Old Amunition - Reloading Methodology https://systemz.online/reloading-methodology/old-amunition AllGunStuff Discussion Board en-US Thu, 07 May 2026 23:52:17 +0000 wpForo 60 Re: Old Amunition https://systemz.online/reloading-methodology/old-amunition#post-1347 Thu, 23 Jun 2022 07:29:43 +0000

How necessary is it to use lube in the case neck? I have never done it because I shoot little enough that  my ammunition stands for months.

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I get the impression you think the lube is for shooting ?
The lube is for when sizing, if there is no lube in the neck the expander ball really works the neck hard. If you load in one straight process, clean - size - prime - charge- seat bullet then there is lube left on and in case - the way most people do it and have been for years, its so little lube. Some folk tumble after whole process to get all oil and hand acids of cases for storage - but the bit of lube remains in the neck area then, never been a problem ????
                            OR
Add some steps -  clean - size - (brush in neck, wash, dry and tumble or just one of these steps) prime - charge- seat bullet.
..........................................................I think if you use dry lube or wax cleaning the neck is not a "have too" I also now think that wax may protect the case from this problem.
YOU MUST lube inside the neck or the expander balls work will severely shorten your case life.


Indeed, but not entirely, as if one would oil/wax the bullet before seating to minimize friction upon seating. That was the only sensible explanation why there would be wax or oil in a stored cartridge.

I do lube the inside of the neck when sizing, but I also thoroughly clean it after sizing.

]]> Reloading Methodology Ds J https://systemz.online/reloading-methodology/old-amunition#post-1347 Re: Old Amunition https://systemz.online/reloading-methodology/old-amunition#post-1343 Thu, 23 Jun 2022 01:44:07 +0000
I also use Imperial. Wonderful stuff. I dont think that it would cause problems. Too much might affect the propellant as can be seen in the picture Treeman posted. Cartridge in the sun will make that worse.

I use so little that it's all but invisible. My normal method is to impregnate a meranti dowel with some wax I then I give it a turn in the neck. There's so little that it doesn't even catch any grains of propellant so I'm going to move this very minor concern to my list of things to forget about.]]> Reloading Methodology oafpatroll https://systemz.online/reloading-methodology/old-amunition#post-1343 Re: Old Amunition https://systemz.online/reloading-methodology/old-amunition#post-1342 Thu, 23 Jun 2022 00:37:16 +0000
How necessary is it to use lube in the case neck? I have never done it because I shoot little enough that  my ammunition stands for months.

***************************
I get the impression you think the lube is for shooting ?
The lube is for when sizing, if there is no lube in the neck the expander ball really works the neck hard. If you load in one straight process, clean - size - prime - charge- seat bullet then there is lube left on and in case - the way most people do it and have been for years, its so little lube. Some folk tumble after whole process to get all oil and hand acids of cases for storage - but the bit of lube remains in the neck area then, never been a problem ????
                            OR
Add some steps -  clean - size - (brush in neck, wash, dry and tumble or just one of these steps) prime - charge- seat bullet.
..........................................................I think if you use dry lube or wax cleaning the neck is not a "have too" I also now think that wax may protect the case from this problem.
YOU MUST lube inside the neck or the expander balls work will severely shorten your case life.]]> Reloading Methodology Treeman https://systemz.online/reloading-methodology/old-amunition#post-1342 Re: Old Amunition https://systemz.online/reloading-methodology/old-amunition#post-1341 Wed, 22 Jun 2022 23:40:45 +0000 Reloading Methodology Ds J https://systemz.online/reloading-methodology/old-amunition#post-1341 Re: Old Amunition https://systemz.online/reloading-methodology/old-amunition#post-1340 Wed, 22 Jun 2022 12:00:24 +0000
I used to use olive oil as case lube and although it works extremely well, not removing it completely has caused the primers to become contaminated and led to misfires.]]> Reloading Methodology Tripodmvr https://systemz.online/reloading-methodology/old-amunition#post-1340 Re: Old Amunition https://systemz.online/reloading-methodology/old-amunition#post-1338 Wed, 22 Jun 2022 08:37:06 +0000
Lee lube is a soluble wax and is chemically inert and does not cause a problem.


Would you expect Imperial Sizing Wax to be similarly benign? That's what I use, very sparingly, and have never cleaned necks. I have also never pulled a bullet from a reloaded rifle case after more than a couple of days so have no idea if i could have the same issue.]]> Reloading Methodology oafpatroll https://systemz.online/reloading-methodology/old-amunition#post-1338 Re: Old Amunition https://systemz.online/reloading-methodology/old-amunition#post-1330 Wed, 22 Jun 2022 01:15:17 +0000 Reloading Methodology Tripodmvr https://systemz.online/reloading-methodology/old-amunition#post-1330 Re: Old Amunition https://systemz.online/reloading-methodology/old-amunition#post-1329 Tue, 21 Jun 2022 14:44:06 +0000
Found this on Saubier.com

I had this problem with a rifle i sold to a friend in 6mmAI.
Fireforming fed factory no problem - handloads he was blowing primers out with 6mm rem loads - thought he had loaded the wrong powder, messed up his scales etc etc - had me pulling my hair out and he was looking very darkly at me
Turned out he wasnt cleaning out the case lube on the inside of the neck when he was loading them - they stuck together like you had glued them in, after a month or so! Only found out when we went to pull some of his loads to re weigh his charges. Pressure went up dramatically as you can imagine
Do you carefully de-lube your necks - or do you use graphite?
Reply With Quote

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I have never been too fussed with carefully cleaning out necks, just a brush through ? I have without fail used Lee lube, some of mt .270 rounds are 2014, no issues /
]]> Reloading Methodology Treeman https://systemz.online/reloading-methodology/old-amunition#post-1329 Re: Old Amunition https://systemz.online/reloading-methodology/old-amunition#post-1327 Tue, 21 Jun 2022 12:34:24 +0000 Found this on Saubier.com

I had this problem with a rifle i sold to a friend in 6mmAI.
Fireforming fed factory no problem - handloads he was blowing primers out with 6mm rem loads - thought he had loaded the wrong powder, messed up his scales etc etc - had me pulling my hair out and he was looking very darkly at me
Turned out he wasnt cleaning out the case lube on the inside of the neck when he was loading them - they stuck together like you had glued them in, after a month or so! Only found out when we went to pull some of his loads to re weigh his charges. Pressure went up dramatically as you can imagine
Do you carefully de-lube your necks - or do you use graphite?
Reply With Quote]]> Reloading Methodology Tripodmvr https://systemz.online/reloading-methodology/old-amunition#post-1327 Re: Old Amunition https://systemz.online/reloading-methodology/old-amunition#post-1324 Tue, 21 Jun 2022 11:26:37 +0000
Lots of reports of bullets chemically bonded to cases after a long time. A culprit seems to have been some types of case lubricant that had not been properly removed before seating the bullet.

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Never heard of it being blamed for a rifle failure,but then how would one know.
Actually never heard of old ammo being blamed for rifle failure.]]> Reloading Methodology Treeman https://systemz.online/reloading-methodology/old-amunition#post-1324