lead in seating die

101combatvet · February 15, 2016, 12:43 PM

Had a lot of lead build up in one of my titanium carbide seating dies, removed much of it with a shaped wooden dowel. What would be the best method to clean any left over lead? I was thinking about using a vinigar/peroxide solution, but am unsure if that is the best method. Anyone have this problem before?

**Unclenick** · February 15, 2016, 12:54 PM

Some handgun sizing dies have resizing rings made of titanium carbide. Never heard of a seating die made of it, though. Can't see any any advantage to it.

Usually, when you get lead build-up in a seating die it is due to bullet lube sticking the lead fragments in there. Mineral spirits or naphtha will usually remove it. After scraping with your dowel, a Q-tip wet with the same solvent and see if you can get the rest out. If you have a die designed with a hole in the center to let the lube flow out, you will want to remove it and soak it the solvent for a day and use a pipe cleaner on the hole.

dahermit · February 15, 2016, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Some handgun sizing dies have resizing rings made of titanium carbide.

I have heard of Tungsten Carbide (a ring),sizing dies and Titanium Nitride (a ceramic coating on Tungsten Carbide), but not "Titanium Carbide"...is that an error, or is there such a thing?

T. O'Heir · February 15, 2016, 01:02 PM

Vinegar or any solvent would take a hundred years. Just use normal cleaning tools. A pick, gently applied, will remove the big chunks.

9x45 · February 15, 2016, 01:47 PM

I used to use Scothbrite on a slotted wooden dowel in a drill, takes 4 seconds...

briandg · February 15, 2016, 02:30 PM

If you have a drill press, lock a brass cleaning brush in it, dribble abit of bore cleaner in it, and turn on the drill. Brass will take out lead and not Mar the steel. No drill press? Lock your grill in a vise. Or just do it by hand just like you would with a firearm.

FlyFish · February 15, 2016, 02:44 PM

Quote:

I have heard of Tungsten Carbide (a ring),sizing dies and Titanium Nitride (a ceramic coating on Tungsten Carbide), but not "Titanium Carbide"...is that an error, or is there such a thing?

Redding uses titanium carbide in their dies.
http://www.redding-reloading.com/onl...tanium-carbide

**Unclenick** · February 15, 2016, 03:05 PM

Right, they like it better.

101CombatVet,

T. O'Heir is correct about the time it would take, but also the vinegar/peroxide mix is for bare lead and not for lead mixed with a protective wax barrier of bullet lube on it. It won't be able to attack through the wax. Additionally, that solution can destroy finishes and can gradually attack steel. If you want a safe lead solvent, the No-Lead product by Sharpshoot'R works well for me.

dahermit · February 15, 2016, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Redding uses titanium carbide in their dies.

Thank you FlyFish...it is a new one on me.

hartcreek · February 16, 2016, 12:01 AM

I have to ask what are you doing wrong that you have such a build up? Are you using way to much bullet lube, not belling the cases enough or did it just take years to build up and you finally saw the junk when you were loading and the bullet stuck in the die instead of seating?

chris in va · February 16, 2016, 12:32 AM

Mine usually just gets packed with tumble lube. Hoppes and a q-tip gets it out.

**Unclenick** · February 16, 2016, 11:53 AM

Hartcreek,

I think you caught it! I just looked at Redding's site, and I think maybe the OP has the Redding Pro Series Titanium Carbide dies. The literature says they do not include an expander. This would mean they are designed for jacketed bullets but not for lead. He needs to buy a Lyman M expander die for his chambering or the Lyman Multi-Expander kit (assuming it covers his chambering) and use that after the sizing die and before the seater. Problem solved.

101combatvet · March 12, 2016, 08:54 PM

Thanks for all the replies. What I did to solve the problem was scrap the lead out with a wooden dowel. I then plugged the die and filled it up with Hoppe's solvent, I let the solvent soak in for a few hours and ran a piece of paper towel through it. Cleaned up real nice.

hartcreek · March 12, 2016, 09:23 PM

But what are you going to do to stop the build up? I have used parafin wax to reshape the seater plug so it fits the bullet better in one case iun another I ground the seater plug flat.

101combatvet · March 12, 2016, 09:51 PM

First time I cleaned it after reloading 11,000 rounds.

Seating depth was difficult to adjust, when I took the die apart I noticed the problem.

February 15, 2016, 12:43 PM	#1
101combatvet Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2011 Posts: 667	lead in seating die Had a lot of lead build up in one of my titanium carbide seating dies, removed much of it with a shaped wooden dowel. What would be the best method to clean any left over lead? I was thinking about using a vinigar/peroxide solution, but am unsure if that is the best method. Anyone have this problem before? __________________ Special Operations Combat Veteran Gunsmith, BS, MFA, Competitive Shooter NRA Certified Firearms Instructor [9 Certifications]

February 15, 2016, 12:54 PM	#2
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	Some handgun sizing dies have resizing rings made of titanium carbide. Never heard of a seating die made of it, though. Can't see any any advantage to it. Usually, when you get lead build-up in a seating die it is due to bullet lube sticking the lead fragments in there. Mineral spirits or naphtha will usually remove it. After scraping with your dowel, a Q-tip wet with the same solvent and see if you can get the rest out. If you have a die designed with a hole in the center to let the lube flow out, you will want to remove it and soak it the solvent for a day and use a pipe cleaner on the hole. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

February 15, 2016, 01:02 PM	#4
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Vinegar or any solvent would take a hundred years. Just use normal cleaning tools. A pick, gently applied, will remove the big chunks. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

February 15, 2016, 01:47 PM	#5
9x45 Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2000 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,089	I used to use Scothbrite on a slotted wooden dowel in a drill, takes 4 seconds... __________________ Sometimes my Glock forgets where to look.....

February 15, 2016, 03:05 PM	#8
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	Right, they like it better. 101CombatVet, T. O'Heir is correct about the time it would take, but also the vinegar/peroxide mix is for bare lead and not for lead mixed with a protective wax barrier of bullet lube on it. It won't be able to attack through the wax. Additionally, that solution can destroy finishes and can gradually attack steel. If you want a safe lead solvent, the No-Lead product by Sharpshoot'R works well for me. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

February 15, 2016, 02:30 PM	#6
briandg Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2010 Posts: 5,468	If you have a drill press, lock a brass cleaning brush in it, dribble abit of bore cleaner in it, and turn on the drill. Brass will take out lead and not Mar the steel. No drill press? Lock your grill in a vise. Or just do it by hand just like you would with a firearm.

February 16, 2016, 12:01 AM	#10
hartcreek Junior member Join Date: April 22, 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 1,549	I have to ask what are you doing wrong that you have such a build up? Are you using way to much bullet lube, not belling the cases enough or did it just take years to build up and you finally saw the junk when you were loading and the bullet stuck in the die instead of seating?

February 16, 2016, 12:32 AM	#11
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	Mine usually just gets packed with tumble lube. Hoppes and a q-tip gets it out.

February 16, 2016, 11:53 AM	#12
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	Hartcreek, I think you caught it! I just looked at Redding's site, and I think maybe the OP has the Redding Pro Series Titanium Carbide dies. The literature says they do not include an expander. This would mean they are designed for jacketed bullets but not for lead. He needs to buy a Lyman M expander die for his chambering or the Lyman Multi-Expander kit (assuming it covers his chambering) and use that after the sizing die and before the seater. Problem solved. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

March 12, 2016, 08:54 PM	#13
101combatvet Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2011 Posts: 667	Thanks for all the replies. What I did to solve the problem was scrap the lead out with a wooden dowel. I then plugged the die and filled it up with Hoppe's solvent, I let the solvent soak in for a few hours and ran a piece of paper towel through it. Cleaned up real nice. __________________ Special Operations Combat Veteran Gunsmith, BS, MFA, Competitive Shooter NRA Certified Firearms Instructor [9 Certifications]

March 12, 2016, 09:23 PM	#14
hartcreek Junior member Join Date: April 22, 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 1,549	But what are you going to do to stop the build up? I have used parafin wax to reshape the seater plug so it fits the bullet better in one case iun another I ground the seater plug flat.

March 12, 2016, 09:51 PM	#15
101combatvet Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2011 Posts: 667	First time I cleaned it after reloading 11,000 rounds. Seating depth was difficult to adjust, when I took the die apart I noticed the problem. __________________ Special Operations Combat Veteran Gunsmith, BS, MFA, Competitive Shooter NRA Certified Firearms Instructor [9 Certifications]