Being brand new at this I have a few questions. Do I need to clean the dies now that I'm loading cast bullets? If so what do I use? Hoppes?
Being brand new at this I have a few questions. Do I need to clean the dies now that I'm loading cast bullets? If so what do I use? Hoppes?
USAF (Retired) 1985-2005
Depending upon what how much lube is on your cast bullet, and what type of lube, you will eventually need to clean your seating die and crimp die. Otherwise you WIll run into increased seating depth problems.
Guys have their own favorite cleaning concoctions. Hoppes works, as well as mineral spirits, alcohol, Eds Red, etc.
Others will chime in for sure.
Good Luck
TEAM HOLLYWOOD
NRA- LIFE TSRA-LIFE SASS-LIFE
I make my own seating dies with very close tolerances and clean them after each use with a Q-tip and acetone.
Larry
I clean my dies when I start to notice some build up (usually some lube sticking to the nose of a bullet etc.). I use Hoppes. It works well. Take care of your dies and they will last longer than you will!
Jon
One of the things I like about dillon dies is you can pull the core from the seat and crimp die to clean them without disturbing your settings when I am loading lead I cheek them every time I reload primers in the 650 every hundred rounds I usually clean them every 1000 rd or so I have never had anything build up to the point of altering my seat depth or crimp
I pull out the seating stem and swab out the inside with a bore mop appropriate to the caliber.
I clean the stem with Q-tips and tooth brush.
I use carburetor cleaner.
I do this after every session.
Do it after seating, not before.
After the loading session the lube will be softer than next month when you start the next session.
First reload: .22 Hornet. 1956.
More at: http://reloadingtips.com/
"Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the
government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian."
- Henry Ford
Thank you for the tips. Puts my mind at ease as to what to look for and do.
USAF (Retired) 1985-2005
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |