[Shinken]

Not sure which die (I am using the 4 die set from Lee) is causing this, but after crimping the external case is coming out kinda dirty. First I though some lubrication may have entered one of the dies, but now I am thinking that maybe it is some powder that is getting smudged in the dies. Is this normal, if not how can I minimize this?

CC

[res45]

Hi Shinken,I'm assuming you starting out with clean brass so thats is not the culprit,you shouldn't be getting any powder smudged on your cases from inside the dies either I know of no way that would even be possible. What you need to do is take each one of the dies apart and clean them throughly to remove the tooling compound left behind by the tooling process thats probably what getting on you cases. The FCD I didn't take apart I just flushed it with mineral spirits used a clean rag inside and out relubed with rem oil and I get nice clean cases throughout the whole reloading process.

[rcmodel]

Lead bullets?

Not enough case mouth bell is shaving off bullet lube or lead and leaving it on the case after seating / crimping.

It's very unlikely / impossible it is caused by powder coming out of the case as the bullet is seated.

rcmodel

[res45]

Double post Grrrrrrr.

[Well Regulated]

If it's a little black smudge line, then it is most likely tarnish. The seating die will make contact with the brass and acts as an abrasive against the brass. This is normal and happens on all my brass and that's because I don't put a liquid metal polish to clean/tumble the brass first. I only use dry media.

[WayneConrad]

My first guess would be some oily residue in a die. It might even be an oil left in the die from manufacturing or put in the die to keep it from rusting during shipping and storage. It takes only a very tiny amount of any kind of oil in a die to do cause this. Now and then I'll use some Ed's Red, Hoppes, or whatever else is handy to clean out a dirty die, and no matter how many dry patches or clean rags I use after, it always seem I get dirty marks on cases for a little while after.

To see if I'm right, hit your die with some brake cleaner. That'll clean it right out and won't leave anything behind. The die will be dry as a bone. Since it's a Lee die set, use non-chlorinated brake cleaner so you won't hurt the rubber O-rings.

[ArchAngelCD]

I agree with what "rcmodel" posted. That's probably the culprit.