Cleaning dies

jcuffe6240

jcuffe6240

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I just started FL sizing some 308 brass that I have and noticed that the shoulders were coming out with a fluting. I inspected the other brass I had before resizing and they didn't have this. So I took apart the die and found a bunch of crap caked onto the mandrel. These are Lee dies too.

My question to the forum is how often do you diassembly your dies for regular inspection and cleaning?
 
Usually when the fluting starts.
Q-tips and some carb/brake cleaner sprays.
This stuff is tough on the skin so caution is in order.
Mind the eyes as well.
 
An answer to your question may depend on how much lube you apply to your cases before sizing and also the volume of re-sizing you do.
For my cases I use either Hornady case lube or Imperial Die sizing lube and apply a very thin film.
If I'm prepping 308 cases for a match for example, I'll clean the sizer die beforehand whether it needs it or not and do the cases required and clean the die before putting it away.
This may sound tedious to you, but I live in a very damp climate and my gun room has a tendency to be cold.
Any re-sizing dies regardless of make can get a build-up of lube in them if not cleaned frequently.
 
All dies should be cleaned regularly. Aerasol Break Clean or similar solvent that leaves no residue works well.
 
If you use a waterbased sizing lube like Lee's in the white tube, you must clean your dies regularly or they will develop rust internally & on the expander mandrel. I take mine apart & clean/inspect them after each sizing session.

George
 
Thanks for all the information guys. Another question, when reassembling the Lee dies, how far should the decapping pin protrude from the top of the FL die? Do you guys have tips and techniques you use to reset your dies after you take them apart and reassemble them.
 
jcuffe6240 said:
Thanks for all the information guys. Another question, when reassembling the Lee dies, how far should the decapping pin protrude from the top of the FL die? Do you guys have tips and techniques you use to reset your dies after you take them apart and reassemble them.
Click to expand...

I haven't measured how far the decapping pin protrudes from the sizing die, but I would estimate around 1/8" or so. The sizing die is the only one IMO that you need to regularly clean. I don't move the location of the locking ring when cleaning, so the only thing that gets adjusted in the decapping rod. I just set it by eye when putting the die back together. It's not a big deal to extend it a bit if it's not fully pushing out the primers.
 
I'm new to reloading and just ordered a progressive press. Assuming batches of 500 to 1,000, would it be overkill if I cleaned my dies every time I used my press?

I already use Ballistol to clean my firearms, would this be OK to clean my dies with?

If Ballistol is a NO NO, what about using Hornady One-Shot?

Thanks.
 
2Bad4u said:
I'm new to reloading and just ordered a progressive press. Assuming batches of 500 to 1,000, would it be overkill if I cleaned my dies every time I used my press?

I already use Ballistol to clean my firearms, would this be OK to clean my dies with?

If Ballistol is a NO NO, what about using Hornady One-Shot?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
RCBS has die cleaning kit (w w w.lebaron.ca/pdf_files_fall11/rcbs_weaver.pdf) and Hornady has oneshot cleaner and lube
 
just FWIW...

Since i clean all my brass with a ultrasonic cleaner i have been playing with CLP as a lube for sizeing brass, after i run my brass thru the sizer i just poke a q-tip into the die and swab out any gunk from the case mouths...

It has been working very well so far (approx 5000x .223 IVI/LC) and the ultrasonic cleaner removes all traces of the lube when im done...

Make sure when you clean your dies you poke out the relief hole with a paperclip or small pokey instrument of your choice, when i do .303 with Lee Lube i run several hundred thru at a time and if the relief hole is plugged i get issues but when its open it pushes out excess lube and gunk... .308 has never been a problem nor has .223 just my .303 Lee set.
 
glang1 said:
If you use a waterbased sizing lube like Lee's in the white tube, you must clean your dies regularly or they will develop rust internally & on the expander mandrel. I take mine apart & clean/inspect them after each sizing session.

George
Click to expand...

That is a very goodpoint, I do use some water based products like Lee's.
Thanks
bb
 
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