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one more ? for the forum.

joshmb1982joshmb1982 Member Posts: 8,228 ✭✭
edited January 2010 in Perry Shooter Competition Shooting and Reloading Forum
ive pretty well gotten over the ordeal of stuck cases in my 223 small base die. have only had one in the last 1000 rds. now something else has come up. ive noticed that after i deprime/resize my cases there are lines running virtically up the case neck. most of them are very shallow, though you can feel them all with a fingernail. but there is 1 line on every case that is worrying me. it appears to be fairly deep though not all the way through and im thinking it will split the next time its fired.

what kind of steel are these dies made of. it is a rcbs with a green box. it looks clean inside the dies. nice and shiney with no visable scratches. i took q-tips soaked with alchahol and nothing. then i took a brass bore brush and scrubbed it out inside. and still im getting these vertical lines in the case neck. any idea why? it is fairly cool in my reloading room, mabye 55 degrees. could that have anything to do with it?
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Comments

  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I think you have picked up some deposits on the inside of the neck part of the die Try a very tight patch in that area of the die with some JB Bore cleaner on the patch it should polish out then make sure you have some lube on the neck not too much but some the carbon from the fired round is what may have cause the die to scratch.
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  • chiefrchiefr Member Posts: 14,083 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by perry shooter
    I think you have picked up some deposits on the inside of the neck part of the die Try a very tight patch in that area of the die with some JB Bore cleaner on the patch it should polish out then make sure you have some lube on the neck not too much but some the carbon from the fired round is what may have cause the die to scratch.

    +1 Perry,
    Also, along time ago, I bought a used set of dies that apparently someone tried to remove a stuck case with a screwdriver or something leaving a burr inside the sizer which transferred to the brass. They saw me coming when I bought that set.
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  • joshmb1982joshmb1982 Member Posts: 8,228 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    that sucks. i didnt think it would be that easy to damage the die. hopefully it will buff out. other then tumbling first do you guys do any extra steps in cleaning?
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  • joshmb1982joshmb1982 Member Posts: 8,228 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    ok i cleaned the die out about as best as i can. i put a brass borebrush in a cordless screwgun and scrubbed it out. then i took what i think was a .30cal mop put that in the screwgun and did the same. finally i took some q-tips with rubbing alcahol on them and swirled them around inside untill they came out clean.

    any cases i run through that die are still coming out with marks running virtically up the case neck. and i dont mean 1 or 2. the entire neck is covered in them. you can drag your thumbnail over it and hear where your hitting them. do small base dies in 223 work the case that much that it could cause stress lines on the first resizing?
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  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    a brass brush will not do it or a Qtip . You need very tight fitting patch with JB BORE CLEANER. Small base does not have anything to do with problem you did not have enough lube and brass stuck to the inside of the die NECK. you must polish it out.
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  • GUNFUNCOGUNFUNCO Member Posts: 2,919 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Work on something else for a few days while you send the dies back to RCBS with an explanation.

    You'll have it back in short order and working fine.
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  • joshmb1982joshmb1982 Member Posts: 8,228 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    yep im thinking thats what im gonna do. got some 40 cal i can work on. rcbs doesnt open untill money though. have to find something to keep me busy
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  • coledigger4coledigger4 Member Posts: 826 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Are the scratches in the same pattern on each cartridge? If so, I would think it is the die. If not, it could be something in the chamber that is marking the brass.
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  • joshmb1982joshmb1982 Member Posts: 8,228 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    they are the same with each case put through the die. il;l be contacting rcbs today to see if i can send it back for them to look at.
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  • coledigger4coledigger4 Member Posts: 826 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I had a die get damaged, by me, while loading nickel 44 mag with standard dies. RCBS told me to send it to them, they polished it for free, they also told me to get carbide for nickel. I would bet you get very good customer service based on my experience.
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  • bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,669 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Have you tried what Perry Shooter suggested? Why waste time and money shipping it to RCBS when a simple fix is just minutes away? If the JB Bore paste does not work some ultra-fine polishing compound on a felt pad will work.

    The scratches come from dirt embedded in the die acting as cutting stones against the soft brass. Polishing it out will fix your problem and not harm the die.
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    lapping compound on a tight patch chucked in a drill will have you strait in short order.
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