigEd

Hornady spray on case lube for bottle neck cases.
Pistol cases anytime I size them it's a RCBS Carbide die so no lube needed.

BigBassMan

Tried the Hornady once, stuck a 223 case in a small base die, never used it again. Might try it again when I get a Super Star in 223.

Dorobuta

This is why I make my own.

Never have any problems with small base dies.

Garand

I started using my RCBS lube pad in '86 and it still works for me.

BigBassMan

Started using it in the 70s, lube came in a plastic tube that over the years cracked so it got dumped in a canning jar, so many tubes went in there that I will never have to buy any more. Now I see it in a plastic squeeze bottle. Never lube any pistol case except every now an then a 9mm if the Imperal sizing wax is handy an really don't need to. Could never count the number or rounds thru the Star presses with the carbide dies, can never wear a Star out, Elard Mock said 1 million before any repairs were needed. Only thing I have ever had happen was two decapping pins broke, end of 1/16" drill bit took care of that. Stars an Hensley an Gibbs molds, nothing better. My 38 spl Star came from a Police Dept. an loaded who knows how much it was used since it was built in 1939. It came with 2 ten cavity molds. I updated them to a 4 tube case feeder for a little more speed. Use Brewster auto indexers an Hulme case feeders, never say the need for a bullet feeder but one day may try one. One Star is set up for 38 spl. one just for 9mm an one for 45acp that I have 44, 45LC an 45AR tool heads to drop on. Star Machine Works is now run by a gentleman named Bruce Williams in NJ, bought all the old equipment an will still build them an has parts. Forgot about one problem I have with the 9mm, damm 380 an 40 cases getting mixed in! Ever seen a 40 sized down to 9mm, it ain't pretty!

John in AR

Nice. I use cheap Lee 6-cavity molds for most of my stuff, and a two-cavity one for a light 160-grain .452 bullet that they don't make the 6-cavity for.

BigBassMan

Lee molds work ok, a bunch of 2 cavity an a couple 6, their designs are a little different from Lyman an others, some don't shoot as good. Had an old 158 gr. SWC GC one an got a newer one an if would not group as well. Their TL designs are krap, lead in everything. Don't care for bevel base, plain base always groups a little tighter so that is what I use in 38 an 45. Have number 68 H&G with plain an bevel base, plain will outshoot bevel so am selling the BB one. Tested both of those with a model 25 in a Ranson rest many times. Pic below (hope it works) is a couple 12 shot groups with a model 14 at 26 yds., one is a 150 BB H&G an other is 150 RCBS PB.
Both were 158 gr. not 150

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John in AR

Case lubing is one of the reasons I never started reloading rifle calibers. With the pistol stuff I can just use carbide dies and not have to mess with lubing the cases. Honestly, if I could find a way to avoid having to lube my cast bullets I would.