Problem: vertical scratches on resizing brass

BCP

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I'm reloading pistol ammo and my Lee dies are consistently leaving vertical scratches in the same place on my brass. Upon examination of the die, there appears to be a build up of brass on the inner wall. I have gently polished off the build up and the top of the inner wall, but it does not fix the problem. Does anyone know WTF is going on? :confused:
 
You have either crud on your die, or there is a burr on it.

I have no idea how you could have gotten a build-up of brass, unless you are not lubing your cases, or there was a burr on the die and it is grabbing brass from your cases.

For a couple of dollars you can remedy the problem...get a new set of dies...
 
This usually is a case of embedded grit in the die. It's not as common in carbide dies.

####can the die, and buy a new one.
 
Yeah ..... I'm thinking the cost of a new (carbide) would probably be your best and cheapest solution. I had a rifle die some time back that I just couldn't get clean and it was always marking my brass.
 
Take a cleaning brush (not stainless steel) and wrap eough oooo steel wool around it to make it a snug fit in the die--chuck it up in a cordless drill and polish the inside of the die--unless you go ape#### with it you won't damage the die and it will usually clear up the problem. (clean the die with bore solvent and a paper towel after you polish it.

44Bore
 
clean the inside of the die with some brake cleaner, then feel around with a Q-tip. if there is a burr, it will catch a tiny bit of cotton from it indicating this. if all is well, use your Q-tip this time dabbed with a touch of slick-50 engine treament, & coat the inside of the die. wipe out the excess, & run some clean brass through it. you should notice a big difference.

this won't always cure this problem, but is worth a try before having to replace it....;)
 
Yep. Polish the die up real nice. You might get by with disassembling it, and tossing it in the tumbler for a few hours, or maybe a day.
 
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