Setup Question resizing 41Mag Brass

Wa11banger · May 11, 2009, 07:40 PM

Hello Everyone,

I have a situation that I do not know if its a problem or not. But before I go ahead and resize the rest of a 1000 rounds of brass I figured I should ask. My dad gave me his reloading equipment and I had been reloading with him when I was little but havent reloaded in years.

I tumbled a bunch of spent .41Mag brass with primers in still
I have a single stage press so I set it up to FL resize the brass then I was going to decap and open the tops then retumble to remove lubes

First I was lubing the brass with LEE lube, it was not working well and left stripes or scratches on the brass

I then read the forum and bought a can of one shot for lube.. It worked the brass much easier but still left the striping on the brass.

I cleaned the sizing die thoroughly and checked the bore.. It is smooth as a babys behind and shows no signs of surface anomalies.

I was worried about the scratches because I dont remember them being there when I was a kid I have attached a picture showing what it looks like below

I have a box of brand new reference brass that measures 10.91mm in diameter it basically falls out of the cylinder on my revolver

The resized brass is 10.95mm in diameter and does the same in the cylinder

The shot brass before resizing measures 11.02mm on average and yes still falls out of the cylinder but does not have any scratches

I guess after that long explanation are these small scratches worth worrying about, will they come out when I tumble to clean the lubes off? Is it normal when resizing magnum cartridges?

Thanks for any and all advise

jepp2 · May 11, 2009, 07:54 PM

Since you are using lube, I assume you are not using a carbide die?

I use carbide for all pistol sizing without lube. I tumble before sizing to clean the cases. After sizing several thousand 9mm, I notices I was getting scratches similar to your picture. But mine were only on one side of the case. I removed the decapping rod, and using some Flitz metal polish on a paper towel wrapped around a nylon brush, I polished the interior of the carbide die. I cleaned the Flitz off the surface and started sizing again. The scratches on the exterior of the cases disappeared.

Even if you can't see anything on the die interior, it's a good idea to polish it with Flitz. 30 seconds using a drill at moderate speed is all you need. In addition to cleaning the die, it will reduce the force required to size brass.

Wa11banger · May 11, 2009, 08:08 PM

Yessir Steel dies from old days long gone..

I do have a question for you though.. This is a three die set, sizing die, decapper die with neck stretch, and then bullet seat and crimp.. If I used the decapper only will that suffice? Until I can get a Carbide sizing die?

Thanks for the response

Rick

crowbeaner · May 11, 2009, 08:18 PM

The best advice I can offer is to use RCBS Case Lube II; it's water soluble and just a bit does the job. If you're getting scratches on the cases, you may have brass built up in the die from improper lubeing. A small buff with a Flitz impregnated cloth may help. Lube the cases lightly but thoroughly and make sure the die is all the way down and tight so that the cases aren't sized off center. I use a carbide sizer die myself, and a wipe before sizing to remove any grit left from the tumbler helps.

dahermit · May 11, 2009, 08:19 PM

Follow the advice from the poster above. It is likely there is some hard substance embedded in the steel die.

Wa11banger · May 11, 2009, 08:26 PM

Thanks all on the hunt for a carbide set of dies.. Do you think there is any damage to these cases to the point they cannot be used in a revolver.. I have about 25 of them through different stages of testing and cleaning etc..

Thanks again
Rick

GeauxTide · May 12, 2009, 07:02 AM

Looking at the pic, it looks like the scratches are cosmetic, but I'd sure clean the thing and get a carbide sizer ASAP.

Dingoboyx · May 12, 2009, 07:50 AM

will still weaken the cases.... hopefully your search for carbide dies will be fruitful soon..... I would be loading as few as possible, and reloading them again..... until you have your new carbides.... otherwise you will scratch all of your cases..... So, IMO, dont go loading everything you have, just yet.

Keep an eye on the scratches after firing, to make sure they arent splitting & keep up the search for the Carbide dies

Wa11banger · May 12, 2009, 05:22 PM

Carbide dies aquired.. Went ahead and replaced the whole set.

Thanks for all the info guys.

Rick

May 11, 2009, 08:18 PM	#4
crowbeaner Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2007 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 1,943	The best advice I can offer is to use RCBS Case Lube II; it's water soluble and just a bit does the job. If you're getting scratches on the cases, you may have brass built up in the die from improper lubeing. A small buff with a Flitz impregnated cloth may help. Lube the cases lightly but thoroughly and make sure the die is all the way down and tight so that the cases aren't sized off center. I use a carbide sizer die myself, and a wipe before sizing to remove any grit left from the tumbler helps. __________________ If you want your children to follow in your footsteps, be careful where you walk. Beware the man that only owns one gun; he probably knows how to use it. I just hope my ship comes in before my dock rots.

May 12, 2009, 07:50 AM	#8
Dingoboyx Senior Member Join Date: March 7, 2009 Location: South East Queensland, Australia Posts: 1,513	The scratches although small will still weaken the cases.... hopefully your search for carbide dies will be fruitful soon..... I would be loading as few as possible, and reloading them again..... until you have your new carbides.... otherwise you will scratch all of your cases..... So, IMO, dont go loading everything you have, just yet. Keep an eye on the scratches after firing, to make sure they arent splitting & keep up the search for the Carbide dies __________________ Muzza If you cant blind them with brilliance, Baffle them with BS Be alert...... there is a shortage of LERTs

May 11, 2009, 07:54 PM	#2
jepp2 Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2008 Location: Loveland, CO Posts: 1,476	Since you are using lube, I assume you are not using a carbide die? I use carbide for all pistol sizing without lube. I tumble before sizing to clean the cases. After sizing several thousand 9mm, I notices I was getting scratches similar to your picture. But mine were only on one side of the case. I removed the decapping rod, and using some Flitz metal polish on a paper towel wrapped around a nylon brush, I polished the interior of the carbide die. I cleaned the Flitz off the surface and started sizing again. The scratches on the exterior of the cases disappeared. Even if you can't see anything on the die interior, it's a good idea to polish it with Flitz. 30 seconds using a drill at moderate speed is all you need. In addition to cleaning the die, it will reduce the force required to size brass.

May 11, 2009, 08:08 PM	#3
Wa11banger Junior Member Join Date: May 11, 2009 Location: In the South Posts: 4	Yessir Steel dies from old days long gone.. I do have a question for you though.. This is a three die set, sizing die, decapper die with neck stretch, and then bullet seat and crimp.. If I used the decapper only will that suffice? Until I can get a Carbide sizing die? Thanks for the response Rick

May 11, 2009, 08:19 PM	#5
dahermit Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2006 Location: South Central Michigan...near Posts: 6,501	Follow the advice from the poster above. It is likely there is some hard substance embedded in the steel die.

May 11, 2009, 08:26 PM	#6
Wa11banger Junior Member Join Date: May 11, 2009 Location: In the South Posts: 4	Thanks all on the hunt for a carbide set of dies.. Do you think there is any damage to these cases to the point they cannot be used in a revolver.. I have about 25 of them through different stages of testing and cleaning etc.. Thanks again Rick

May 12, 2009, 07:02 AM	#7
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,424	Looking at the pic, it looks like the scratches are cosmetic, but I'd sure clean the thing and get a carbide sizer ASAP.

May 12, 2009, 05:22 PM	#9
Wa11banger Junior Member Join Date: May 11, 2009 Location: In the South Posts: 4	Carbide dies aquired.. Went ahead and replaced the whole set. Thanks for all the info guys. Rick