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johnnyreb65

johnnyreb65

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Does it damage the dies if you resize without cleaning the brass.

Reason I'm asking..I'm rather anal when it comes to brass prep. When loading .223, I put the brass in the tumbler for about 4 hours then resize. I then clean the brass again to get the lube off. ( I'm not using the spray).

Now I don't mind doing all that work for my competition ammo,but I have separate brass that I develop loads with and am looking to save time on brass prep.
 
Brass preparation is one of most important steps in reloading.
If I can advice anything, I would say:
-deprime or resize first
-ultrasonic clean
-if you need more polish, go to the tumbler but after ultrasonic
-if is only deprimed this is the time to resize, either neck or full
-check all dimensions
Ready to prime it and loaded.

Those are my steps.
 
I don't know if it is possible to damage the die as it is steel and the brass is softer but you can save time if you use a liquid cleaner vice a tumbler. I use liquid and it is much faster.
 
Some of the products of combustion are harder than steel and will damage the dies. Of course mud/dirt will as well. I always tumble and brush the inside of the necks before sizing. I dont usually tumble after as I hate picking the media out of the flash holes. I just take a soft cloth and dry the lube off after sizing.
 
Cerdan said:
Only if it's sand- or mud-encrusted.
Click to expand...

X2!! I usually only tumble when the brass is starting to look a bit grungy. I have brass fired 6x without ever seeing the tumbler. Most often I clean the neck/shoulder area with a quick twist with very fine steel wool, and wipe the cases off with a soft cloth. Then I lube and size the cases. I have yet to scratch or harm a die in any way, and have been reloading my ammo for 40+ years. Many reloaders spend way too much time being anal about how the brass looks. I have many better things to do with my time at the reloading bench. Regards, Eagleye.
 
johnnyreb65 said:
Does it damage the dies if you resize without cleaning the brass.

Reason I'm asking..I'm rather anal when it comes to brass prep. When loading .223, I put the brass in the tumbler for about 4 hours then resize. I then clean the brass again to get the lube off. ( I'm not using the spray).

Now I don't mind doing all that work for my competition ammo,but I have separate brass that I develop loads with and am looking to save time on brass prep.
Click to expand...

Yes, in my experience you can damage your dies if you don't properly clean the cases before lubricating and sizing. Cleaning can be done by tumbling, using steel wool, washing or wiping down.
Your use of the tumbler may take time, but it is not time that you are spending, so go ahead. The second clean is your choice; I never do.
 
Soak it overnight in a good case cleaner, lke the one offered by "Birchwood Casey"

It will soften all of the residues from powder and what ever other dirt and grease is there. It needs al least 12-14 hours. I keep a 25L container half full of this cleaner (mixed with water). I will throw batches of range pick ups or other stuff thats gotten cruddy into the mix, usually without decapping. I then put it all into an old pillow case and throw it into the clothes washing machine. A quick run through the drier when done, gets it nice and dry. Then I resize/decap at the same time. Any good laundry or dishwasher detergent is good as well.

By the way, the dirt stays inside the pillow case so it doesn't muck up the washer/dryer. I usually wait until I have at least 250 cases to do.

The brass doesn't come out shiney or looking like new but it is clean.
 
I don't clean my 9mm and .45 brass much. No problem with the lee carbide dies. been a year and I haven't cleaned my dies either. I keep saying I'm gonna do it but everything still runs smooth and consistent. I load a couple hundred rounds a month.
 
No, it does not damage the die if the brass is not cleaned first, as long as it isn't extremely dirty.
 
The obvious answer is maybe........but 1.)uncleaned brass will dirty up your dies and dirty dies produce inferior ammo, and 2.) repeatable results in reloading need a consistent reloading environment. Dirt in the dies isnt consistent
 
Thanks for all of your replies. Many different oppinions so I guess palying it safe would be the best bet. I think I'll skip the second tumble and just wipe the brass.
 
Sooner or later uncleaned brass will scratch the dies with grit. Then the damaged die will scratch every piece of brass that enters it.
Don't ask how I found this out.
Be as meticulous with brass prep as with the rest of the reloading process. There is no good reason not to.
 
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