Lee PrecisionInline FabricationWidenersLoad Data
Reloading EverythingRotoMetals2MidSouth Shooters SupplyTitan Reloading
Repackbox
Results 1 to 19 of 19

Thread: 223 brass problem

  1. #1
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    27

    223 brass problem

    what would cause theses striations on the neck of these? they look so uniform.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails 223 brass.jpg  

  2. #2
    Boolit Master

    376Steyr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    South Idaho
    Posts
    1,480
    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.

  3. #3
    Moderator Emeritus


    JonB_in_Glencoe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Land of 10,000 Lakes
    Posts
    15,833
    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 ?
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    “If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”
    ― The Dalai Lama, Seattle Times, May 2001

  4. #4
    Boolit Master Skipper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Behind the lines in Commiefornia
    Posts
    764
    I got the same thing using new Starline 308 cases and two different, clean Lee sizing dies.
    The strongest reason for the people to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against the tyranny of government.
    -- Thomas Jefferson

  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master
    Mk42gunner's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Butler, MO
    Posts
    9,021
    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

  6. #6
    Boolit Master



    Bzcraig's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Nampa, ID
    Posts
    3,747
    Definitely in the die.......
    "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same......." - Ronald Reagan

    "It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather, we should thank God that such men lived." - George Patton

    The second amendment is a nail on which hangs a picture of freedom - member Alex 4x4 Tver, Russia

  7. #7
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Posts
    4,612
    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.
    EDG

  8. #8
    Boolit Master


    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    Anchorage, AK
    Posts
    1,113
    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.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Iowa
    Posts
    1,815
    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.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    Denmark (a greasy little spot in Scandinavia)
    Posts
    815
    This is H&K brass:

    Attachment 190306

    Nothing in the world like it.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Western PA
    Posts
    1,286
    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.

  12. #12
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    27
    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.

  13. #13
    In Remembrance


    DLCTEX's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Eastern panhandle,Tx
    Posts
    6,255
    Clean brass is easier on dies for sure.

  14. #14
    Boolit Buddy Smk SHoe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Sanford, NC
    Posts
    378
    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.

  15. #15
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Hartford WI
    Posts
    791
    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.
    I'm the King of my castle---anytime my wife's not around
    Life NRA member

    "A Government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have"
    Thomas Jefferson

    LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSIUT OF THOSE WHO TREATEN US

  16. #16
    Boolit Grand Master

    mold maker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Piedmont (Conover) NC
    Posts
    5,429
    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.
    Last edited by mold maker; 03-26-2017 at 09:57 AM.
    Information not shared. is wasted.

  17. #17
    Boolit Buddy autopilotmp's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Eastern Kansas
    Posts
    160
    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.

  18. #18
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    NE KS
    Posts
    133
    Imperial case sizing wax has worked well for me. I am not a high volume shooter though.
    Chill45100

  19. #19
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Hartford WI
    Posts
    791
    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.
    I'm the King of my castle---anytime my wife's not around
    Life NRA member

    "A Government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have"
    Thomas Jefferson

    LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSIUT OF THOSE WHO TREATEN US

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

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