scratches on outside of 38 special cases
Quote from Reloader on January 1, 2010, 11:37 pmJust started reloading some 38 special and when I go to seat the bullet I get scratches on the outside of some of my cases. Is there somthing that I am doing wrong or is there a problem with the die?I have loaded jacketed bullets before with no problems. Now I am loading cast bullets.
Just started reloading some 38 special and when I go to seat the bullet I get scratches on the outside of some of my cases. Is there somthing that I am doing wrong or is there a problem with the die?I have loaded jacketed bullets before with no problems. Now I am loading cast bullets.
Quote from Reloader on January 2, 2010, 5:44 amDIE MIGHT BE DIRTY OR BULLET MIGHT BE A LITTLE OVER SIZED. I HAD MARKS AROUND THE CASE MOUTH AND I CLEANED MY DIES AND CHECKED BULLET SIZE MY PROBLEM WAS BULLET DIAMETER
DIE MIGHT BE DIRTY OR BULLET MIGHT BE A LITTLE OVER SIZED. I HAD MARKS AROUND THE CASE MOUTH AND I CLEANED MY DIES AND CHECKED BULLET SIZE MY PROBLEM WAS BULLET DIAMETER
Quote from Reloader on January 2, 2010, 5:00 pmA closer inspection of my dies I found my carbide sizer die has the scratches in it. What causes that and what do I need to do to fix the problem?
A closer inspection of my dies I found my carbide sizer die has the scratches in it. What causes that and what do I need to do to fix the problem?
Quote from Reloader on January 5, 2010, 3:48 amSomething nasty got in your sizing die because they don't scratch easily.
You can polish the lip with some very fine sandpaper (I'd try 500 - 1000 grit) and see if it polishes out, but if you take too much metal off, it won't size properly, so the safest bet may be a new die.
Something nasty got in your sizing die because they don't scratch easily.
You can polish the lip with some very fine sandpaper (I'd try 500 - 1000 grit) and see if it polishes out, but if you take too much metal off, it won't size properly, so the safest bet may be a new die.
Quote from Reloader on March 10, 2010, 11:05 pmI had this exact same problem last week (but on .45ACP brass). I called Dillon Tech Support and they advised to use extra fine grade sandpaper on the sizer/decapping die. I cut a small square of sandpaper, wrapped it around a small wooden dowel, removed the sizer/decapping die, and gently worked the sandpaper both up-and-down and in a circular fashion, along the flat surface of the die (not the radiused edge). It helped to identify the general area where the scratches occurred (when the die is still in the toolhead) and just work on the offending surface(s). In my die, it was possible to use a strong flashlight to actually identify some "yellow streaks" that matched the scratching pattern on the case. Once those were buffed out the scratches went away and my brass is now clean. NOTE: The tech guy did say that the carbide die is hard enough that the fine grade sandpaper wouldn't hurt it - goal is to just remove the remnant brass AND that the scratches wouldn't hurt the cases even if the problem wasn't fixed - but it's just a pride of work thing to get them smooth. Good luck!
I had this exact same problem last week (but on .45ACP brass). I called Dillon Tech Support and they advised to use extra fine grade sandpaper on the sizer/decapping die. I cut a small square of sandpaper, wrapped it around a small wooden dowel, removed the sizer/decapping die, and gently worked the sandpaper both up-and-down and in a circular fashion, along the flat surface of the die (not the radiused edge). It helped to identify the general area where the scratches occurred (when the die is still in the toolhead) and just work on the offending surface(s). In my die, it was possible to use a strong flashlight to actually identify some "yellow streaks" that matched the scratching pattern on the case. Once those were buffed out the scratches went away and my brass is now clean. NOTE: The tech guy did say that the carbide die is hard enough that the fine grade sandpaper wouldn't hurt it - goal is to just remove the remnant brass AND that the scratches wouldn't hurt the cases even if the problem wasn't fixed - but it's just a pride of work thing to get them smooth. Good luck!