Reloading die woes

sniper · Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 4:18 pm Post subject: Reloading die woes

I have a set of RCBS dies for my rifle. I bought them new, and have never beat on them.
Lately, I have been expriencing problems, Confused

such as putting a very graceful S curve in the decap-expander stem,( twice) and sticking a couple of cases, which I have never done before, in addition to finding scratching on my cases. Shocked

Nothing major, but annoying. Like Vince, I give my dies a shot of Gun Scrubber and wipe them out every now and again.

I replaced the decap/expander assembly, polished the insides of my dies with 800 grit, then 1000 grit wet or dry paper and oil, per instructions from the RCBS tech, and readjusted them, just to be sure.

If that doesn't work, I am thinking of buying a set of Hornady New Dimension dies, which seemingly will produce better bullet/case alignment than the old standard type dies we have been using for lo, these many years. They are more expensive than either RCBS or Redding dies, and I wonder if that translates into better quality?

What do you guys think? Might a switch in dies be advisable? What am I missing, here? I wipe my cases after tumbling, but would it be possible for tumbler grit to scractch the dies? Neutral

moose2 · Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 4:49 pm Post subject: Re: Reloading die woes

If I couldn't get my dies to work anymore, I certainly would replace them. It's just interesting though, that yours started experienceing problems all of a sudden. Hope your cleaning job does the trick.--tr

Bushmaster · Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 5:00 pm Post subject: Re: Reloading die woes

These carbide dies or are they for a rifle and not carbide? How can you scratch dies if you are tumbling them first? I never wipe mine after tumbling and have not scratched any of my Lee dies carbide or non- carbide. Check to make sure that the carbide ring is not cracked if carbide. As far as the decapping pin is concerned. Can't help you as I know you are aware of the crimp on the primer of some military cases...Check case holder to ram alignment. Sounds like you may have slightly bent the pin over time, maybe.

shrpshtrjoe · Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 5:03 pm Post subject: Re: Reloading die woes

Howdy. I have RCBS, Hornady, Lee, and Redding dies on my bench now Can't say I notice a difference in any of them they all seem to work well. If I'm not mistakin RCBS has a life time warranty. If ya can't get your dies smoothed out they may replace them for ya.
Joe

1895ss · Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 5:29 pm Post subject: Re: Reloading die woes

Most of my dies are RCBS with a few Lyman and one set of Lee. Some years ago my RCBS 25-06 die started scratching cases and all I did was use some crocus cloth and an electric drill and I polished the inside,at a fairly slow speed, and it has worked great since. I have no idea what caused it because just like some of you I clean my dies regularly. The problem has never resurfaced and it is the only set of dies from my bench that have ever done that.

Crackshot · Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 7:50 pm Post subject: Re: Reloading die woes

I have noticed that the decap pin will get loose now and then it will get off center and then will get bent. Yes Hornady dies are a little better that some others as far as the seater dies go IMHO.

fireball 3 · Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:30 pm Post subject: Re: Reloading die woes

I really like the hornaday seaters as they have a floater it self center the bullet. I haven't had any prblems with any of my rcbs,hornaday or redding dies or seaters. Dave Smile

sniper · Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 9:44 am Post subject: Re: Reloading die woes

Bushy: Rifle dies; I haven't had trouble with my carbide ones.

Crackshot: The last episode was shortly after Ihad replaced the expander stem/decap pin. This time I have blue Loctited the expander and decap pin....we'll see.

Thanks for the suggestions, all.

skb2706 · Member Joined: Apr 10, 2006 Posts: 269

A bent decapping pin can be the result of several things including
not having the case pushed back into the shellholder all the way

not having the die set up correct as to center the decapping pin and expander button with the cases

poorly made brass...off center flash holes

using the wrong shell holder

trash or dirt in the bottom of the case

not likely RCBS can fix those problems......

scratched cases come from either dirty cases or dirty dies, there just isn't any other mystery at play here

what do you use for case lube ?

sniper · Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 12:40 pm Post subject: Re: Reloading die woes

skb2706 wrote:

A bent decapping pin can be the result of several things including
not having the case pushed back into the shellholder all the way
Nope

not having the die set up correct as to center the decapping pin and expander button with the cases
Centered and locked down

poorly made brass...off center flash holes
Winchester--will check that.

using the wrong shell holder
Nope, proper numbers from Big Green.

trash or dirt in the bottom of the case
Not.

not likely RCBS can fix those problems......

scratched cases come from either dirty cases or dirty dies, there just isn't any other mystery at play here
Hmmmm..maybe wipe the brass better. Will give it a try Thanks.

what do you use for case lube ?
Hornady one shot aerosol.

Bushmaster · Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 1:20 pm Post subject: Re: Reloading die woes

Well that explains it...One Shot...Makes a good rocking chair squeek remover...But that's about all...

skb2706 · Member Joined: Apr 10, 2006 Posts: 269

While One shot is not my favorite it is not likely that causes bent decapping pins. Seems you have to use it much more liberally than they want you to think.

RCBS is very good about replacing bent/broken/misused/lost/crappy parts almost immediately. I have never heard of them recommending that a user polish the inside of a set of dies. I would call back and ask someone else (they have an engineer that has been there since the dawn of reloading) what they can do for you. If it is the die they will swap in out....like right now.

wncchester · Member Joined: Apr 08, 2006 Posts: 160

Something HARD has caused the decap stem to bend. The only thing I can think of is the case web. Perhaps you screwed the stem down a bit too far?

Scratched cases come from scratched dies. You must have had a bit of grit or something on a case and it damaged the die walls. You could send the die to RCBS for correction but it's not rocket science to do it yourself, and it would save time!

I polish my scratched FL dies with a 6" section of 3/8" dowel rod, or what ever size properly fits the die. First step, saw a slot the lenth of the case in one end, then slip a piece of super fine, 800 or 1000 grit, black sand paper in the slot (Walmart's Auto Paint Dept. sells it). Cut the paper large enough to make the dowel a fit snug in the die. Chuck the dowel in a drill and spin it in the die, just a couple of minutes should fix it. Don't worry about changing the hardened steel die, that fine grit won't do more than polish it unless you do it hard for an hour or so.