I'm casting .355 for 9mm and .380 also .451 for .45 acp. Average about 1000 rounds a month. The .45 load is getting stable. I'm using lyman 4500 sizer/luber with a beezwax lube. Trying different lubes. All leave a film on the case.

How do you clean the lube off the bullet and case? Solvents, elbow grease?

I'm using lyman 4500 sizer/luber with a beezwax lube. Trying different lubes. All leave a film on the case. How do you clean the lube off the bullet and case? Just wipe the lube off with a clean rag. Would prefer not to use solvents at this point. After 43 years of reloading, have not had any problems with a VERY THIN coat of lube left on a cartridge.

This is not the whole answer to your problem. The solution would be not to get excess lube on the bullets when you size them and keep the insides of the dies as clean as possible. Ideally when the bullets come out of your lubricator/sizer, there should only be lube in the lube grooves, a very thin coat of lube on the bearing surfaces if at all, and NONE on the nose. When positioning bullets on the casemouths, keep a clean rag handy, and periodically wipe your finger-tips so lube will not accumulate on them. If your cartridges are coming out of the seater die with excess lube on the cases, disassemble the die and clean it out with solvent. An accumulation of lube in the seater plug can cause bullets to be seated deeper than desired. Try to be as clean as possible while reloading to avoid spending time wiping down cartridges.

Just wipe the lube off with a clean rag. Would prefer not to use solvents at this point. After 43 years of reloading, have not had any problems with a VERY THIN coat of lube left on a cartridge.

This is not the whole answer to your problem. The solution would be not to get excess lube on the bullets when you size them and keep the insides of the dies as clean as possible. Ideally when the bullets come out of your lubricator/sizer, there should only be lube in the lube grooves, a very thin coat of lube on the bearing surfaces if at all, and NONE on the nose. When positioning bullets on the casemouths, keep a clean rag handy, and periodically wipe your finger-tips so lube will not accumulate on them. If your cartridges are coming out of the seater die with excess lube on the cases, disassemble the die and clean it out with solvent. An accumulation of lube in the seater plug can cause bullets to be seated deeper than desired. Try to be as clean as possible while reloading to avoid spending time wiping down cartridges.

When I'm done I've recently been wiping off with a rag with a little denatured alcohol on it. It seems to get the sizing lube and everything off. I haven't had any problems yet but am I asking for ones?? Mike B.

When I'm done I've recently been wiping off with a rag with a little denatured alcohol on it. I haven't had any problems yet but am I asking for ones?? Mike B.Denatured alcohol on a rag (as long as the rag isn't saturated) shouldn't hurt at all since it will quickly evaporate. Would be more concerned if an oil based parts solvent were used since this is very penetrating. I just use a clean rag which removes almost as much lube as alcohol would and it has never given me any problems either. Would rather keep everything clean while reloading so there is little to no cleanup afterwards.

I use liquid alox on mine. I have tried alcohol, mineral spirits, and lacquer thiner. Lacquer thiner works best for me. The others worked, but required more elbow grease to do the job. I use a small piece of paper towel and refresh the piece after every 5 to 10 rounds. It is best to perform this operation away from open flames and in freash air.
Cheasywan