Light Scratches on Case after FL Resize - Cases OK to Use?

ccwcanada

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So as per the thread title, I noticed that my brass had scratches down their sides after doing the FL reload. At first it didn't register what was happening so did a whole batch with this result.

Most of the scratches are undetectable with the fingernail test, but one or two of the scratches I can feel with my thumbnail.

Does this weaken the cases to a point not to trust them anymore?

As for the source, yes the die was quite dirty inside. My bad. Sleeping at the wheel today.
 
I believe your okay as far as safety of the cases are concerned but cleaning the dies may have cleared it up how do they look after the dies were cleaned
 
I've had this happen, and the rounds were just fine. Reloaded the brass another four or five times without issue. You might want to make a habit of checking those dies from now on though.
 
I believe your okay as far as safety of the cases are concerned but cleaning the dies may have cleared it up how do they look after the dies were cleaned

Well I actually ended the batch that way, with the dirty die. It looks pretty bad inside. Perpendicular striation markings as well as the parallel ones causing the scratches. Tried cleaning it with solvent and the worst of the markings are still there, possibly some embedded brass etc. Thinking I'll pick up a new FL die...and make sure the cases are cleaner and no brass shavings are getting into things.
 
ccwcanada

Take a shotgun cleaning mop of the appropriate size (snug tight fit) and apply some J&B Bore Paste and a few drops of light weight oil to the mop. Now chuck the mop and cleaning rod in a hand drill and polish the inside of the die. If that does not remove the embedded grit inside the die then take some 400 grit wet and dry sand paper and place it in a slotted cleaning jag and use the same drill method to polish the die.

The die is hardened and both methods will do no harm to your dies as long as you do not over polish the inside with the sand paper. Once a year with my heavily used dies I dissemble the die and toss the body of the die in my vibratory cleaner with treated walnut media to clean and polish the die.

NOTE, if you do not have any J&B bore paste you can use automotive rubbing compound, Meguiars auto metal polishes, etc. I have used all these methods and they work well. Also wet tumbling removes any embedded dirt and grit from your cases "before" sizing. Any firearm that throws perfectly good brass away and makes you go look for it on the ground is a good candidate for wet tumbling. My M1 and AR15 dies took a beating from embedded dirt and grit and had to be polished many times with your same problem before I started wet tumbling.
 
ccwcanada

Take a shotgun cleaning mop of the appropriate size (snug tight fit) and apply some J&B Bore Paste and a few drops of light weight oil to the mop. Now chuck the mop and cleaning rod in a hand drill and polish the inside of the die. If that does not remove the embedded grit inside the die then take some 400 grit wet and dry sand paper and place it in a slotted cleaning jag and use the same drill method to polish the die.

The die is hardened and both methods will do no harm to your dies as long as you do not over polish the inside with the sand paper. Once a year with my heavily used dies I dissemble the die and toss the body of the die in my vibratory cleaner with treated walnut media to clean and polish the die.

NOTE, if you do not have any J&B bore paste you can use automotive rubbing compound, Meguiars auto metal polishes, etc. I have used all these methods and they work well. Also wet tumbling removes any embedded dirt and grit from your cases "before" sizing. Any firearm that throws perfectly good brass away and makes you go look for it on the ground is a good candidate for wet tumbling. My M1 and AR15 dies took a beating from embedded dirt and grit and had to be polished many times with your same problem before I started wet tumbling.


Thanks for all that. Will do! You're right the die will still be fine, just need to polish it out appropriately.
 

Thanks! Solution:

Well i went to home depot, and bought some flitz polish, got a microfiber cloth, got it nice nad wet, and wrapped it around my glock barrel bruch, stuffed it in there, turned it around 15 - 20 turns by hand, and it brand spanking new.
For a big tube its only 12.99, so i fully recommend this to anyone who has this problem in the future, took the brass streak right out of the die.

Haven't been able to find the J&B, so I'll try the flitz polish.
 
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