New Brass...hanging on the powder funnel

VonFatman · January 21, 2005, 12:48 PM

I have a Dillon 650 and this past week I have been reloading 44 Magnum ammo with new Remington brass with RCBS carbide dies. I have noted that when I used this new brass I got a progressively tighter/tougher pull removing the case from the funnel until it gets down-right tough to cycle the handle. This is not a die problem as I can see the case(s) are past the die(s) and the only “hang-up” is the funnel at station two…it’s still fully inserted in the case.

This was a surprise for me (I'm new to reloading). I expected that new brass would "fly" through the press with little or no sizing or belling issues.

I was wrong. I found that the sizing die (station one) actually worked the new brass over a bit and at the powder/belling die (station two) as I mentioned above, the funnel had to be polished after about 300 new cases were loaded to remove the brass streaks forming on the outside of the funnel.

Actually it was the streaks inside the new cases which caught my eye. Once I got looking around, I noted that those streaks matched the streaks on the outside surface of the funnel.

Dillon suggested polishing the outside of the funnel from time-to-time to eliminate the build-up.

Two questions:

1) Is this a common "problem"?
2) What material would be good for polishing the funnel? I was thinking steel wool?

Thanks...have a great weekend.

Bob

JoeHatley · January 21, 2005, 04:24 PM

Did you chamfer the inside of the case mouths?

Joe

VonFatman · January 21, 2005, 04:33 PM

Nope, sure didn't. I had not trimmed it and did not think
I needed to...maybe I should have!
Bob

TacticalReload · January 21, 2005, 05:19 PM

I've noticed the same thing. I don't know what causes this problem as I haven't bothered trying to diagnose it, but now that you mention it... I think it only happened with new cases.

Robert M Boren Sr · January 21, 2005, 10:13 PM

It only happens on new cases and what worked for me was a borillo pad. New brass has something on the case I was told and it builds up after a few rounds. Once fired no more problems. One other thing I noticed, with me anyway, it only does it with winchester brass, the remington seems to work fine new.

VonFatman · January 22, 2005, 12:26 AM

Yep, new cases seem to be the common thread.
Mr. Boren, actually, my brass is Remington...go figure?
Reloading has a curve-ball around every caliber...but
it's sure a great hobby!

Bob

HSMITH · January 22, 2005, 03:43 AM

Bob, try a little One Shot on the expander stem and a little on the brass, takes the 'new brass blues' away.

VonFatman · January 22, 2005, 08:10 AM

Thanks Mr. Smith,
I appreciate the suggestion.

Bob

WESHOOT2 · January 22, 2005, 08:17 AM

I stand up my cases in MTM load blocks and give them a gentle shot of Hornady One-Shot spray lube, trying to get a wee bit into the mouths, too.
Makes running my XL650 sweet..........

No, I don't 'clean up' afterward

JCM298 · January 22, 2005, 12:21 PM

I had the same problem with new WW .357 brass cases. After the first reload, the problem disappeared,

John

Edward429451 · January 22, 2005, 12:30 PM

I suppose I skirted that problem by never having used virgin brass. Maybe being poor does have its advantages!

All my new brass is once fired brass.

VonFatman · January 22, 2005, 02:16 PM

WESHOOT2,
I'm going to pick some up next time I'm out...thanks for the suggestion.
JCM298,
It's good to know the issue goes away...I was not thinking it would be fun pulling that handle down with that much force from now on!
Edward429451,
It's a new one for me too...I'd never used anything but range brass before.
Hard to find 45 Colt or 44 Mag brass...but I have scadz of .45 ACP, .38, 357, & 9mm!!

Bob

Robert M Boren Sr · January 22, 2005, 04:04 PM

The only reason for buying new brass is I can't convince the kids to pick up the brass after they're done

. They say it takes the fun out of shooting.

VonFatman · January 22, 2005, 04:35 PM

Mr. Boren,
That's one reason I really like revolvers! I got tired of picking up the brass. But of course I do shoot several .45 ACP semi-autos...that's when I get the tarp out.

That said being said, buying brass once in a while would be a tradeoff I'd make too if it meant I was going to keep my family shooting with me! Good choice.

Bob

Doug242ti · January 23, 2005, 06:22 PM

One Shot is like the WD40 of the reloading world. I spray my brass even when Im using carbide dies. Its really an extra 10 seconds, and it does make life alot easier.

January 21, 2005, 12:48 PM	#1
VonFatman Senior Member Join Date: November 24, 2000 Location: Kansas City Posts: 559	New Brass...hanging on the powder funnel I have a Dillon 650 and this past week I have been reloading 44 Magnum ammo with new Remington brass with RCBS carbide dies. I have noted that when I used this new brass I got a progressively tighter/tougher pull removing the case from the funnel until it gets down-right tough to cycle the handle. This is not a die problem as I can see the case(s) are past the die(s) and the only “hang-up” is the funnel at station two…it’s still fully inserted in the case. This was a surprise for me (I'm new to reloading). I expected that new brass would "fly" through the press with little or no sizing or belling issues. I was wrong. I found that the sizing die (station one) actually worked the new brass over a bit and at the powder/belling die (station two) as I mentioned above, the funnel had to be polished after about 300 new cases were loaded to remove the brass streaks forming on the outside of the funnel. Actually it was the streaks inside the new cases which caught my eye. Once I got looking around, I noted that those streaks matched the streaks on the outside surface of the funnel. Dillon suggested polishing the outside of the funnel from time-to-time to eliminate the build-up. Two questions: 1) Is this a common "problem"? 2) What material would be good for polishing the funnel? I was thinking steel wool? Thanks...have a great weekend. Bob __________________ "Onward thru the Fog"

January 21, 2005, 04:24 PM	#2
JoeHatley Senior Member Join Date: July 2, 1999 Location: Iowa Posts: 2,135	Did you chamfer the inside of the case mouths? Joe __________________ Go NRA

January 21, 2005, 04:33 PM	#3
VonFatman Senior Member Join Date: November 24, 2000 Location: Kansas City Posts: 559	Nope, sure didn't. I had not trimmed it and did not think I needed to...maybe I should have! Bob __________________ "Onward thru the Fog"

January 21, 2005, 05:19 PM	#4
TacticalReload Senior Member Join Date: July 2, 2001 Posts: 119	I've noticed the same thing. I don't know what causes this problem as I haven't bothered trying to diagnose it, but now that you mention it... I think it only happened with new cases. __________________ ------ Steve Fuller scfuller@fast.net

January 22, 2005, 12:26 AM	#6
VonFatman Senior Member Join Date: November 24, 2000 Location: Kansas City Posts: 559	Yep, new cases seem to be the common thread. Mr. Boren, actually, my brass is Remington...go figure? Reloading has a curve-ball around every caliber...but it's sure a great hobby! Bob __________________ "Onward thru the Fog"

January 21, 2005, 10:13 PM	#5
Robert M Boren Sr Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2004 Location: NW Montana Posts: 267	It only happens on new cases and what worked for me was a borillo pad. New brass has something on the case I was told and it builds up after a few rounds. Once fired no more problems. One other thing I noticed, with me anyway, it only does it with winchester brass, the remington seems to work fine new.

January 22, 2005, 03:43 AM	#7
HSMITH Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2002 Posts: 2,019	Bob, try a little One Shot on the expander stem and a little on the brass, takes the 'new brass blues' away.

January 22, 2005, 08:10 AM	#8
VonFatman Senior Member Join Date: November 24, 2000 Location: Kansas City Posts: 559	Thanks Mr. Smith, I appreciate the suggestion. Bob __________________ "Onward thru the Fog"

January 22, 2005, 08:17 AM	#9
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 12,923	ooh, sticky I stand up my cases in MTM load blocks and give them a gentle shot of Hornady One-Shot spray lube, trying to get a wee bit into the mouths, too. Makes running my XL650 sweet.......... No, I don't 'clean up' afterward __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

January 22, 2005, 12:21 PM	#10
JCM298 Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2004 Posts: 133	I had the same problem with new WW .357 brass cases. After the first reload, the problem disappeared, John

January 22, 2005, 12:30 PM	#11
Edward429451 Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,457	I suppose I skirted that problem by never having used virgin brass. Maybe being poor does have its advantages! All my new brass is once fired brass. __________________ "Always place your clothes and weapons where you can find them in the dark" Lazarus Long "Understand that the enemy is not the enemy in his own eyes ;this may offer you an opportunity to make him your friend. If not, you can kill him without hate, and quickly." Lazarus Long

January 22, 2005, 02:16 PM	#12
VonFatman Senior Member Join Date: November 24, 2000 Location: Kansas City Posts: 559	WESHOOT2, I'm going to pick some up next time I'm out...thanks for the suggestion. JCM298, It's good to know the issue goes away...I was not thinking it would be fun pulling that handle down with that much force from now on! Edward429451, It's a new one for me too...I'd never used anything but range brass before. Hard to find 45 Colt or 44 Mag brass...but I have scadz of .45 ACP, .38, 357, & 9mm!! Bob __________________ "Onward thru the Fog"

January 22, 2005, 04:04 PM	#13
Robert M Boren Sr Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2004 Location: NW Montana Posts: 267	The only reason for buying new brass is I can't convince the kids to pick up the brass after they're done . They say it takes the fun out of shooting.

January 22, 2005, 04:35 PM	#14
VonFatman Senior Member Join Date: November 24, 2000 Location: Kansas City Posts: 559	Mr. Boren, That's one reason I really like revolvers! I got tired of picking up the brass. But of course I do shoot several .45 ACP semi-autos...that's when I get the tarp out. That said being said, buying brass once in a while would be a tradeoff I'd make too if it meant I was going to keep my family shooting with me! Good choice. Bob __________________ "Onward thru the Fog"

January 23, 2005, 06:22 PM	#15
Doug242ti Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 317	One Shot is like the WD40 of the reloading world. I spray my brass even when Im using carbide dies. Its really an extra 10 seconds, and it does make life alot easier. __________________ www.pbase.com/dkauer744 NRA Member