Scratching from dies

[Uncle Ed]

I had a bushing. Gunsmith told me to solve that issue of the streaks to polish the inside of the bushing. Used some sort of polish and mop on a drill. The exact same bushing was now measuring 1k different. Sent back. Got new bushing. Nothing done to it. Measured dead on. So I have first hand experience. Not sure why. But it changed from polishing the bushing. He only did this for 15 to 20 seconds

What brand bushing did you polish.

Redding bushings are heat treated with a surface hardness of Rc 60-62.

I had a brand new Hornady 9mm Titanium Nitride pistol die scratch the cases so the problem is nothing new.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

How did we get on bushings?

 

[Webster]

Its my understanding that dies and bushings are heat treated and very hard. And the grit in J&B bore paste is softer than steel but harder than copper. And you do not leave the shotgun cleaning mop inside the die until it starts smoking.

And Montana Extreme Copper Killer will curl your nose hairs and remove any copper buildup inside the die.

Bottom line, you are not polishing the die or bushing with 150 grit sandpaper at 3000 rpm.

150 grit. I used 1200 grit. I polished metallurgical samples almost every day for 30 years. It's hard to remove metal from hardened steel with a few seconds of rubbing.

 

[hogpatrol]

How did we get on bushings?

Thread creep. Time to get off Forster and hammer Redding.

 

[Uncle Ed]

How did we get on bushings?

I'm not sure who started talking about bushings first, but I think his initials are savageshooter86.

Bushing die correct? Had same thing when I wasn’t lubing the neck

If you polish the bushing too much it’ll change the size it sizes. Keep that in mind

But I have had brass stick to carbide dies and they were not made by Forster.

 

[savageshooter86]

Enjoy your scratched necks.

Bushings were brought up because from what I’ve seen that’s what causes those exact marks on case necks. Not lubing the necks or brass in the bushing.

 

[Uncle Ed]

Enjoy your scratched necks.

Bushings were brought up because from what I’ve seen that’s what causes those exact marks on case necks. Not lubing the necks or brass in the bushing.

The OP is getting scratched necks with a full length non-bushing Forster benchrest die.

And anyone who doesn't like Forster dies should have their fingernails pulled out, be keel hauled. drawn and quartered, castraighted, shot with a dull bullet and have their library card revoked. Other than that I have nothing against anyone who expresses their opinion in this forum.

 

[JFrank]

How did we get on bushings?

Dusty
I haven’t been reloading long enough to experience any scratches on brass from any Dies, have you seen more than the occasional?
Just curious
J

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Dusty
I haven’t been reloading long enough to experience any scratches on brass from any Dies, have you seen more than the occasional?
Just curious
J

Its not that big of an issue. It happens and it doesnt bother me. A bushing swap usually cures it. I do think a quick outside debur will keep it from happening and also think once it happens you wont stop it unless you do like some have posted and polish it out. I dont have time for that so i replace the bushing and keep moving.

 

[JFrank]

^^ Thx D
From the curb
J

 

[bill2]

Had a similar problem but not as severe as yours. I didn't chamfer the neck o.d. enough and tiny pieces of brass broke free and got dragged down the neck. Brass was bonded to the die and the high points had to be removed with 1200 grit sandpaper on a split wooden dowel and Cu bore cleaner. Brass builds up in the die from each case that has little nibs broken off. I was getting scratches on the body and neck The damage initially is tiny pieces of brass dragged down the neck then as the brass builds up in the die the die does the most damage. Look in the die neck and body with a flash light for Cu streaks. let us know what you find.

Forester replied to my email:

I had the same issue - sent it back and they said there was a burr in there. They polished it out and it's been good ever since. Ruined some Lapua brass though.

De-burred inside and out polished. Looked good a few more cases started feeling like a file. Cleaned all the brass out polished again. Looked fine after cleaning. Ran a few more new brass through. filing started again. Understand this is only happening on the neck. Has this happened with other dies and Lapua brass? I need to buy another set and I don't like polishing.

 

[bill2]

I had a bushing. Gunsmith told me to solve that issue of the streaks to polish the inside of the bushing. Used some sort of polish and mop on a drill. The exact same bushing was now measuring 1k different. Sent back. Got new bushing. Nothing done to it. Measured dead on. So I have first hand experience. Not sure why. But it changed from polishing the bushing. He only did this for 15 to 20 seconds

I Thank each and everyone who passed me their experience and knowledge of this problem. I have made a decision and am not going to kick this dead horse any longer. It is fixable thanks to your contributions.

 

[Rick300]

Forester replied to my email:

De-burred inside and out polished. Looked good a few more cases started feeling like a file. Cleaned all the brass out polished again. Looked fine after cleaning. Ran a few more new brass through. filing started again. Understand this is only happening on the neck. Has this happened with other dies and Lapua brass? I need to buy another set and I don't like polishing.

Mine was good from that point on. Have you de-burred the necks?

 

[bill2]

How did we get on bushings?

I do not know?

 

[Webster]

I am reloading new Lapua brass with new Forester Benchrest dies. After sizing the diameter of the neck has continuous vertical scratches 360 degrees around the case neck. Is this normal?
Secondly when seating I'm getting .0050 variation in seating depth. Is this normal for these dies? Never had the problem before in all my years of reloading. Of course I've never used Forester dies before and they have to good of reputation for me to question their product. I have attached a picture All advice appreciated.

Photo posted by Deadeyedick on 17 Aug 2014


The brass rolled over the neck opening edge should be the source of scratches. You can see the one small round piece of brass at the edge. These particles exaxtly matched the scratch width on other photos by Deadeyedick. The die pushes and breaks off these high rolled over areas. On my cases the brass debris eventually got into the body area of the die and bonded to it. Possible to get variation in appearance and the amount of scratches.

 

[bill2]

Photo posted by Deadeyedick on 17 Aug 2014
View attachment 1095539

The brass rolled over the neck opening edge should be the source of scratches. You can see the one small round piece of brass at the edge. These particles exaxtly matched the scratch width on other photos by Deadeyedick. The die pushes and breaks off these high rolled over areas. On my cases the brass debris eventually got into the body area of the die and bonded to it. Possible to get variation in appearance and the amount of scratches.

Thank you,

 

[Uncle Ed]

Photo posted by Deadeyedick on 17 Aug 2014
View attachment 1095539

The brass rolled over the neck opening edge should be the source of scratches. You can see the one small round piece of brass at the edge. These particles exaxtly matched the scratch width on other photos by Deadeyedick. The die pushes and breaks off these high rolled over areas. On my cases the brass debris eventually got into the body area of the die and bonded to it. Possible to get variation in appearance and the amount of scratches.

I had the same problem with wet tumbled cases and the problem was the case mouth was peened. I had to trim and deburr/chamfer to get rid of the rolled over edges of the case mouth.

The case below on the left had been trimmed and chamfered loaded and fired and then wet tumbled. The case was wet tumbled too long in the photo and peened badly. And the case on the right is fresh out of the factory bag and shows factory case mouth peening.

And the point being if the case mouth is not chamfered properly you will get a brass buildup in the neck of the die. And brass is very good at sticking to itself and building up.

 

[Bc'z]

The OP is getting scratched necks with a full length non-bushing Forster benchrest die.

And anyone who doesn't like Forster dies should have their fingernails pulled out, be keel hauled. drawn and quartered, castraighted, shot with a dull bullet and have their library card revoked. Other than that I have nothing against anyone who expresses their opinion in this forum.

So what did you really mean to say?