A first for me. I have been full length sizing some 308 Lapua brass. One of the first ones out of the box was a little difficult to run through the press. After completing 100, I removed the die to clean it and found it was cracked. This is a RCBS small base die that I have sized about 20000 pieces through.
Cracked die
- Thread starter Jim G
- Start date
Interesting. Never heard of that. Do you think you got your money out of it? Might of had a crack in it from the start and it finally cried uncle.
Side note. Are you using everytime for consistency or does the brass need it?
Side note. Are you using everytime for consistency or does the brass need it?
I use a small base die every time. Shooting FTR with a tight chamber. And I use Imperial sizing die wax.
I am guessing that there was some defect in the steel. I have a Redding Bog Boss press and before that I was using a RCBS Rockchucker. I don't think the press would generate enough force to crack a die.
I am guessing that there was some defect in the steel. I have a Redding Bog Boss press and before that I was using a RCBS Rockchucker. I don't think the press would generate enough force to crack a die.
Been reloading since the 60’s
Never even heard of a cracked die. Of course RCBS will replace it.
Can you post a picture of the crack.
It seems almost impossible.
Am I saying you’re lying? Of course not.
Material failure is my thing. The crack direction, depth, and area will tell a story.
As a guess I’d say the crack was there from day one. Weird? Yup. But you physically cracking a die? Highly unlikely.
Never even heard of a cracked die. Of course RCBS will replace it.
Can you post a picture of the crack.
It seems almost impossible.
Am I saying you’re lying? Of course not.
Material failure is my thing. The crack direction, depth, and area will tell a story.
As a guess I’d say the crack was there from day one. Weird? Yup. But you physically cracking a die? Highly unlikely.
jackieschmidt
Gold $$ Contributor
Most sizing dies are made from carbon steel and then case hardened. The inner core remains rather soft and ductile, the case hardening is usually no more than a few thousandths thick.
Of course, anything can fail. And everything has a life span. I would imagine there was an underlying flaw in the original material that contributed to the dies demise.
Of course, anything can fail. And everything has a life span. I would imagine there was an underlying flaw in the original material that contributed to the dies demise.
dellet
Gold $$ Contributor
I can’t imagine 308 brass ever being able to crack a die.
Are you sure it wasn’t a 7.6 Creedmoor case with mis marked headstamp?
bulletin.accurateshooter.com
Are you sure it wasn’t a 7.6 Creedmoor case with mis marked headstamp?
NEW 7.6 Creedmoor — Ultra-Accurate, Versatile .30-Cal Cartridge « Daily Bulletin
Leveraging the incredible success of the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge, ammo-makers and rifle manufacturers have teamed up to produce a bigger Creedmoor cartridge -- the 7.6 Creedmoor. The latest addition to the Creedmoor line gets its name from its 7.62mm bullet dimension. Yep, that makes it a .
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Maybe a bad heat treatment? Whatever the reason, I bet they'll have one in the mail to you today if you call them.
I once called them to try to buy a new cover (lost old one) for my 10•10 scale, and they sent me one for free.
I once called them to try to buy a new cover (lost old one) for my 10•10 scale, and they sent me one for free.
I have cracked them ,they make a slight ting noise when it happens .
Walt Krafft
Gold $$ Contributor
The main force on case sizing/forming dies creates hoop stress. At the ammo plants, carbide dies are heat shrunk into steel bodies so they dont crack from this stress. Repeated stress finally caused yours to fail. Get a new one and carry on.
Actually the inner core is tough and ductile to prevent cracking
Dies are not however thorough hardened.
I would like a picture of a cracked die just to look at. If someone has a cracked die that for some reason they haven’t returned
(Especially RCBS) I’d gladly like it. Of course I’ll pay the shipping.
Ive never seen a reloading die crack. Seen them crack at Lake City on taper. Put a scratch on the case when they did. They were two piece dies usually the body die would be the one. Something would get under the die then the press would bring the ram down and bang. I dont know why a reloading die would crack. Doug
Interesting point. Since “I cracked a die” tells nothing about where on the die it cracked. Now I guess if you were slamming the ram with shell holder, well…. don’t know if a chip qualifies as a crack.
But short of that a die is dependent on cartridge 3”+ long. It is for roughly 2” threaded into the press, meaning 2” of the die is encased in the press.
Then again I have no clue how everyone reloads and I’ve not seen this cracked die.
Interesting.
My last (recent) experience with RCBS customer service did not really leave a smile on my face.
Thanks to the new owners they now charge shipping if they have to send any replacement parts. Was not like that before...
7 bucks shipping for stuff that could have easily fit in a regular envelope...
So were the parts replacements of defective, or worn out ones?
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