How many of you have ruined dies and how?

Use oil for lube and you will be amazed at what you can do and not stick a case.
Using hoppes gun oil, fluid film, or atf I have:
Ran a 3006 all the way thru a 308 die (shellholder bottomed out)
204 ruger all the way thru a 223
Ran a 22 250 right to the base in a 223 die
308 in a 243

No stuck anything, and its a great way to justify building a wet tumbler to remove the oil

The only die related issues I have had is putting a case on top of the shellholder rather than inside it...then running it real deep into the die
 
Just wondering. Only stuck cases I've removed using the drill and tap system are ones with the rim torn off; already garbage. You mentioned removing stuck cases without drill and tapping, so cases could be reused. How do you remove these?
 
tiriaq said:
Just wondering. Only stuck cases I've removed using the drill and tap system are ones with the rim torn off; already garbage. You mentioned removing stuck cases without drill and tapping, so cases could be reused. How do you remove these?
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Get a container, not plastic, that will hold the package of stuck dies. Put them in the container and fill the container with kerosene.
Wait at least two or three days, then if you can get the shell holder in a press, there is a real good chance they will pull apart without injury to anything.
Bruce
 
aric84 said:
I didn't ruin a die yet but I did destroy my decapping stem in a ham fisted attempt to tap out the stuck case in my .223 FL sizing die. My first stuck case ever in 10 years of reloading. Pissed at myself because I knew better and should have pulled the stem and then drove out the case with a punch(which I did the next day). Paid my penance by buying another set of dies and a replacement stem to have a backup in the future, not that I will repeat the same mistake twice!
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exact same. Pull the damn stem/decapper assembly first...

That said, RCBS is awesome. I phoned to buy a new one as no one had one around the local area, and they shipped me one free. I don't have it yet, but they say its on the way.
 
2strokeforever said:
Use oil for lube and you will be amazed at what you can do and not stick a case.
Using hoppes gun oil, fluid film, or atf I have:
Ran a 3006 all the way thru a 308 die (shellholder bottomed out)
204 ruger all the way thru a 223
Ran a 22 250 right to the base in a 223 die
308 in a 243

No stuck anything, and its a great way to justify building a wet tumbler to remove the oil

The only die related issues I have had is putting a case on top of the shellholder rather than inside it...then running it real deep into the die
Click to expand...


there is a need for an emoji here for a huge open mouth, chin on the floor :) nice job, and thanks for sharing.

Any downsides?
 
H4831 said:
Get a container, not plastic, that will hold the package of stuck dies. Put them in the container and fill the container with kerosene.
Wait at least two or three days, then if you can get the shell holder in a press, there is a real good chance they will pull apart without injury to anything.
Bruce
Click to expand...

thank you good sir. I will definitely try this next time. If I have the patience...
 
300wby sizing die. Was the first time a buddy and I started reloading. Not enough case lube. Case got stuck and damaged the die trying to get the brass out.

Since then, maybe just some bent rods.
 
broke a lee neck size collet die last night. i didnt have it screwed in enough and the press cammed over puting way too much pressure on it. stripped the threads of the top cap out.

managed to epoxy it back together for the time being and i ordered another one.
 
I'll admit - I pooched a .270 die as I was trying a new spray lube that is hard to see, the first case I grabbed was one without lube and that sucker was determined to stay in there. I found another single die for cheap on here, thankfully.
 
Thought i ruined a 303fl die. I used stp oil additive for lube. Ended up with deep scratches on the casing. Thought the die was toast, ordered a new die set while i was still p#ssed.
Ended up the die had brass deposits on the walls and that scratched and gouged my casings. Took a while to polish the deposits out with steel wool, but it did not have any ill affect on the die.
Use good proven lube.
Ruined the odd decapping pin but thats it
i did wear out my RCBS rock chucker. You should check the alignment of your press from time to time!!!!

be well.
 
Nearly ruined my first die a LEE 375 H&H sizing. I left LEE sizing lube smeared in the die as a rust preventer. A week later went to use the die while cleaning the die I found the white LEE lube had turn bright orange with rust. The die steel had just a darkened appearance where the lube/rust had been. I call LEE and was told the sizing lube had “limited” anti corrosion abilities.
I tossed out the tube of Lee Lube and now use EEZOX to preserve my dies.
 
Quite a few stuck cases when I started out and was figuring out how to line properly. I have settled on 1 part lee lube to 10 part ISO alcohol misted over cases. Never ruined a die or came close using Lee dies, super easy to remove stuck case.
 
diopter said:
No stuck cases since I switch to castor oil as case lube.
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The only manual I had for learning to reload, was the No. 1 edition of the Norma Gunbugs Guide. They recommended castor oil for case lube. I tried it, but couldn't get little enough on the case and was denting them. So I just went back to some other lube. But if you can get little enough on that you are not denting them, you may be on to a good thing.
Bruce
 
I spread it very thinly with my thumb and first finger on exterior. use Q-tip inside case mouth.
Great once you get used to it. Of course don't lick you fingers or touch your mouth.
Won't kill you, but you'll be in for an interesting night if you do.
 
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