Scratched .223 die, now what.

[Palladan44]

Think I buggered my RCBS resizing die but good. A couple cases may not have gotten properly lubricated and a couple nearly got stuck.....so I stopped what I was doing, and relubed all the cases. This happens to all of us at one point or another.
I also cleaned out the die using a brass brush and swabbed it clean. Then relubricated with case lube the inside of the die and let that sit for a bit to let the solvent evaporate..... there's no way that nickel galling would still be in the die with how hard I reamed the die with a brass brush in a cordless drill w/ hoppes solvent as a lubricant.

After all that....Same thing. The brass is getting scratched up near the base, and they feel like more effort is required to get them sized. This has deteriorated very quickly. I have less than 1000 pcs sized on this die, and the die gets worse with each pull. I don't like it one bit.

I did resize a few nickel brass which may have caused this. Also dust from corn cob media may have contaminated the last batch of brass, making them a tad gritty. I wonder if the fine dust in the media is not actually walnut shell, but possibly tiny microscopic pieces of carbon......that would be hard enough to scratch steel.

I plan on loading a lot of these .223s going forward. I'm thinking at least 1000 pcs per year or more for the foreseeable future.

 

[JohnMc]

First, I'd contact RCBS, maybe they'll fix it or some such.

 

[Otto]

To remove the scratches you have described read this…in particular paragraph 5.

Scratched Cases: Causes and Cures - Redding Reloading Equipment: reloading equipment for rifles, handguns, pistols, revolvers and SAECO bullet casting equipment

Reloading equipment for rifles, handguns, pistols, revolvers, custom dies, bullet casting equipment, powder measuring and weighing equipment, bullet seating dies

www.redding-reloading.com

 

[2ndtimer]

Think I buggered my RCBS resizing die but good. A couple cases may not have gotten properly lubricated and a couple nearly got stuck.....so I stopped what I was doing, and relubed all the cases. This happens to all of us at one point or another.
I also cleaned out the die using a brass brush and swabbed it clean. Then relubricated with case lube the inside of the die and let that sit for a bit to let the solvent evaporate..... there's no way that nickel galling would still be in the die with how hard I reamed the die with a brass brush in a cordless drill w/ hoppes solvent as a lubricant.

After all that....Same thing. The brass is getting scratched up near the base, and they feel like more effort is required to get them sized. This has deteriorated very quickly. I have less than 1000 pcs sized on this die, and the die gets worse with each pull. I don't like it one bit.

I did resize a few nickel brass which may have caused this. Also dust from corn cob media may have contaminated the last batch of brass, making them a tad gritty. I wonder if the fine dust in the media is not actually walnut shell, but possibly tiny microscopic pieces of carbon......that would be hard enough to scratch steel.

I plan on loading a lot of these .223s going forward. I'm thinking at least 1000 pcs per year or more for the foreseeable future.

I had a couple Hornady sizing die’s that were scratching cases badly. I contacted Hornady and returned the dies. They returned them (or replaced them, who knows) and the ones I got back now work fine. In my experience, RCBS customer service is even better than Hornady, so I would give them a call. I am confident they will take care of you.

 

[N555]

Dremel go brrrrrr.

 

[BBarn]

Scratches on cases are often caused by brass buildup on sizing dies, and can occur fairly easily. Minor buildup can be removed in a manner similar to removing copper from a barrel. Removing heavier buildup requires fine grit polishing.

 

[Laphroaig]

Post a picture. I think what happened to you is unusual. Carbide, or buying multiple dies is unjustified. Could it be gaulded brass from when you didn't use enough lube?^ I've had it happen on the neck area when I've gotten a case stuck, and its tough to get out but it can be done.

First, I'd contact RCBS, maybe they'll fix it or some such.

If you can't deal with it, that is another good option.

 

[JeffG]

If you are feeling adventurous, a Dreml with a felt bob with rouge or brown compound. I just did a .44 mag die that I scratched by being careless. All good in 5 minutes.

 

[AJC1]

Scratches don't harm brass, burrs do. Contamination with dirt, sand and in my case carbirundom dust all will damage a die. You can lap with a drill dowel and some Emory cloth... a q tip may find the burs if you can't see them.

 

[Palladan44]

I'm going to get the right polishing bit first off, don't really have anything on hand small enough.

 

[Palladan44]

I have several hundred nickel plated cases (speer) from a LE range.
Should I just scrap these then?

 

[AJC1]

I have several hundred nickel plated cases (speer) from a LE range.
Should I just scrap these then?

Why scrap good brass? I'm saying clean nickle brass isn't a problem....

 

[kcofohio]

I'm going to get the right polishing bit first off, don't really have anything on hand small enough.

If you have a drill, a 1/4" dowel rod with a split length wise. Some 0000 steel wool wrapped onto the dowel should take care of it.

 

[MikeInOr]

I bought a Dillon 223 carbide die 25+ years ago. Never regretted making the investment. I bought the Dillon .308 carbide die about the same time. No regrets on that one either.

I still lube all my cases bit of a neck or two doesn't get lubed well they still go through the die just fine.

 

[AJC1]

I'm going to get the right polishing bit first off, don't really have anything on hand small enough.

If your using a grinding bit you'll likely do more harm than good. Lapping evenly is a fix. Gouges are bad....

 

[sparkyv]

I buggered up my .308Win resizing die similarly, Palladan44,
and I fixed it doing this:

If you are feeling adventurous, a Dreml with a felt bob with rouge or brown compound. I just did a .44 mag die that I scratched by being careless. All good in 5 minutes.

The q-tip tip is a good one!

Scratches don't harm brass, burrs do. Contamination with dirt, sand and in my case carbirundom dust all will damage a die. You can lap with a drill dowel and some Emory cloth... a q tip may find the burs if you can't see them.

 

[jmorris]

A couple cases may not have gotten properly lubricated and a couple nearly got stuck

One Shot?

 

[jmorris]

I have several hundred nickel plated cases (speer) from a LE range.
Should I just scrap these then?

If you scrap them, I’ll take them, for me they stay cleaner and smoother than non plated brass.

 

[lightman]

I've polished dies with a bore mop and Flitz using a drill. I doubt that the die is scratched although its possible. Most likely something has stuck to it. I've used bore mops, bore brushes and even a cleaning jag with 1200 grit emory cloth with oil on it to clean problem dies.
And no, don't throw those Nickel cases away. Just use better lube.

 

[usaral63]

Dirty brass is the enemy! In my experience dirty nickle brass is worse. I agree with Lightman and I've polished and salvaged several caliber dies myself using emory and crocus cloth........at time simply a tightly fitting mop with Flitz or Semi Chrome. Clean brass came out of a cycle in unmarked condition.

 

[JFrank]

I recently polished out some burrs in a die using a bore mop and Losso paste spun by a Dewalt cordless drill.

 

[EricBu]

Think I buggered my RCBS resizing die but good. A couple cases may not have gotten properly lubricated and a couple nearly got stuck.....so I stopped what I was doing, and relubed all the cases. This happens to all of us at one point or another.
I also cleaned out the die using a brass brush and swabbed it clean. Then relubricated with case lube the inside of the die and let that sit for a bit to let the solvent evaporate..... there's no way that nickel galling would still be in the die with how hard I reamed the die with a brass brush in a cordless drill w/ hoppes solvent as a lubricant.

After all that....Same thing. The brass is getting scratched up near the base, and they feel like more effort is required to get them sized. This has deteriorated very quickly. I have less than 1000 pcs sized on this die, and the die gets worse with each pull. I don't like it one bit.

I did resize a few nickel brass which may have caused this. Also dust from corn cob media may have contaminated the last batch of brass, making them a tad gritty. I wonder if the fine dust in the media is not actually walnut shell, but possibly tiny microscopic pieces of carbon......that would be hard enough to scratch steel.

I plan on loading a lot of these .223s going forward. I'm thinking at least 1000 pcs per year or more for the foreseeable future.

Call RCBS, once upon a time they would clean/polish/remove stuck case in their dies for 5.00, and replace under warranty any with a scratch that impacted performance. They have gotten a little bit wishy washy since the Vista purchase...but maybe they are still doing this, worth checking.

 

[irishlad]

One Shot?

I remember talking to a Forster tech once and he told me most stuck dies he gets, folks used one shot. I've only used it on 9mm with carbide sizing die on my progressive. It does make it easier.

 

[AK Hunter]

Always clean your brass before sizing or at least do a polish with 0000 steel wool to get the grit off first so it doesn't get inside your sizing dies. And yes you have to use some kind of lube on your brass unless you have carbide dies & even then I use it on about every 10th case just to keep the pressures down on my press.

 

[blackd24]

I haven’t read all replies, but rcbs will polish for free. I believe I only had to pay shipping one way.