dies first time use

Status
Not open for further replies.

flatsticks

Member
Joined
Nov 4, 2020
Messages
328
Had a question about using dies for the first time .

Thought I remember seeing on there that users will clean the dies before they use them .

Was to remove oil on the dies ?

If that should be done what is the simpliest method and product .

My press is in ans I want to size some brass but want to get it set up right .
 
My understanding was to clean the inside of the dies .

If there is a protectve layer on the outside that should not bother anything and may be a benefit.

Clening the inside was not sure what to use ., rubbing alcohol, acetone .

I do use boretech to clean the barrel did not think to use that product .
 
Yep... Definitely clean the inside. I also took mine apart for cleaning.
I used Powder blast and CLP to clean mine. Then a paper towel run through them. You don't want a bunch of lubricant inside them while you are using them. the CLP has protectant in it to prevent rust. The outside I wipe off with a paper towel, too. I don't like getting oily fingers when I'm reloading.
 
Well I cleaned the die and let it dry.

Made sure to add a little imperial wax to the inside of the die .

Tried two cases on both go stuck on me .

Seemd like they were lubed well not sure what went wrong .

The die did not seem too deep checked after i got them out and they were still over sized on the bottom .

Did I have the decapping pin set too long , the primers were already removed do i still need it ?
 
I usually give mine a quick cleaning with rubbing alcohol just to make sure that there isn't any oils or debris that would hinder performance. Not sure it is necessary just a precaution.
 
I bought a new die set and upon inspection found a manufacturing shaving stuck in the die between the threads of the expander ball and die body.

I’m sure it would have just broken off and been shot down a brand new 300 barrel.
Or just scored the side of some Lapua brass.
Or cut the inside of the neck.

No big deal, right?:eek:

Trust, but verify. They are supposed to be perfect, ensure they are.
I like to do it in a way I don’t ruin brass in the process.:)

I clean them because I will not abide black fingers while handloading.
I rinse mine with a solvent, because cutting oil is not a lubricant, neither is the preservative oil that may or may not be on the in-the-white dies.
I take them apart because it’s easier to inspect them, and to place a light film of my own preservative oil.
I trial run them for measurements with non-match, so I don’t maybe ruin expensive brass.

But yeah, clean is good too!:thumbup:
 
The die did not seem too deep checked after i got them out and they were still over sized on the bottom .

Did I have the decapping pin set too long , the primers were already removed do i still need it ?

If they came out with reversing the press handle they weren’t stuck.;)

If they just didn’t go far enough into the die to size all the way, it could be from too low a setting for the expander and it could be striking the bottom of the brass with the expander ball. An expander is still needed to open the neck to proper size, even if there is no primer to eject.
The expander can also be too high, not letting the brass pass by or pinching the brass against the die body as the expander tries to pass through.

If everything is proper and the brass is still too large at the base the die body should be checked. and possibly screwed in farther, to ensure a light touch to the shell holder at full stroke.
 
Disassemble and clean with spray cleaner in the green can. Reassemble and spray One Shot Lube into die and let dry. Lube cases with One Shot and be done. Spent years lubing cases by hand before I decided to splurge on a can of One shot...Never going back. And if you want to make your own One shot there is a recipe for that out there...No stuck cases...
 
I clean new dies with carb cleaner. Then spray them down with homemade spray lube, wipe off and reassemble. Same procedure when I need to clean them. Buying rusty used dies I run them through the SS pins in the case cleaner first.
 
I always clean the insides and outside threads. I don't think the factory cleans them before they ship.
 
Always disassemble
Clean
Inspect
Assemble
Light oil on outside
Light coat of case lube your using on inside

New stuff is always susceptible to metal shavings burrs and such. On a new never used die even though unlikely I would thoroughly inspect. I use denatured alcohol to clean with
 
I disassemble my dies and throw the parts in my dry tumbler using walnut and some mineral spirits. Pull them out, wipe down as needed, apply Ballistol lightly for preservative and reassemble. Easy peasy.

This works well with dies that have rust on them as well.
 
Some good infor here and I fell liek the dies were cleaned well and i did take them apart .

Let me elobarate on the stuck cases .

They did not come out on the downstrok of the press they came out of the shell holder and were stuck in say 80 percent of the way in .

To remove them I took a pair of vise grips and turned them left and right with an occasional side to side motion .

They did not come out easy and took a while to free them .

Checked the shellholder a second time to make sure it was and RCBS #10 which is for 223 .

What is the harm if I back off the decapping pin almost all the way , like barely sticking out the end of the die ?

Have a stuck case removed on the way but hate to get another one stuck that I cant get out this time .

I did spray one shot down the case and let it sit to help with extraction .

Open to ideas .
 
What is the harm if I back off the decapping pin almost all the way , like barely sticking out the end of the die ?
There’s no harm in that, you’ll want the decapping pin out far enough to completely push the primer out, that’s all.

They did not come out on the downstrok of the press they came out of the shell holder and were stuck in say 80 percent of the way in .
I’ve never had a stuck case with imperial wax. You don’t need much, but completely coat the entire exterior of the case. A little dab will do ya... between the thumb and index, and spin it around the entire outside of the case. Did you complete the upstroke of the press, or did you encounter so much resistance you just backed it out and that’s when it came out of the shell holder? I’d confirm it was a .223 FL sizer die. Let us know how you actually lubed the case.
 
Well I figure it this way, cleaning a new die is not going to hurt anything so I clean them before a first use. Solvent? Acetone, isopropanol alcohol or any bore cleaning solvent. I leave the outside with a light coat of oil. There are a dozen case lubes to be had out there and most work as advertised using the manufacturer's directions. There is also no shortage of homebrew recipes for those who want to roll their own. Like most things find what works for you and run with it. While sizing a case expect some resistance but if you are leaning on the press arm and things feel "crunchy" it's a good idea to stop and back the case out while you still can. Bad things happen. Clean dies and a good case lube and life is good.

Ron
 
Pull the decaping rod completely so when you cycle the die completely you can drive it out easily. I would use excess lube on the next case as dents mean almost nothing compared to cases being distroyed to get them out.
 
I always take new dies apart and clean them. Most of the time its not necessary but occasionally I get some metal chips out of them. It only takes a few minutes and it never hurts.
 
Took your advice AJC1 as I was thinking the same thing get rid of the decapping pin.

Like the other poster said the next case I felt resistance sooner and it bottomed out at the end of the case.

Made sure to follow the other advice and rub the imperial wax between my fingers for a few seconds longer and really make sure coverage was good .

Case went in and came out !

Used the Lyman go/ no gauge and it is sitting just a hair below flush like the factory ammo I compared it to .

Just need to be sure it fits in the chamber then time to trim and make a dummy round to length .

Step one is complete thanks for the help everybody !
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top