Cleaning Dies

DMF38 · November 19, 2006, 10:46 PM

How do you clean your dies? I use Lee dies and I've cleaned them with Gun Scrubber but I'm worried about it ruining the rubber o-rings.

SIGSHR · November 20, 2006, 12:38 AM

Most of my dies are RCBS or Lyman, I use Hoppe's, Gun Scrubber or even
brake cleaner. You might see if you can remove one of the o-rings and take it
your local hardware store, see if they have anything that matches so you have replacements.

wjg686 · November 21, 2006, 06:15 PM

How often? When they start scratching the brass, or sticking, or what? I've loaded about 1000 9mm, 500 .380, and 200 .41 mags using the Lee carbide dies. I tumble the cases first. I hadn't noticed any problem. What should I be looking for?

Bill

T. O'Heir · November 21, 2006, 11:23 PM

"...What should I be looking for?..." A build up of lube gunk. Clean 'em the same way you do your firearms. It's not as big a deal if you load jacketed bullets only.

BigJakeJ1s · November 22, 2006, 06:32 PM

I load lead bullets, and the lube builds up in the seating die after several hundred rounds. They're Hornady dies, so the guts fall out the bottom after you remove a spring-wire clip. Clean 'em up, pop 'em back in, put the clip back on, and you're in business; the seating/crimping settings are not affected at all. I don't even have to remove it from the press.

Andy

November 19, 2006, 10:46 PM	#1
DMF38 Member Join Date: November 9, 2006 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 41	Cleaning Dies How do you clean your dies? I use Lee dies and I've cleaned them with Gun Scrubber but I'm worried about it ruining the rubber o-rings.

November 21, 2006, 06:15 PM	#3
wjg686 Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2006 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 105	We're supposed to clean dies? How often? When they start scratching the brass, or sticking, or what? I've loaded about 1000 9mm, 500 .380, and 200 .41 mags using the Lee carbide dies. I tumble the cases first. I hadn't noticed any problem. What should I be looking for? Bill

November 20, 2006, 12:38 AM	#2
SIGSHR Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Posts: 4,700	Most of my dies are RCBS or Lyman, I use Hoppe's, Gun Scrubber or even brake cleaner. You might see if you can remove one of the o-rings and take it your local hardware store, see if they have anything that matches so you have replacements.

November 21, 2006, 11:23 PM	#4
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...What should I be looking for?..." A build up of lube gunk. Clean 'em the same way you do your firearms. It's not as big a deal if you load jacketed bullets only.

November 22, 2006, 06:32 PM	#5
BigJakeJ1s Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2005 Location: Arlington TX Posts: 663	I load lead bullets, and the lube builds up in the seating die after several hundred rounds. They're Hornady dies, so the guts fall out the bottom after you remove a spring-wire clip. Clean 'em up, pop 'em back in, put the clip back on, and you're in business; the seating/crimping settings are not affected at all. I don't even have to remove it from the press. Andy