Hey guys, need your advice. So i was FL sizing some 6.5cm brass today and i noticed i was getting a little ridge or ring on the shoulder of my brass. I cant actually feel it with a fingernail, and i have never noticed this before. Decided to inspect sizing die and internally the die looks like it is “scored” or “rough” right at the shoulder. What would cause this?? If you zoom in on case you can see the “ring” or “ridge” at shoulder of case. And you can see the inside of the die as well.
FL Sizing Die Ruined??? Need Advice
- Thread starter BiggBeans
- Start date
From keyboard-distance, if you can't feel it with your fingernail and the brass chambers/fires/extracts normally, I wouldn't be concerned about running it. The machining of the die isn't great, but it may not make a meaningful difference. Based on the pics, I'm surprised it won't catch a fingernail, but if it won't then it probably isn't a concern. I'd be more concerned with the horrible condition of that case mouth.
Your die looks rough and I can't tell if that is dirt and lube or rough metal.
How are you cleaning your brass? Shooting suppressor on semi-auto?
You always get carbon burnt to the inside of the brass when firing, with a semi-auto, especially suppressed you can get it on the outside as well.
Carbon is like sandpaper and will dull the die surfaces over time. It also has to go somewhere, so you do need to clean dies if stuff gets built up inside.
I go as far as removing primers before polishing, not as much to clean the primer pocket as to keep the dirty crud that falls out, away from my reloading dies.
Sizing wax will hold anything that touches it, so carbon grit gets stuck to the case during resizing if not careful.
This die has over 5k uses and this is what my brass from a suppressed semi-auto looks like after polish before I size it.
That carbon on the shoulder can break off during FL sizing. I notice it is usually gone after second polish to get lube off, and I think the sizing breaks it up.
After second polish
How are you cleaning your brass? Shooting suppressor on semi-auto?
You always get carbon burnt to the inside of the brass when firing, with a semi-auto, especially suppressed you can get it on the outside as well.
Carbon is like sandpaper and will dull the die surfaces over time. It also has to go somewhere, so you do need to clean dies if stuff gets built up inside.
I go as far as removing primers before polishing, not as much to clean the primer pocket as to keep the dirty crud that falls out, away from my reloading dies.
Sizing wax will hold anything that touches it, so carbon grit gets stuck to the case during resizing if not careful.
This die has over 5k uses and this is what my brass from a suppressed semi-auto looks like after polish before I size it.
That carbon on the shoulder can break off during FL sizing. I notice it is usually gone after second polish to get lube off, and I think the sizing breaks it up.
After second polish
Last edited:
Looks fine to me. Unless it causes a problem, I just wouldn't worry about it.
I will often try to polish a die if I get a rough one. The shoulder area would be a tough part to polish. To me it wouldn't seem as critical either since the brass is not sliding against the die as much in the shoulder area.
I will often try to polish a die if I get a rough one. The shoulder area would be a tough part to polish. To me it wouldn't seem as critical either since the brass is not sliding against the die as much in the shoulder area.
I’d sent it back and have them send you one that is properly reamed. I had a 6creed die do the same thing, it was replaced.
OP, clean your die and clean your brass before sizing it.
Make sure the brass doesn't have cleaning media dust on it.
Very lightly lube the inside of your die before the first use. You can use a Q-Tip with a tiny amount on it.
Use less lube on your brass. A lot less lube.
@Old Man with Gun
5,000 rounds is nothing on dies. It's nice to see yours are well taken care of.
We used Lee dies on Camdex machines. They would go 50,000 per day. Never replaced a die.
Make sure the brass doesn't have cleaning media dust on it.
Very lightly lube the inside of your die before the first use. You can use a Q-Tip with a tiny amount on it.
Use less lube on your brass. A lot less lube.
@Old Man with Gun
5,000 rounds is nothing on dies. It's nice to see yours are well taken care of.
We used Lee dies on Camdex machines. They would go 50,000 per day. Never replaced a die.
Yes that what i am talking about. I can feel it with a finger nail.
This looks like a defective die. Can you feel that same ledge inside the die with a paperclip?
I can definately feel the ring or ridge on the shoulder of the brass with a fingernail. And yeah ill debur case mouth after they come out of the tumbler again.
