Scratched Cases

[henry1]

Hello everybody! I did a few loads for my .223 Ackley Improved tonight and found that when i deprimed/resized the cases 4 out of 5 where realy tough to get them to go. all of the cases came out with scratches on them. not only does it look like crap afterwards but i am afraid that it will wear them down faster than i want. I have used One Shot case lube for about ten years now and have never had a problem like this before. I have loaded for about 25 different calibers and then my poor little ackley cases got all bunged up. Any input would be apreciated. Is the die trash? can i fix it? should i just buy a new one? By the way the die is a Lee. Thanks a bunch guys, looking forward to a solution.
Henry.

[Bigeasy]

Sounds like a bit of grit inside the die, scratching your cases.  Disassemble the die, and clean it.  If that don't work, buy another.  I believe that if scratches are deep enough, they tend to become weak spots in the case, leading to splits and cracks.

Larry

[Graybeard]

Scratches are usually caused by dirt or grit. It might have been on the cases or it might have been inside the dies. The solution is about the same either way. Get the grit/dirt gone and keep it gone.

If you use range pick up brass they are likely to have dirt/grit on them and unless you clean them before sizing the outcome is scratched cases and in worst case situation your dies may also become scratched tho generally they are hard enough not to.

So make sure your brass is cleaned of such dirt and grit before they go into the die. If you tumble then prior to sizing you have a good chance of having media grit or dust on them and it can add up in the die until it begins to scratch cases.

So wash out our dies good and then make sure all cases in the future are free of dust, grit and grime before sizing them.

Depending on how deeply they are scratched it might shorten case life but most that I have seen just make the case look ugly but don't reduce the useable life of it. I guess that could depend on how careful you are and what you've let get in there.

[Richard P]

 I have used fine grit wet-or-dry emery paper, rolled and twisted inside the die to try ''polishing'' the surface.  If the emery is worn some it wont scratch the interior of the die. It wont hurt the die anymore than continuing to use it with grit embedded.  They are correct; clean brass is better.  rp

[shot1]

Clean the die and if that does not cure the problem send the die back to the maker for replacement. Don't go trying to sand out etc. it will void your warranty.

[huntducks]

If after cleaning and they still scratch the case and you have RCBS dies you can send it to them and they will polish it for free.

Real tuff to scratch the inside of a die but it can be done.

I have dies that I use that are stamped 62 on them like in 1962 that are still going just fine.

[henry1]

Thanks fellas, i would have sent em in but i cleaned em out real good and they still scratched so i took some sand paper to it and low and behold no more scratches, but, i did stick a couple cases even lubed more than normal. so after finding out that its best to ease it in i did 200 cases and didnt have much of a hic-up at all. So thanks a bunch all! got er squared away!