Round Sticks in Redding Micro-crimp Die

[BiknSwans]

I had sticking using my Redding 9mm micrometer die. The solution for me was to spray the inside of a 1 gallon Zip-Loc bag with WD-40 Dry Lube, dump in about 200 brass cases, place the bag flat on a towel, and roll the brass against the wetted bag surface. This coated the outside of the brass, but left the inside without any lube.

Using the towel resulted in more contact surface and distributed the lube more evenly.

 

[CQB45ACP]

I had sticking using my Redding 9mm micrometer die. The solution for me was to spray the inside of a 1 gallon Zip-Loc bag with WD-40 Dry Lube, dump in about 200 brass cases, place the bag flat on a towel, and roll the brass against the wetted bag surface. This coated the outside of the brass, but left the inside without any lube.

Using the towel resulted in more contact surface and distributed the lube more evenly.

Quite a production! That’s a bridge (or two) too far for me.

 

[CQB45ACP]

With loaded round, ready to crimp:

Color the case mouth to 1/4" below case mouth with black sharpie.

Color the first 1/8" of bullet - start at case mouth and go up.

Let ink dry for 5 minutes or so.....

Crimp the bullet and post picture please.

Sorry, but my picture taking began and ended with my first post. What would be the goal with this test?

 

[dcloco]

Will provide witness marks of the die to brass intersect. Will be easier to see what is actually happening.

Sorry, but my picture taking began and ended with my first post. What would be the goal with this test?

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Send the sleeve into Redding for a new one. It's the wrong sleeve.
The only thing that can be wrong is the wrong sleeve, probably a 45 colt sleeve labeled as a 45 Acp sleeve.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Will provide witness marks of the die to brass intersect. Will be easier to see what is actually happening.

Well that makes sense...I just packed the stem up to send back to Redding. Thanks for the suggestion anyway

 

[Soonerpesek]

.I just packed the stem up to send back to Redding. Thanks for the suggestion anyway

Please let us know what the final issue/solution was.....

 

[CQB45ACP]

Send the sleeve into Redding for a new one. It's the wrong sleeve.
The only thing that can be wrong is the wrong sleeve, probably a 45 colt sleeve labeled as a 45 Acp sleeve.

I wish I had a 45colt case to validate your theory…I’ll never know since I’m sending the sleeve back today.

 

[kidneyboy]

What am I missing?

$100

I would write the $100 off as a bad investment and go back to the FCD, which you were not having issues with.

 

[SingleActionAndrew]

Hornady
One shot
Case lube

Don't need to clean it off. I hit my cases with oneshot and shake them up before going into the case feeder. Solves my fresh starline issues sticking with my PE powder funnel expander and Dillon 45 taper crimp.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Hornady
One shot
Case lube

Don't need to clean it off. I hit my cases with oneshot and shake them up before going into the case feeder. Solves my fresh starline issues sticking with my PE powder funnel expander and Dillon 45 taper crimp.

To modify and repeat my prior posts—No way am I lubing each pistol case as I crimp. Just as no way am I going to clean and wax the die.
If the new sleeve they send me has same problem, back to the FCD for me.

 

[CQB45ACP]

$100

I would write the $100 off as a bad investment and go back to the FCD, which you were not having issues with.

I’m so wealthy the $100 isn’t even on my radar But I will most certainly gladly return to the FCD.

 

[SingleActionAndrew]

To modify and repeat my prior posts—No way am I lubing each pistol case as I crimp.

Lube each case as you go? The approach is put a couple hundred cases in a bucket or bag, spray, shake and enjoy. I clean out the dies with oneshot gun cleaner on a qtip every few thousand cartridges

 

[CQB45ACP]

Lube each case as you go? The approach is put a couple hundred cases in a bucket or bag, spray, shake and enjoy. I clean out the dies with oneshot gun cleaner on a qtip every few thousand cartridges

Negative

edit: that sounds snarky and I’m sorry. All I meant was I’m not going through all that given I have perfectly fine FCDs waiting in the wings. Thanks for your suggestion though.

 

[kidneyboy]

I’m so wealthy the $100 isn’t even on my radar But I will most certainly gladly return to the FCD.

When I was into racing the shop was full of parts that were used once or twice and set aside. Same with electric guitars, and amps, and bicycles, and cameras, and fishing equipment.........

 

[CQB45ACP]

When I was into racing the shop was full of parts that were used once or twice and set aside. Same with electric guitars, and amps, and bicycles, and cameras, and fishing equipment.........

Hey let’s not just single out guy stuff…my wife has three Cuisinarts but only uses the first one she got nearly 40 years ago, and Sabatier knives but uses the old Ekco, and copper clad pots and pans but uses the stainless set she bought in 1971 when she graduated high school. (Hey this is fun provided she never reads it.)

 

[BiknSwans]

Quite a production! That’s a bridge (or two) too far for me.

Lube each case as you go? The approach is put a couple hundred cases in a bucket or bag, spray, shake and enjoy. I clean out the dies with oneshot gun cleaner on a qtip every few thousand cartridges

I timed the lubing in my loading process for 200 cases, and it was 3 minutes and 36 seconds. Lubing the cases is 7% of my total loading time. Pretty short bridge, but I get your viewpoint.

If you ever try One Shot or WD-40 Dry Lube, you'll never stop. The operation is soooooo much smoother and enjoyable.

I also had sticking with the Lee FCD, but it was much less. I still use the FCD on my turret to 'fix' rounds that don't quite pass the Hundo case gauge after loading on the Mk7 Evolution.

 

[CQB45ACP]

I timed the lubing in my loading process for 200 cases, and it was 3 minutes and 36 seconds. Lubing the cases is 7% of my total loading time. Pretty short bridge, but I get your viewpoint.

If you ever try One Shot or WD-40 Dry Lube, you'll never stop. The operation is soooooo much smoother and enjoyable.

I also had sticking with the Lee FCD, but it was much less. I still use the FCD on my turret to 'fix' rounds that don't quite pass the Hundo case gauge after loading on the Mk7 Evolution.

I’m sure it’s great but with the FCD I don’t need it—or at least never have needed any sort of lube. The ONLY problem, and the genesis of this thread, is the Redding micrometer adjusting taper crimp die. It was sticking. The stem is now on its way back to Redding. If the new one doesn’t work any better, rather than get into lubing and waxing and such, I’m just going back to the FCD.

I can see why it is not inefficient time wise when loading 200 or so rounds. But I only load a max of 50 at a time and generally 25.

But now since you and @SingleActionAndrew have got me thinking…here are some questions for you. After you finish loading, do you have to clean off the cartridges or do you just shoot ‘em? Do either One Shot or WD-40 dry lube have a strong odor? (Wife is highly allergic). Once sprayed do the cases have to be loaded within any particular time window? I presume you lube before sizing and don’t have to do it again in the loading process? Hey, I hijacked my own thread!

 

[BiknSwans]

[QUOTE="CQB45ACP, post: 12201509, member: 269954"After you finish loading, do you have to clean off the cartridges or do you just shoot ‘em? Do either One Shot or WD-40 dry lube have a strong odor? (Wife is highly allergic). Once sprayed do the cases have to be loaded within any particular time window? I presume you lube before sizing and don’t have to do it again in the loading process? Hey, I hijacked my own thread![/QUOTE]

I just shoot them after lubing and loading. I typically only load 100 rounds at a time. Bu I lube 200 cases because that's what fits in a gallon Zip-Loc bag and doesn't overload my case feeder..

I don't consider the odor to be strong, and it goes away in a few minutes. But I guess you could go to the garage or outside if it's a problem for your wife.

No time window - after I lube them, I leave them in the case feeder until I load them.

I only lube once and then reload. In my two step process, I only decap in the first step, so lubing would not provide any benefit.

I had no desire to lube until I tried it, now I'm hooked. The same thing happened to me with wet tumbling.

 

[SingleActionAndrew]

But now since you and @SingleActionAndrew have got me thinking…here are some questions for you. After you finish loading, do you have to clean off the cartridges or do you just shoot ‘em? Do either One Shot or WD-40 dry lube have a strong odor? (Wife is highly allergic). Once sprayed do the cases have to be loaded within any particular time window? I presume you lube before sizing and don’t have to do it again in the loading process? Hey, I hijacked my own thread!

I do not clean oneshot off the cartridges after loading (autoloading strait wall cartridges).
I am not familiar with the WD product. Hornady OneShot has a scent to me similar to throttle body cleaner (solvent). I suspect it doesn't have added odors but I won't presume to understand your wife's allergies.
I haven't paid much attention to the time after loading. Instructions say to wait (at least) 3 minutes.
Yep I just lube them the one time.

Where I get the most sticking is coming off the powder-through expander (PhotoEscape PTUs in Dillon powder measures), so my goal is to get the lube inside the case. VV N310 and N320 stick a little bit to the lube, but no big deal the granules drop out when I tap the case on the table (when confirming charges). A friend told me today he stopped using OneShot with Vihtavuori N*110* (SW460) because that particular powder seems to react with the lube and get strongly affixed to the case. Otherwise (a bit aside) I've read of folks testing with oneshot inside the case vs dry and it not coming up on the chronograph.