Would you replace this die?

[Necessary_Nutrient]

This is what my RCBS .223 REM/5.56X45 full length resizer die is doing, but I think it might be my fault. In a marathon session, I resized and decapped nearly 1k cases and never thought to clean out the pinhole that releases pressure. I noticed some cases looking like this and the hole was badly plugged- filled up with debris.

I cleaned it out and pulled the die apart, cleaning and very lightly lubing everything but the visible striations on the case neck remain. Looks like it's scratched to me and pretty badly but the measured diameter of the case necks is the same as a clean earlier batch.

What do you guys think?

20220501_122522

• Necessary_Nutrient
• May 5, 2022

 

[Rod47]

I have polished those out with a nylon slotted 22 cleaning tip, a short section of cleaning rod, a tight cotton patch, a bit of JB Bore Paste, chucked up in a electric drill. With a properly hardened die no damage will be done. Clean well when done.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I would give it another good cleaning, if still scratching I would polish it some with a Dremel (yes, you can mess things up with them!). However, worth a shot before you pitch it. I think you can polish it and keep rolling.

 

[.38 Special]

Yes, I would try to polish it first. (In the olden days - pre '19 - I replaced things like that, but post Covid we make do!)

 

[AJC1]

If it's brass stuck in the die some sweets might get you back to work quickly

 

[Necessary_Nutrient]

Thanks for the replies, really appreciate it. I've got some JB Bore Paste handy might give that a try. My next question would be is this affecting the strength, safety and longevity of the brass if I can't get it back to 100 percent?

 

[AJC1]

It's not pretty but a polish will get you back so other concerns I believe are unwarranted

 

[74man]

The concerns you have and the picture you have should be addressed by RCBS!! I had a bad sizing die and they sent me a new one, free of charge. They will tell you what to do because the dies have a lifetime warranty. Try them either with a phone call or and email and make sure you send the picture. Good luck but don't chuck the die.

 

[troy fairweather]

Call rcbs I'm sure they will happily replace the die at not charge.

 

[edwardware]

I resized and decapped nearly 1k cases. . . never thought to clean out the pinhole. . .

The pinhole wasn't involved, the die is scratched from grit on the cases. . . but not enough to matter. Clean, and size on.

 

[cfullgraf]

With steel handgun case sizing dies, I’ve occaissionally had debris get caught in the die and the cases started getting scratched. I’d polish out the die with succeedingly finer wet/dry sand paper until the die stops scratching the cases.

The same could be done with the neck portion of a bottleneck sizing die.

The vent hole in the die is mostly to prevent hydraulic dents in the shoulder area of the case. It really does not cause/prevent scratches in the neck of the case.

I like a little sizing lubricant, and I mean little, on the neck and shoulder area of the case. Basically, I have oily fingers that I rub over the case neck and the light film seems to be enough lubricant for good resizing of the neck area of the case. The body still needs a bit heavier lubricant.

 

[film495]

I've asked RCBS a few questions, and their customer service just sent me parts free. I offered to pay and they said no.

 

[ballman6711]

I run a q-tip or a pipe cleaner into my dies every now and then to clean them a bit. If I seem to be getting sludge, debris, shavings, general muck, etc..., I clean them with a solvent like Hornady One Shot cleaner and lube, Hoppes, or any other gun cleaner/solvent I have handy. Clean it like you'd clean your favorite gun and it should be good to go.

While the scratches are ugly, they may or may not effect the longevity of your brass. As the others have said, you can try cleaning your die, polishing it, or getting in touch with RCBS to see what they say.

chris

 

[greyling22]

I had a lee blackout die that was doing that. Lee replaced it. I probably could have polished it out.

 

[warnerwh]

I had some 30-06 dies that rusted due to a leak up in the kitchen. RCBS sent a new set of dies to me and I had them in just 3 or 4 days. It was my fault and they were purchased in the 70's.

 

[.38 Special]

Thanks for the replies, really appreciate it. I've got some JB Bore Paste handy might give that a try. My next question would be is this affecting the strength, safety and longevity of the brass if I can't get it back to 100 percent?

Nope. I scratched the absolute daylights out my first few dies, a million years ago, and though the resulting product was painful to look at, they always worked just fine.

 

[jmorris]

The striations are asking for crack propagation. If you can’t get the die to quit doing that, send it in or replace it.

 

[FROGO207]

Yep brass gauling on the neck portion of the die. It can be easily polished out with the appropriate sized bore mop and abrasive paste. RCBS will clean it if you send it to them last I heard.

The striations are asking for crack propagation. If you can’t get the die to quit doing that, send it in or replace it.

I agree that when a die does this you stand a better chance of getting cracks where the case is scratched. Good news is after things are fixed they will iron out after several firings.

 

[lightman]

I would try cleaning it with a bore brush and copper solvent and then polishing it. Maybe with a bore mop and some polishing compound. If this doesn't fix it call RCBS.

 

[Ifishsum]

My RCBS .223 die did/does the same thing after I had sized a few hundred rounds...I figure it's brass galling due to the little dings in the case neck from the bolt lugs on the AR platform. When I start to notice it coming back, I clean then polish the die using JB bore paste and an old .30 cal bore mop chucked in a drill. I probably trimmed the end of the mop just enough that it will completely enter the neck portion of the die. I think I polish it every 800-1000 rounds or so? Little bit of a hassle but doesn't take very long to get it back to new. Seems to go longer intervals if I lube the outside of the necks a little while lubing the cases (usually I use Imperial/Redding sizing wax)

 

[PWC]

Did this occur only AFTER your marithon session?

If no, then die is bad, contact RCBS with pics.

If yes, you damaged the die. Clean and polish as above. Shoot to iron out.

If you still don't like result, take responsibility for your action, and order replacement.

 

[five.five-six]

I have had poor results in attempting to polish those kinds of scratches out on .38spl dies. I got pretty aggressive with it too, tight bore mop with rubbing compound on a drill.

I'm not saying it can't be fixed, I'm just saying that it didn't work for me.

 

[FROGO207]

If the bore mop option does not work you have to escalate. A dowel split and a flap of emery paper, that chucked into a drill will make a flapper type sander and will make quick work of the brass before hurting the hardened steel of the die. The emery paper in 100 grit or finer will resist the oil you should use when lapping with sand paper. Takes a lot more polishing to hurt the steel but check for done every 30 seconds of run time just in case.

 

[GBExpat]

... What do you guys think?

That could be the result of galling (bits of brass build-up) in that area of the die.

I once had a Lee .32-20 resizing die that started producing that kind of surface on my brass.

I was not sufficiently lubing my cases. Dry (and/or squeaky-clean) cases moving thru steel resizing dies will do that.

Never could completely remove the deposited brass after trying both chemically (Sweet's) & physically (rotary polishing). Ended up just buying a replacement. I marked the original one with nail polish and kept it as a backup.

Good luck!

 

[MEHavey]

Never could completely remove the deposited brass after trying both chemically (Sweet's) & physically (rotary polishing)

Grab some KG-12 and just submerge the Neck portion in a
small McDonalds Ketchup cup of the solution for 10 minutes.
Dry Patch it out.
No more copper
Promise.,,,

,