223 brass problem

[covert]

what would cause theses striations on the neck of these? they look so uniform.

[376Steyr]

Are these "new to you" previously fired cases? My first thought is they were fired out of a military-style rifle with a "fluted" chamber, such as the H&K G3 series.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I see scratches in the neck, were they there before you FL sized them?
Is there gritty crud in your FL size die?
Or is your FL size die damaged/scratched ?

[Skipper]

I got the same thing using new Starline 308 cases and two different, clean Lee sizing dies.

[Mk42gunner]

They are not from any fluted chamber I have ever seen, there is no question when you see those.

I'm wondering if the .223 sizing die doesn't have a bit of galled brass in the neck portion of the die.

Robert

[Bzcraig]

Definitely in the die.......

[EDG]

You either
1. Sized some dirty cases and scratched the neck of the die
2. Sized some cases with too little lube on the neck and the brass galled and stuck to the neck of the die.

You can correct either by spinning the die with a drill and polishing the neck out with 400 grit silicon carbide paper and a wood dowel. Use WD 40 or equivalent light oil to help the paper cut.
It should not take more than 2 or 3 minutes to polish it. Then clean the die carefully.

Make sure you use a little lube on the case necks and always clean your brass before you size it.

[Greg S]

Seen this before. As EDG posted. Clean and try to polish out sizing die, clean and chamfer some brass and see if it cleaned up. Did this myself resizing dirty brass and wasmable to clean the die up. At least clean the brass with some 0000 steel wool before full length sizing to get the dirt off of it.

[Iowa Fox]

I had this happen to me once. It was built up brass in the neck. I soaked the neck using a saturated rag with Shooters and left it sit a couple days then used a nylon brush and it came right out. I gave the neck area a light polish with Flitz, then lubed it well with Imperial. Never happened since and no more scratches. I think it starts with a die neck and a case neck with marginal lube. Once the adhesion stars its all over.

[17nut]

This is H&K brass:

190306

Nothing in the world like it.

[Teddy (punchie)]

For me all in how bad it is? If the marks are scratches or a shadows from pressure of resizing. Sometime a little marking not a deal breaker. Make sure the brass is clean and doesn't get any worse. Almost anything being sized is going to leave a few marks, graphite is what I use just in case there are any other thing that can make trouble. One little speck of sand and take up to 20 times it weight of metal is wearing on until it is gone.

[covert]

Thanks for the replies. it was brass that I resized. probably a little dirty. I'll clean and polish the die. Its the first time that has happened. I should tumble them a little off the bat to clean-em up.

[DLCTEX]

Clean brass is easier on dies for sure.

[Smk SHoe]

Everything I shoot goes into a tumbler with semi old media for a hour or so. Cleans most of the junk off them and makes them easier to sort for damage. after all Size, deprime, inspect, and any other prep work, one more time thru a second tumbler ( with fresh media and polish). When that gets dirty, it moves to the first tumbler and that tumbler media get thrown out. Seems like my Ar's ( both .223 and 300 blkout) gather a lot of junk from the ground on the empty brass.

[ubetcha]

I always prep my brass before cleaning by depriming in a Lee universal primer and then into a vibration cleaner. If questioning if dirty ,they get a citrus acid bath.

[mold maker]

Because I can, I always deprime and citric acid-wash w/SS pins all brass. It's easier to inspect and gets rid of the flash hole debris.
I once seriously scratched a die trying to size first, but only did it once.
Trying to save a little time can be expensive, even if you get away with it for a while.

[autopilotmp]

So what lube do you guys recommend? I have this same issue and hope I can polish out the die, but think that it could be an issue with the lube I currently use.

[chill45100]

Imperial case sizing wax has worked well for me. I am not a high volume shooter though.
Chill45100

[ubetcha]

When I full length size, sometimes I jump between Lee sizing lube, a RCBS lube pad with Hornady liquid case lube on it, and , I think, Hornady Unique hard wax type lube. All work well. I use what ever is within reach at the time. When I size my 30/30 or 30-06, I use a Lee collet die which does not need lube.