Dammit! I crushed a case.

[LoneWolfUSMC]

I was neck-sizing some Winchester .308 cases with my Lee Collet Die. Last loading session I took this die apart and cleaned it. Apparently I cleaned it so well that there was no lubrication left in the die. The collet stuck in the closed position and when I raised the ram it crushed the shoulder and galled the neck. Scrap that case.

I pulled the die apart and realized what I did. I wiped some Imperial on the outside of the Collet and the inside of the body. No problems after that.

Lesson learned. When I clean the die, lube the contact points.

 

[EricF517]

Re: Dammit! I crushed a case.

LoneWolf thanks for that heads up since I am going to be doing my dies later on tonight for alot of reloading this weekend. You probably saved me a case

 

[J.Boney]

Re: Dammit! I crushed a case.

Yep, those contact points do better with lube. I use shooter choice gun grease. Another helpful thing I do is chuck the mandrel up in a drill and polish with 0000 steel wool & Flitz. Makes the mandrel slick so it does not drag in my case necks.

Here is the link from Accurate Shooter on Collet Die Tips:

http://www.6mmbr.com/BlogJan2007.html

 

[USMCj]

Re: Dammit! I crushed a case.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LoneWolfUSMC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Lesson learned. When I clean the die, lube the contact points. </div></div>

Of you could use Redding comp dies with TiN coated bushings and never have to worry about lube again!

 

[LoneWolfUSMC]

Re: Dammit! I crushed a case.

I will slowly work up to the Redding stuff.

I don't shoot benchrest and the Lee Dies seem to be doing pretty well for me. I would like to get a Redding Competition seating Die. I like how it centers the case when you seat the bullet. It would prevent me from having to rotate and re-seat like I do now.

 

[kombayotch]

Re: Dammit! I crushed a case.

Did it look like this?

Meh!... that'll straighten right out when its fired...

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: Dammit! I crushed a case.

Experience is something you don't have until just AFTER you need it.

I'll bet you always check the dies now before you start.

 

[Bacarrat]

Re: Dammit! I crushed a case.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: USMCj</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LoneWolfUSMC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Lesson learned. When I clean the die, lube the contact points. </div></div>

Of you could use Redding comp dies with TiN coated bushings and never have to worry about lube again! </div></div>

I use the regular bushings and don't have to lube when I neck size my cases.

 

[desertHK]

Re: Dammit! I crushed a case.

What cartridge goes in those big ass green boxes? 50 BMG?

 

[kombayotch]

Re: Dammit! I crushed a case.

No, just 308 Win. in those are those huge 100 rd. MTM boxes.

Nothing in the photo is mine, except for the hand... I prefer the 50 rd Plano boxes.