What is wrong with my die ?

Niko-PG

Niko-PG

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
154   0   0
Location
Kamloops/Africa
I just bought new brass (Lapua) for my .308 and as I start resizing it I noticed this:

dscn0616g.jpg


new brass on the right, after resizing on the left.
Scratch mark all around, shoulder untouched.
I can feel the marks with my finger so it can't be too good.

Any idea?

thanks
N.
 
My standard reply.
Why are you resizing new Lapua brass?
What brand of die were you using?
It looks to me like the die should be seated a little deeper, to touch the shoulder, hence the mark would be gone.
 
As per Lapua recommendation ;)
Dies are Lee
I just tried to set the die deeper so the mark touches the shoulder: no change
Maybe I'm just crazy but I never notice those marks before. They appear on all the brass I re-size, when ammo reloaded last week doesn't show them.
I took the die apart and clean it, no change.
 
I don't know about the marks but I wouldn't size the new brass either (other than fixing the odd dented case mouth)

For example say in most cases the case body is 10mm in diameter new, after firing it is 12mm, resizing will only take it back to say 10.5-11mm it will never be the exact spec. it was new again. So sizing it when new in a normal die doesnt do very much if anything the to majority of cartridges, save straightening out a dented case mouth.
 
The dents are likely from too much lube. Are you using a collet die? The marks on the neck look uniformed.

Go ahead and shoot them the dents will iron out at 53,000 psi and will be good a new.
 
The money he saved on buying the Lee dies allowed him to buy Lapua Brass.
I must be blind cause I didnt see any dents that would cause me to worry.
If there are dents , they where likely caused by the use of a little to much lube or the stroke was a little fast and the escaping air was not able to void the space .
In my limited experience I would not be worried.
But, then again it isnt my Lapua Brass.
Tight Groups,
Rob
 
you can try taking your resizing die apart to see if it has any dirt on the neck sizing portion.
spray the die out with a cleaner and wipe the inside clean and dry.
 
After 2 hours of trying everything I could think of I am considering throwing it in the garbage.
I even try to polish it.
Lube is Slick Case

Here is some better pictures just in case someone has an idea.


dscn0620vv.jpg


dscn0621k.jpg


on the right a case re-sized last week on the same setup

middle is a test case

left is Lapua

So, something happened to my die during the week ...
I think it is just cosmetic, but boy, I'm pissed.

Going to buy another die ASAP
 
Cummins4x4 said:
The vent hole in the die is plugged up with lube. If you look at the die very closely you will find it, usually just below the shoulder. Clean it out and everything should be fine. Surprised no one else mentioned this:redface:
Click to expand...

Nobody mentioned it because that is not the issue the OP is asking about.

I can see the scratches on the neck and they look rather deep. I get scratches on my necks but they are not near what the OP has< and I use Redding bushing dies.

Take the die apart and run a q-tip into the neck area and give it a turn and see if it grabs. The die looks like it may have burrs in the neck sizing area. If this is the case take the dies back to where you bought them and exchange them for another set. If you can't take them back contact Lee and they will take care of you.
 
Wow! From your original pix, I thought you were worried about the band low around the neck, right at the shoulder.

I think CyaN1de's Q-Tip idea is brilliant. And his point about sending them back to Lee is well-taken; Lee has a good reputation for things like that.

If those were the first brass run through, I would say something is wrong with your die, but given the last ones you did last week look fine, I would say you have somehow becrapped your die. I can't imagine how you would get burrs all the way around to cause such scoring. Did you take it apart in the meantime? Drop it? Loan it to your ex-wife?
 
There is something wrong it the neck resizing portion of your die. It is actually cutting the neck of your brass and shaving the brass down to the junction of the neck and shoulder. Is the die new? Has this happened with other brass?
So many questions. I use nothing but Lee dies and have not seen this before.
David
 
Niko-Pg, before you toss out your dies, see if you can borrow another set from someone.
Stop running your NEW and Expensive Brass through the dies till you can figure out where the hick up is.
Just tossing out a few ideas till someone either knows what is going on there or you figure it out.
Tight Groups,
Rob
 
FLHTCUI said:
Niko-Pg, before you toss out your dies, see if you can borrow another set from someone.
Stop running your NEW and Expensive Brass through the dies till you can figure out where the hick up is.
Just tossing out a few ideas till someone either knows what is going on there or you figure it out.
Click to expand...

Good advice
 
Perhaps it is just an illusion in the photos of post 11 but the case length and mouth diameter look different. Any chance of wrong brass or die/calibre/mix up?
 
hk33ka1 said:
Perhaps it is just an illusion in the photos of post 11 but the case length and mouth diameter look different. Any chance of wrong brass or die/calibre/mix up?
Click to expand...

i must have check that a hundred time :D

I tried the q-tip and nothing catches, blurs must be too small.

I really cant figure out how my die got damaged in the press. I smell sabotage!

Good time to switch to Reddings I guess.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom