Q: for Lee Turret Press Owners

[benedict1]

A little disclaimer re Tungsten Carbide dies and dirty cases

I wouldn't advise running brass through a die until the dirt has been gotten off, regardless of method, as the dirt is like sandpaper.

With all due respect to my colleagues who have commented so far, there is nothing that is going to scratch a tungsten carbide or titanium carbide pistol die that would be found on the ground at a shooting range, unless somebody dumped some diamond dust there.

Check the Rockwell Hardness scale, or any other hardness scale. The only way to even work tungsten carbide is with diamond cutting/polishing wheels.

If it makes you feel better go ahead and tumble brass. It is true that that if you have some grit on the loaded rounds they can foul your pistol's mechanism. However, after going through the tungsten carbide resizing die there is not going to be anything much on that surface anyhow.

What you must watch for is that if you clean brass until it's shiny and then don't lube it when you load, the resizing die can gall the brass and peel off chunks of it leaving striations on the case.

Do whatever makes you comfortable but I sure wouldn't worry much about carbide dies getting scratched by sand, grit, etc.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

"With all due respect to my colleagues who have commented so far, there is nothing that is going to scratch a tungsten carbide or titanium carbide pistol die that would be found on the ground at a shooting range, unless somebody dumped some diamond dust there."

With respect to my colleague, not all dies, not even all pistol dies, are made of tungsten carbide or titanium nitride. Most rifle dies are simply steel and some pistols dies are as well. Sand will scratch them. For example: The Lee 7.62 X 25 MM dies are steel, not carbide and carbide ones are not available. Better to be safe than sorry when one doesn't know what someone else owns.

 

[cloudcroft]

benedict1,

Yes, you're right, but strange things have happened, such as some people reporting that reloading nickel cases have scratched their dies...which dies, I'm not sure, nor do I understand HTH nickel could scratch steel dies let alone carbide.

But if you can find assorted precious stones in fields across the country, I suppose one could find "diamond sand" out here in the desert, where I shoot and into which my empty cases fall.

Anyway, I still don't want sand going into my dies...it's so "untidy."

-- John D.

 

[benedict1]

I didn't mean to ruffle any feathers guys! I was only speaking of the dies made of tungsten carbide or titanium nitride(excuse the error, please) I know many dies are not made of this. And as I said, do what you feel good about doing. I also carefully noted I only load pistol and was speaking only of those types of dies.

I load nickel cases too--they will gall if not lubed just as brass will if a die is particularly tight. They seem to just have more drag.

 

[308win]

I know that carbon dies don't require lube but I lube my cases anyway. Lube is cheap and you don't have to worry about case stretch although I have to admit that I don't know how much of an issue this is as I have never measured mine before and after. I do know that if you lube the cases it do take all the effort out of the resizing.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Aw, benedict, we just wanna give ya a rash of bologna ya know. (grin)

 

[Zippy06]

Dave R.
I concur with the other Guys. Had my Lee turret since '86.
I just helped, a friend, set up a Lee pro 1000 progressive. He loves it.
Lee turret 100/hr. Lee pro 1000 300/hr.
I have, done, some upgrades. The Lee pro disk powder measure.
Bought some mesh bags for the tumbler(Midwayusa/Lyman) (.40S&W brass in the bags).
I get back from the range. Everything in the tumbler. Separate 40's.
Have fun.

 

[cloudcroft]

benedict1,

No, you didn't ruffle my feathers! Being a computer-literate Sasquatch, I have fur...and it wasn't ruffled, either.

And you are right about tungsten-carbide being harder than sand (quartz mostly I guess) so HTH could it scratch it? If I am correct, quartz is a 7 on the hardness scale and tungsten-carbide is a 9.

I don't know. It's just that I don't like to reload dirty cases...just my personal preference.

Regards,

-- John D.

 

[benedict1]

No, you didn't ruffle my feathers! Being a computer-literate Sasquatch, I have fur...and it wasn't ruffled, either

Sure glad about that. I have been accused of having scales, so feathers and fur are foreign to me!

(One of the things I keep forgetting is that emails, forum posts, etc are not a great way to communicate. Sometimes I might sound abrupt, but don't mean too at all. Being a tiny, loveable creature and all. )

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

We know you're a knuckle dragger, you're not fooling us. But we'll forgive ya, being as we (especially me) have Zero room to talk about anybody else, rude we are. (grin)