Hope I cleaned my Lee flsizing die right

Wendyj · April 8, 2015, 05:06 PM

Finally took this die apart. Sprayed it with some Remington oil. Took 40 caliber bore swap and cleaned the inside. Cleaned stem the same way. Wasn't too dirty but everyone says every fifty rounds. Ran bore patch thru until clean. Cleaned pin and expander same way. Sprayed some Hornady one shot on both and let dry about five minutes. Wiped everything down and reassembled. Lubed about 20 with one shot and de primed and flsized. Can't tell any difference. Would have used brake cleaner if dirtier but all in all looked no worse for the wear. All cartridges still fit good in headspace guage. Did I mess up?

WIL TERRY · April 8, 2015, 05:08 PM

NOPE.

g.willikers · April 8, 2015, 05:50 PM

Dies are supposed to be cleaned?
Well, maybe the bullet seating die, due to the accumulation of lube in it, from loading mostly lead bullets.

lamarw · April 8, 2015, 06:01 PM

Who is "everyone"? I have never heard or read where dies need to be cleaned after every 50 rounds.

I could not stand the aggravation of having to readjust dies after the cleaning.

When I get them adjusted properly, the last thing I want to do is mess with them. I seldom clean mine and see no adverse effects.

Wendyj · April 8, 2015, 06:01 PM

I have never noticed it before but the batch I just resized has a almost perfect circle maybe a quarter of an inch on the outside of the brass. I can just barely feel it with a fingernail and inside looks good. Too much lube. Not enough. May die die down too far or is this natural. Some third time resized. Some first time. Set die back same way. Went until it touched and 1/4 turn. Just like before. Not dent but looks like it's uniform enough to have used a tubing cutter. Hornady and nosler brass from my rifle. Hope I uploaded this picture right.

condor bravo · April 8, 2015, 07:07 PM

Weird. I load for 50 some rifle calibers (but never with Lee rifle dies, mostly with RCBS) and have never encountered such a thing. Unless someone can nail this, your best satisfaction may be to get a different sizing die. I wouldn't put up with what is happening. By the way, all of my rifle sizing dies have never been cleaned; sometimes just some of the seating dies. I use the RCBS-2 case lube.

Wendyj · April 8, 2015, 07:21 PM

I just looked at the last 40 I reloaded using 165 gr and some have the circle some not. I'm new so don't want brass coming apart on me. These are before cleaning the dies.

condor bravo · April 8, 2015, 07:44 PM

I wouldn't think the cases could start to buckle inward during sizing, never heard of such a thing, but just to eliminate that possibility, back off on the extra half turn or so that I think you said you applied to the sizing die. If this is your first try at a rifle cartridge and there appears to be no solution (other than replacing the die), probably just blame the situation on beginner's bad-luck.

Wendyj · April 8, 2015, 07:51 PM

I had loaded 20 last week and went to firing range with them. I had put the die in. Ran down until it touched and gave it a 1/4 turn more. Just like when I set it up. It appears to be a surface cut. It's not buckled as the light would appear on far right case. Just enough to bump your fingernails over. All in same spot. Inside doesn't look like this. Just the outside. I'm just wondering if I should reload these or toss them. I'm out of brass now so I have no way of knowing if backing up a little would help or not.

skizzums · April 8, 2015, 07:55 PM

mine get a good cleaning every few weeks. generally after around 500 rounds or so. my 300 blk gets the most since it's forming and get lots of lube in it. sometime i'll take it apart and run a boresnake through it, other times ill just pour a carafe of boiling water down in and that seems to do the job just as well as physically cleaning it.

psalm7 · April 8, 2015, 07:55 PM

The only time I have heard of rings on brass is on the thread going on here about the papper clip check . Case separation .

condor bravo · April 8, 2015, 08:22 PM

Perhaps first of all, are you sure that the rings were NOT present on the cases BEFORE sizing, as opposed to showing up only after sizing? If present before sizing, then the fault should lie with the cases, probably there from having been fired in a previous rifle. But if with new brass, then the fault should lie with the sizing die (or improper adjustment).

lamarw · April 8, 2015, 08:45 PM

Your initial post did not mention a problem. It read to me as though you had been told by "everyone" to clean your full sizing die after every 50 rounds. You question was whether you were cleaning it properly.

Ifishsum · April 8, 2015, 08:56 PM

Do you chamfer/deburr with one of the Lee deburring tools by chance? I had similar marks on brass when I started out using the tool that came with the Lee kit...

the led farmer · April 9, 2015, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Do you chamfer/deburr with one of the Lee deburring tools by chance? I had similar marks on brass when I started out using the tool that came with the Lee kit...

I agree, those marks are not from your die but from:
1) whatever you are using to trim your brass
2) the lee tool when you deburr

if not you then whoever loaded them before

Wendyj · April 9, 2015, 05:41 AM

I would like to think it was from trimming but that's what I was doing when I noticed it first. Had just resized. Set down to clean primer pockets and trim. That's when I inspect my cases. Before I trim. I think I have about 10 factory loads left. Will check them. Not likely Hornady and Nosler had same ring. This brass was new and only fired by me. Hornady 3rd time in press and Nosler 1st time.

Gadawg88 · April 9, 2015, 07:41 AM

You can add a couple of zeros to that every "50" rounds. No need to clean anywhere near that often particularly if your brass is clean when you resize. The ring is not normal and would bother me too. If it is superficial, then the cases should be safe to fire, but I would try and correct going forward. Try taking the die apart again and closely examine, best you can, the inside surfaces of the die body for burrs or tool marks. A magnifying glass may help. A little light work with some emory cloth may take care of it.

Wendyj · April 9, 2015, 01:47 PM

As a test I shot one of my factory 165 grain loads. Took die apart and cleaned more with cotton swab. Used the Lee lube instead of the Hornady one shot. Re installed the die until it touched, gave it a 1/4 of a turn more. Just like before. Resized spent case. No rings. Cotton swab excuse me q tip was very nasty even after I cleaned yesterday. I don't care much for the Lee lube. Says not to get in on the bottleneck of brass. Almost impossible using your fingers. Maybe I'll try some RCBS spray lube. Not sure what happened but thinking of buying a new full length sizing die and sending the brass with rings and my die back to Lee. I've only had it a week. Only place for Lee dies is an hour away. Could go with a different company. Looks like all the threads are the same. Being new at this game is rough when you encounter something daily you don't have a clue about. Showed brass to an old time reloader. He says it's safe for this time but recommended I find the problem or return to Lee since it's only two weeks old. They don't list all th problems you encounter in a manual or hand book.

Wendyj · April 9, 2015, 08:21 PM

I didn't see the vent hole in die before but it had a trace of dirt on it. Doesn't appear brass ring comes that far up though. Could be wrong but it was worth recleaning.

April 8, 2015, 05:06 PM	#1
Wendyj Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2015 Location: North Georgia Posts: 1,372	Hope I cleaned my Lee flsizing die right Finally took this die apart. Sprayed it with some Remington oil. Took 40 caliber bore swap and cleaned the inside. Cleaned stem the same way. Wasn't too dirty but everyone says every fifty rounds. Ran bore patch thru until clean. Cleaned pin and expander same way. Sprayed some Hornady one shot on both and let dry about five minutes. Wiped everything down and reassembled. Lubed about 20 with one shot and de primed and flsized. Can't tell any difference. Would have used brake cleaner if dirtier but all in all looked no worse for the wear. All cartridges still fit good in headspace guage. Did I mess up?

April 8, 2015, 05:50 PM	#3
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Dies are supposed to be cleaned? Well, maybe the bullet seating die, due to the accumulation of lube in it, from loading mostly lead bullets. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

April 8, 2015, 06:01 PM	#5
Wendyj Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2015 Location: North Georgia Posts: 1,372	I have never noticed it before but the batch I just resized has a almost perfect circle maybe a quarter of an inch on the outside of the brass. I can just barely feel it with a fingernail and inside looks good. Too much lube. Not enough. May die die down too far or is this natural. Some third time resized. Some first time. Set die back same way. Went until it touched and 1/4 turn. Just like before. Not dent but looks like it's uniform enough to have used a tubing cutter. Hornady and nosler brass from my rifle. Hope I uploaded this picture right. Last edited by Wendyj; June 4, 2016 at 01:18 PM.

April 8, 2015, 07:07 PM	#6
condor bravo Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2014 Location: Nevada/Ariz/CA Posts: 1,753	Weird. I load for 50 some rifle calibers (but never with Lee rifle dies, mostly with RCBS) and have never encountered such a thing. Unless someone can nail this, your best satisfaction may be to get a different sizing die. I wouldn't put up with what is happening. By the way, all of my rifle sizing dies have never been cleaned; sometimes just some of the seating dies. I use the RCBS-2 case lube. Last edited by condor bravo; April 8, 2015 at 07:14 PM.

April 8, 2015, 07:55 PM	#10
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	mine get a good cleaning every few weeks. generally after around 500 rounds or so. my 300 blk gets the most since it's forming and get lots of lube in it. sometime i'll take it apart and run a boresnake through it, other times ill just pour a carafe of boiling water down in and that seems to do the job just as well as physically cleaning it. __________________ My head is bloody, but unbowed

April 8, 2015, 05:08 PM	#2
WIL TERRY Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2000 Location: BLACK HILLS Posts: 1,322	NOPE.

April 8, 2015, 06:01 PM	#4
lamarw Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2010 Location: Lake Martin, AL Posts: 3,311	Who is "everyone"? I have never heard or read where dies need to be cleaned after every 50 rounds. I could not stand the aggravation of having to readjust dies after the cleaning. When I get them adjusted properly, the last thing I want to do is mess with them. I seldom clean mine and see no adverse effects.

April 8, 2015, 07:21 PM	#7
Wendyj Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2015 Location: North Georgia Posts: 1,372	I just looked at the last 40 I reloaded using 165 gr and some have the circle some not. I'm new so don't want brass coming apart on me. These are before cleaning the dies.

April 8, 2015, 07:44 PM	#8
condor bravo Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2014 Location: Nevada/Ariz/CA Posts: 1,753	I wouldn't think the cases could start to buckle inward during sizing, never heard of such a thing, but just to eliminate that possibility, back off on the extra half turn or so that I think you said you applied to the sizing die. If this is your first try at a rifle cartridge and there appears to be no solution (other than replacing the die), probably just blame the situation on beginner's bad-luck.

April 8, 2015, 07:51 PM	#9
Wendyj Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2015 Location: North Georgia Posts: 1,372	I had loaded 20 last week and went to firing range with them. I had put the die in. Ran down until it touched and gave it a 1/4 turn more. Just like when I set it up. It appears to be a surface cut. It's not buckled as the light would appear on far right case. Just enough to bump your fingernails over. All in same spot. Inside doesn't look like this. Just the outside. I'm just wondering if I should reload these or toss them. I'm out of brass now so I have no way of knowing if backing up a little would help or not.

April 8, 2015, 07:55 PM	#11
psalm7 Senior Member Join Date: March 7, 2014 Location: Middle TN Posts: 543	The only time I have heard of rings on brass is on the thread going on here about the papper clip check . Case separation .

April 8, 2015, 08:22 PM	#12
condor bravo Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2014 Location: Nevada/Ariz/CA Posts: 1,753	Perhaps first of all, are you sure that the rings were NOT present on the cases BEFORE sizing, as opposed to showing up only after sizing? If present before sizing, then the fault should lie with the cases, probably there from having been fired in a previous rifle. But if with new brass, then the fault should lie with the sizing die (or improper adjustment).

April 8, 2015, 08:45 PM	#13
lamarw Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2010 Location: Lake Martin, AL Posts: 3,311	Your initial post did not mention a problem. It read to me as though you had been told by "everyone" to clean your full sizing die after every 50 rounds. You question was whether you were cleaning it properly.

April 8, 2015, 08:56 PM	#14
Ifishsum Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,033	Do you chamfer/deburr with one of the Lee deburring tools by chance? I had similar marks on brass when I started out using the tool that came with the Lee kit...

April 9, 2015, 05:41 AM	#16
Wendyj Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2015 Location: North Georgia Posts: 1,372	I would like to think it was from trimming but that's what I was doing when I noticed it first. Had just resized. Set down to clean primer pockets and trim. That's when I inspect my cases. Before I trim. I think I have about 10 factory loads left. Will check them. Not likely Hornady and Nosler had same ring. This brass was new and only fired by me. Hornady 3rd time in press and Nosler 1st time.

April 9, 2015, 07:41 AM	#17
Gadawg88 Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2013 Location: Georgia Posts: 241	You can add a couple of zeros to that every "50" rounds. No need to clean anywhere near that often particularly if your brass is clean when you resize. The ring is not normal and would bother me too. If it is superficial, then the cases should be safe to fire, but I would try and correct going forward. Try taking the die apart again and closely examine, best you can, the inside surfaces of the die body for burrs or tool marks. A magnifying glass may help. A little light work with some emory cloth may take care of it.

April 9, 2015, 01:47 PM	#18
Wendyj Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2015 Location: North Georgia Posts: 1,372	As a test I shot one of my factory 165 grain loads. Took die apart and cleaned more with cotton swab. Used the Lee lube instead of the Hornady one shot. Re installed the die until it touched, gave it a 1/4 of a turn more. Just like before. Resized spent case. No rings. Cotton swab excuse me q tip was very nasty even after I cleaned yesterday. I don't care much for the Lee lube. Says not to get in on the bottleneck of brass. Almost impossible using your fingers. Maybe I'll try some RCBS spray lube. Not sure what happened but thinking of buying a new full length sizing die and sending the brass with rings and my die back to Lee. I've only had it a week. Only place for Lee dies is an hour away. Could go with a different company. Looks like all the threads are the same. Being new at this game is rough when you encounter something daily you don't have a clue about. Showed brass to an old time reloader. He says it's safe for this time but recommended I find the problem or return to Lee since it's only two weeks old. They don't list all th problems you encounter in a manual or hand book.

April 9, 2015, 08:21 PM	#19
Wendyj Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2015 Location: North Georgia Posts: 1,372	I didn't see the vent hole in die before but it had a trace of dirt on it. Doesn't appear brass ring comes that far up though. Could be wrong but it was worth recleaning.