Life expectancy of a Lee Carbide pistol resizer?

[Rocket Surgery]

I'm approaching 20k reloads on one of my sizing dies (38/357) and I think there's just a touch less neck tension than before. I don't have any bullets from before to mic to see if they're the culprit, or if there even is a culprit. I typically run the same American Eagle 38spl brass through it, I even have 200 pieces left from 2007 when I started reloading. I might go buy some new brass just to see if older brass is the issue.

I'm just curious if anyone else had to buy or RMA a new die around 20k reloads. I think Lee will replace it at half price, they have that limited lifetime warranty. Theoretically these dies should last a lot longer than 20k uses, which is why I'm curious.

 

[bigedp51]

My oldest carbide die is a 1973 RCBS .357 die that must be 1/8 inch above the shell holder or it over resizes the base of the case.

Your expander die then expands the resized case to the proper diameter.

That being said as the brass ages from numerous firings it becomes harder and springs back more after sizing.

With older rifle brass I pause for 4 to 5 seconds at the top of the ram stroke and this reduces brass spring back.

Lee makes undersized pistol dies that reduces the case diameter .001 to .002 more than a standard die. Subliminal suggestion for your older work hardened cases.

Bottom line, did you wear out your carbide die, "NO" but you brass got harder over time and springs back more after sizing.

Lee U Carbide Small Base Sizing Die
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1012827841/lee-u-carbide-small-base-sizing-die


Undersized dies size brass between .002" and .003" below specifications, so ammunition will feed in chamber in tight chambers
Undersized dies work great for bringing back case tension to hold bullets on cases that may be thinner walled

 

[dirtybarry]

About the same in .44mag and it still works just fine. 10k + in 9mm and also fine.

 

[vagrantviking]

My first thought is work hardened brass too. Try new or annealing a couple of your well loved cases and you will see quite a difference.

 

[Snider shooter]

New cases or new brass. Annealing does work ,but I have enough cases I usually just scrap old 38 or 9m/m.

 

[BlackSheepBrass]

Camdex uses Lee carbide dies in their pistol machines. I have seen as few as 100,000 before carbide ring pulls out, and I have one machine with probably 5 million on a die. They have no warranty on them as they are modified by Camdex to fit in their machines... and they cost $150 USD or more each.

 

[jethunter]

My 9mm lee dies have 40k+ rds through them. I don't see any change.

 

[rosconow]

I have close to 12k through my lee 9mm cabide. Still going strong.
As far as the op's neck tension concerns, are you not flaring the case mouth for powder through? Neck tension shouldnt be much of a problem as you are crimping as well, no?
If you werent crimping and using neck tension alone as in match/ benchrest ammo, but all pistol should be crimped as far as im concerned.