How to fix a scored die?

[XTR]

I was loading paper patched black powder loads for my Sharps a couple of weeks ago. I'm still working on the procedure somewhat. With out going into a lot of detail on loading PP bullets and BP I will suffice to say that neck tension is important. I was trying a couple of methods to get the patched bullet started and in a couple of cases I flared the mouth just a bit. I don't have, and there really doesn't seem to exist a taper crimp die for 45-70 gov cases, so I used a short "neck" sizing die to try to squeeze the flare out. I wasn't going in far, ( I'll mention that these were nickle plated cases because I think it contributed. ) It seems that the nickle on the flared mouth of the case scored the inside of the die badly, and it now tears the crap out of anything you size in it. Lots of vertical score lines for as far as you push it into the die.

Now, here is the question, can I get this milled out? As it turns out the die, and pretty much every 45-70 die I've tried way over sizes the brass, like .010 or more too much, so there is a lot of metal iin there that I can lose and actually be happier. I can size a couple of cases and come up with a diameter that I want, or more accurately what I want taken out. Do you think Think I can take this to a machinist and get it turned out to the size I want (and I won't be crimping with it again!)

Oh yea, nobody makes "bushing" dies for 45-70s either, at least not that I can tell.

 

[Steve Blair]

First, try some 400 grit auto body sandpaper with oil, wrapped around a soft mandrel. Chuck the mandrel in a variable speed drill and cautiously polish the die interior, checking frequently. If you have access to a bore scope, that would help a lot. [br]
Second, pitch the nickle plated brass and don't buy anymore. Nickle plating can be very hard, enough to scratch dies. Particularly, never attempt to anneal nickle plated brass. You will make the plating very hard, sometimes into the low 70 RC area. [br]
Good luck and proceed carefully.

 

[Luke_NL]

Second, pitch the nickle plated brass and don't buy anymore. Nickle plating can be very hard, enough to scratch dies. Particularly, never attempt to anneal nickle plated brass. You will make the plating very hard, sometimes into the low 70 RC area. [br]
Good luck and proceed carefully.

I second the first part, from sad experience. I'm just getting into annealing and will take the second part to heart. Might have used the NP brass for testing, since it's just laying around - but now I definitely won't. Thanks.

 

[Clod-NC]

Hi XTR,hi all

I'm not too sure about it,but if I were you I'd check Lee for that 45-70 crimp die you're after,or even taper crimp,they may as well have both...Hope it helps.As to fixing your maimed die,I'd second Sleepygator's advice and make sure that you also use 600 and 800 grit wet sanding paper with WD 40,just like he brilliantly suggested,finish the job with car polish on a rag,you'll be amazed.....And please,ditch these nickel plated cases....

 

[people]

Put piece of rag on the end of a cleaning rod and chucked it in a drill and then put a tone of flits on it. Then proceeded to polish the die. It took some doing but it is fine now.

 

[bozo699]

I don't understand why you would ever want a neck bushing die on a straight walled case like a 45/70 Lawrence you have straightened me out before maybe you could shed some light on this for me.

I had the same results with nickle plated 22-250 brass, vertical lines in my brass now, it was just a rcbs die that I never liked anyway so I fixed it with a set of redding comp dies but I think one could polish it out. I also GAVE 500 new pieces of brass away and have never looked at nickle plated brass again!
Wayne.

 

[bozo699]

Lawrence,
Absolutely,...never thought of it from that angle. Thank you, I feel I need to learn at least one thing each day or there won't be a tomorrow, I learned several today,..thanks again
Wayne.

 

[rvn1968]

I would only use a drill and paper (hopefully metal oxide) as a last resort.If there is a shop around that can cylinder hone for you,that would be my 1st choice. Almost any shop that works on truck hydraulics could be able to help. IMHO,Tom

 

[K22]

After years of use the neck area of my sizing dies became scored. I sent my dies back to RCBS and they polished the neck area. The only charge I incurred was shipping the dies to them. They did a professional job. Perhaps the manufacturer of your dies will do the same - it might be worth checking. I didn't want to attempt this myself for fear of producing an out of round neck or making the problem worse.