Author Topic: Resizing problem on 45-70 brass (Read 1498 times)

DEACONLLB · « **on:** March 20, 2011, 07:32:35 AM »

So what am I doing wrong have never had this problem. bought a new set of Hornaday dies and all new unprimed winchester brass. I have adj. all the dies by the factory instructions. loaded up some rounds and fired them worked fine but when I went to re size them using Lyman lube put on case and rubbed with finger about half way down on a full length re size the case comes out with very small number of wrinkles not bad but they are there. Rounds were fired in a 1895 marlin and are not hot loads but reduced using trail boss powder, it almost seems like the round is too bid or die too small.

It seems that the lube is the problem, I tried some with just the case, no lube and did not wrinkle, also with wd-40 worked some what easier and did not wrimkle, thinned the lube with thinner and back to the wrinkles. so I guess I will try what one member said that he uses Pam spray and it works fine.

Thanks
Deaconllb

Bullseye · « **Reply #1 on:** March 20, 2011, 08:03:39 AM »

Wrinkles or dents?

If dents, it is from too much lube. They will shoot out on the next firing.

If wrinkles, someone else jump in!

DEACONLLB · « **Reply #2 on:** March 20, 2011, 08:29:55 AM »

They are like corrigated tin only about 4 spaced around the case length wise and really not deep and about 1/2 inch long. I think if they were wrinkles the case would be too long.

Deaconllb

keith44 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 20, 2011, 06:16:32 PM »

So the "wrinkles" are fairly straight and run in a direction of from case mouth toward the rim?? and arranged around the case body? If that is the case the brass did not "move" like it should have. Now (assuming we are on the right track) I would guess that the brass did not follow the die. Again if on the right track and these are located near the case mouth I'd say something is wrong with the expander ball. If near the base (or rim or head area like where the brass starts to thicken) I'm thinking the brass itself, or the chamber allowed the brass to expand too much.

purely conjecture, hard to figure this one out without having hands on.

The brass folded instead of flowing or there was too much lube globbed somewhere.

other than that I'm out, good luck and please post results of search

LONGTOM · « **Reply #4 on:** March 21, 2011, 04:31:36 AM »

A couple of pics, if possible, might help a little in figuring this one out.

LONGTOM

DEACONLLB · « **Reply #5 on:** March 21, 2011, 06:43:05 AM »

These are straight wall cases and there is no expander on the resizing die just the primer remover rod.
These are the new Hornaday new dimention dies. My thoughts are that may be too much lube but don't think so. I am leaning to a die that is too small or the chamber on the Marlin is too large. this was new once fired brass that I bought and loaded and shot using Trail boss 17 grns which is not a hot load. 20.3 is the max on this round.Maybe pictures will help if you look close. You can zoom these pictures for a better view.

Deaconllb

LONGTOM · « **Reply #6 on:** March 21, 2011, 08:32:17 AM »

I have seen this before a couple of times.
Once on 45 colt brass and once on a bottleneck rifle caliber that I don't recall what it was.
The rifle dents was from a dirty sizer die. (Happened to a friend of mine)
The colt was from to much lube. (steel die) (Before I ever tried a carbide die)
Not saying either is your case but that is what was causing the dents on those.
The dents looked just like yours.
Evenly spaced around the body of the case on the colt brass.
I don't recall about the spaceing on the rifle brass.

LONGTOM

DEACONLLB · « **Reply #7 on:** March 21, 2011, 09:11:57 AM »

I have found the problem, you can go up to the first post and see what I have found but it is the lube, with no lube they do not dent, I used some wd 40 and no dents but it is too light, I thinned the Lyman case lube but it was still to thick so I will try the pam route and see how that works, it needs to be thin and slick maybe some spray silicone.

Deaconllb

keith44 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 21, 2011, 11:11:26 AM »

Glad You found it. (Actually the .45-70 is a tapered cartridge, and in my set the de-capper acts as an expander) Just sayin'

I've been using a spray on lube I got from Midway for the past couple years, and every 200 (ish) rounds loaded, I take the dies apart and clean em.

DEACONLLB · « **Reply #9 on:** March 21, 2011, 12:55:56 PM »

Well I went over to my local auto parts store and got a great big can of spray silicone, took the rifle out and shot some rounds, sure hate to see those bullets going at no deer

any way sprayed some up in the die and then coated each case with a good shot and ran it up in the die, went pretty easy and no dents. I then changed to the expander die, gave it a good shot and expanded the mouth and there was a great difference in this stage of resizing. I think this will work out fine as it dries with no oil just a clean case ready to go. I think the lyman case lube is just too thick and stickey.

Deaconllb

gr8ful · « **Reply #10 on:** March 25, 2011, 03:17:10 AM »

I have been using Lyman lube with my 45-70 dies and what works for me is to put some on a pad then roll my cases back and forth a few times, this leaves a very light coat of lube and it works like a charm.

shot1 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 25, 2011, 03:28:05 AM »

Be sure and clean your cases VERY GOOD with something to remove that silicone after you size them. Silicone will stay on a case and can creep. Any little bit of it gets into your primer pocket and your primer is history.
I would get some Hornady ONE SHOT SPRAY lube and FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS for it's use. I have used it for years with no problems.

huntducks · « **Reply #12 on:** March 25, 2011, 07:47:16 AM »

Boy everyone will try everything instead of what really works all the time Imperial with RCBS spray in 2nd.

Neither one of these will contaminate the primer or powder.

crab cake · « **Reply #13 on:** March 28, 2011, 08:54:01 AM »

I had the same issue with my 45-70 cases (nickel plated Starline) using Lee equipment with Alox case lube. For me the solution was to insure that there was a dab of lube inside the case mouth. When it first happened I just shot them to reform the case but later on started throwing them away worried that they were defective. Still happens once in a while.

Flynmoose · « **Reply #14 on:** March 28, 2011, 07:04:46 PM »

The friend that introduced me to handloading recommended Imperial Sizing Wax and it has never let me down.
FM

Eltweed · « **Reply #15 on:** April 01, 2011, 07:46:47 PM »

A little dab will do you. It sounds as if you are using way too much. I have never used Imperial but hear it works well. I have been using some water soluble RCBS stuff for many years and have been quite satisfied with it. I have a pad on which I roll the cases to put just a little lube on them. You only want enough to keep the case from becoming stuck in the die.

GH1 · « **Reply #16 on:** April 02, 2011, 06:36:44 AM »

I had the same problem when Iloaded a few .45-70 cases the other night. I too use the RCBS lube/pad set-up and I found that if I make sure the lube is thinly distributed the entire length of the case the sizing is easier and no scuffs occur.
GH1

gcrank1 · « **Reply #17 on:** April 04, 2011, 12:35:24 PM »

Its easy to get that little too much on by the finger method. I have an old springy 'tong' luber with curved jaws lined with felt. A lttle lube applied to the felt and lightly rubbed in and it seems to put just enough on to solve the issue.
If you are worried about those that dented just send them to me for disposal

.

mechanic · « **Reply #18 on:** April 04, 2011, 01:08:13 PM »

I have had exactly the same problem, with two different causes. One was as you suspected, case lube. The second was some brass I bought loose in a bag, new never fired, that had some kind of coating on it, I assume to keep it from tarnishing. I noticed it rolling off, and began to scrape it with my fingernail and discovered it was there. I had to tumble new brass to remove it. I've also started lubing inside the case mouth. When I'm done, I put all my brass in a box and wash it with hot water and soap, then dry it for a couple days. A lot of trouble, but it results in clean effortless reloading.

Ben

gcrank1 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 04, 2011, 01:10:32 PM »

It dries really nice & quick in an elec. food dehydrator.

mechanic · « **Reply #20 on:** April 04, 2011, 01:14:18 PM »

Quote from: gcrank1 on April 04, 2011, 01:10:32 PM

It dries really nice & quick in an elec. food dehydrator.

Don't own one, and I'm threatened with death or banishment if I put anything other than food in the wife's oven again..........so I just wait it out......

Ben