Q: Weird dents in .223 brass

[mongoose33]

Resizing some .223 Lake City Brass from the late 80s/early 90s.

I put some resizing wax on them, and run some of them through a Hornady full length resizing die. On some of the cases I'm getting weird dents. Not on the shoulder, which would suggest too much lube, but on the body just below the shoulder.

The dents are almost like flutes, maybe 3/16 or 1/4" long, that run longitudinally down the case just below the shoulder. It doesn't happen on all cases.

I switched to my RCBS small base sizing die, same deal. So it's no the dies presumably.

Any idea what's going on here?

EDIT: I should note that I'm using the same amount of lube I always do with other headstamps, and I don't get these dents.

RE-EDIT: That's what it was, guys--just too much lube. I've never had that kind of problem before--shoulder dents, sure, but since I switched to the wax lube, I've never had that problem again. Might be something to do with the older LC brass, but I rubbed off some of the lube w/ my fingers and the dents went away.

 

[918v]

Too much sizing wax.

Use less.

I touch the wax with my thumb and index finger. That is enough for one case.

 

[fireman 9731]

Yep too much lube. I use Hornady Unique sizing wax and a very light rub with one finger in the wax will usually do about 3 cases for me, A little goes a long way.

Also make sure that there isn't a build up of lube in your dies.

 

[mongoose33]

Thanks, guys--the lube was the problem. Never had that before with the way (shoulder dents, before the wax, but never since w/ the wax).

I wiped some off w/ my fingers and problem solved.

 

[Damon555]

Give this stuff a try....

I have had very good luck with it on .223 brass. Just spray down the cases and the inside of the die and you're all set.

 

[snuffy]

I have had very good luck with it on .223 brass. Just spray down the cases and the inside of the die and you're all set.

Yeah, you're all set for cases stuck in your die!:banghead: It's not IF it will happen, it's when. Then there's the mess on the bench, loading block and anything else in the room after SPRAYING lube all over!

I didn't think you could get enough imperial wax on a case to cause lube dents. But I guess anything is possible?

 

[alsaqr]

I have had very good luck with it on .223 brass. Just spray down the cases and the inside of the die and you're all set.

+1
I use Hornady One Shot exclusively: Started using it about 15 years ago. It has worked well for me. I've resized a few hundred thousand cases from .17 Hornet to .300 RUM with no problems.

Shake it really well before using and you will never have a stuck case.

 

[Damon555]

Yeah, you're all set for cases stuck in your die!:banghead: It's not IF it will happen, it's when. Then there's the mess on the bench, loading block and anything else in the room after SPRAYING lube all over!

Do you really think I would spray my cases while they are sitting on my reloading bench? A little common sense goes a long way. I have 1 loading block that is used to lube the cases....I take it outside and spray all 4 sides. If there is any sign of a problem I simply spray the inside of the die again and back to resizing I go.

I've never had a stuck case using any lubrication method....I'm not saying it won't happen, it probably will some day, but not yet. Just use your noggin.

 

[Beelzy]

I put the cases in a 1 gallon ziplock bag, spray a couple of times into the bag, then
make like I'm doing Shake-n-Bake chicken. No mess, no fuss.