Question about RCBS die set

T

tivatian

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Saint John, NB
Bought my 9mm set 4 months ago, and reloaded 3000 rounds 9mm since then. I always wet tumble my brass and it's all shiny and smooth before I put it through the sizing decapping die. And, it started to scratch my case this morning, and I cleaned it and found out it has brass colored scratches inside the die walls all around. Is this normal? Does the warranty cover it? New reloader here, any suggestions would help. Thanks!

Cheers!
 
RCBS customer service is second to none. Call them and odds are you'll be taken care of.

But what do you mean scratches? Is brass rubbing on the inside of the die, or is the die body being gouged?
 
If the dies are not carbide, this is normal. With non-carbide dies, you need to lube your cases, even pistol cases. For 9mm, I would suggest you sell them for pennies on the dollar and get carbide dies, cause lubing 3000 cases every 4 months is a pita.

I had the exact same problem with my hornady dies. You can see in post #14 how I polished the inside: https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1584721-Problem-with-hornady-dies

RCBS will polish your dies for you, but it'll have to be done every X rounds if they're steel dies. If they agree to pay shipping both ways it might be an option, but otherwise it'll quickly get cheaper to buy new carbide dies. I had to keep my non-carbide dies for 50ae because carbide doesn't exist, so I lube my brass before sizing. It's a pita, but I don't reload thousands of 50ae every month.
 
VinnyQC said:
If the dies are not carbide, this is normal. With non-carbide dies, you need to lube your cases, even pistol cases. For 9mm, I would suggest you sell them for pennies on the dollar and get carbide dies, cause lubing 3000 cases every 4 months is a pita.

I had the exact same problem with my hornady dies. You can see in post #14 how I polished the inside: https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1584721-Problem-with-hornady-dies

RCBS will polish your dies for you, but it'll have to be done every X rounds if they're steel dies. If they agree to pay shipping both ways it might be an option, but otherwise it'll quickly get cheaper to buy new carbide dies. I had to keep my non-carbide dies for 50ae because carbide doesn't exist, so I lube my brass before sizing. It's a pita, but I don't reload thousands of 50ae every month.
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As I've told you before, this problem isn't unique to non carbide dies or a particular brand of dies. I had the exact same issues with Dillon dies.

To the OP:

Just do what I suggested to VinnyQC in the link he posted.
 
I called them, they asked me to send the problematic die with the box to them along with US$5 for return shipping. The inside of the die walls has brass residues that I couldn't clean it off, it's like the residues has been engraved onto the wall already. And it is the 9mm Carbine die set. Thanks for all the info. Hopefully I get it back fast :D. Can't do reloading without it......:D

Cheers!
 
tivatian said:
I called them, they asked me to send the problematic die with the box to them along with US$5 for return shipping. The inside of the die walls has brass residues that I couldn't clean it off, it's like the residues has been engraved onto the wall already. And it is the 9mm Carbine die set. Thanks for all the info. Hopefully I get it back fast :D. Can't do reloading without it......:D

Cheers!
Click to expand...

I'm glad they fixed you up but you can definitely do this at home so you're not down for such a long period of time. Steel wool that puppy and polish with Flitz or similar.
 
tivatian said:
I called them, they asked me to send the problematic die with the box to them along with US$5 for return shipping. The inside of the die walls has brass residues that I couldn't clean it off, it's like the residues has been engraved onto the wall already. And it is the 9mm Carbine die set. Thanks for all the info. Hopefully I get it back fast :D. Can't do reloading without it......:D

Cheers!
Click to expand...

Are you sure shipping to US + 5$ won't cost more than a new die?
 
When you wet tumble cases the case mouth becomes peened over like the sprue on a plastic model. When the case is sized this thin piece of brass breaks loose and becomes embedded in the die. When you expand the inside the case you will also see brass slivers inside the case. This same brass is breaking loose on the outside of the case and sticking to the die.

What happens is you end up having brass rubbing on brass and this is scratching and gouging your cases.

I use two methods to remove the embedded brass.

1. Give the die a squirt of foam bore cleaner and keep applying until the brass is gone. (lazy mans way and no power tools)

2. Chuck the appropriate size shotgun cleaning mop in a drill and apply J&B Bore paste, Flitz, automotive rubbing compound etc to the mop and polish the die.

Note, Applying a very small amount of case lube to every few cases will help with carbide dies.
 
bigedp51 said:
When you wet tumble cases the case mouth becomes peened over like the sprue on a plastic model. When the case is sized this thin piece of brass breaks loose and becomes embedded in the die. When you expand the inside the case you will also see brass slivers inside the case. This same brass is breaking loose on the outside of the case and sticking to the die.

What happens is you end up having brass rubbing on brass and this is scratching and gouging your cases.

I use two methods to remove the embedded brass.

1. Give the die a squirt of foam bore cleaner and keep applying until the brass is gone. (lazy mans way and no power tools)

2. Chuck the appropriate size shotgun cleaning mop in a drill and apply J&B Bore paste, Flitz, automotive rubbing compound etc to the mop and polish the die.

Note, Applying a very small amount of case lube to every few cases will help with carbide dies.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for the info!!!
 
VinnyQC said:
75$ for a 9mm set or just the resizing die? If just the die I hope it also makes your coffee in the morning...
Click to expand...

The whole set :D..I think only Dillon's die could cost that much per :D. I think the only die I spent more than 70 per is the lockout die from RCBS~~~

I brushed and smoothed the die last night, and it's all fixed now, thanks to all the great CGNer's reply.

Cheers!
 
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