LEE Die Failure

[H2OBUG]

I have a set of LEE 500 S&W dies. Went to size some cases last night and blew the carbide size die up.

Sent a email with a photo last night to LEE got a response this morning with a free replacement coming.

Never had one of their carbide sizers fail.

 

[LA50SHOOTER]

"If it jams, force it. - if it breaks it needed replacing anyway".....

If you don't mind me asking, what make & model of gun was the brass fired in ? - And is there anything odd about the dimensions on a fired case ?

 

[danny]

What was your sizing die setup procedure?

Danny

 

[H2OBUG]

Brass was from a member here. No idea of the gun it was fired from.

As for set up I bottom press out -run die to shell holder then one half turn extra

 

[mmcu]

As for set up I bottom press out -run die to shell holder then one half turn extra

The "one-half turn extra" may have caused the carbide ring to break.

 

[ridgeway]

Nice of Lee to replace it. The breakage is definitely user error. By all means, you don't want the shell holder contacting the carbide. Carbide is brittle and can't take shock or pressure of the ram contacting it. Carbide is wonderful in so many ways, just have to know how to care for it.

 

[SSL]

The "one-half turn extra" may have caused the carbide ring to break.

^ This. Carbide dies are normally adjusted to NOT touch the shell holder. Carbide is brittle and will crack if forced against the holder. Last I remember, instructions call for something in the range of the thickness of a nickle between die bottom and shell holder.

 

[geo.ulrich]

That would be true if they were actually a true carbide, but being made of ferro- tic which is a carbide tool steel matrix its more forgiving and machinable . There are no " pure carbide " reloading dies made .... But it is good that they stand behind their product..

 

[Dusty Stevens]

That would be true if they were actually a true carbide, but being made of ferro- tic which is a carbide tool steel matrix its more forgiving and machinable . There are no " pure carbide " reloading dies made .... But it is good that they stand behind their product..

So those rings all the die makers press in there are not actually carbide?

 

[H2OBUG]

Here is the interesting thing.
The die broke 1/4 of the way into the die.
It did not break when it was stroked out.
I thought I had broken the press.
These cases had 300 mag hot load pressure. They were tight.

Again thanks for the feedback

I learn lots of stuff here.

BTW
I was the quality manager at a carbide factory for 4 years. Many types of carbide.
Cobalt content makes a huge difference.


Remember l a semi educated redneck.

 

[geo.ulrich]

So those rings all the die makers press in there are not actually carbide?

not the reloading dies .. the die shown is a good example for a true carbide insert the wall thickness is way to thin. It splintered if it had been true carbide it would not hang there it would crack off and fell off. carbide does not splinter it bursts .... I'll take a picture and load it

 

[geo.ulrich]

Dusty, Here you go this a .170 wall thickness

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Thanks george. Never heard of ferro-tic. I have some custom pistol dies with Tin coated ring in the back. Sure woulda thought it was carbide but ive never broke one. Ive broke a million carbide tools and inserts though and they all look like your example

 

[geo.ulrich]

After thinking on this some , I'm sure some of the custom reloading die makers like whidden use carbide but the price pretty much reflects this as for commercial , no know use it ...

 

[boltfluter]

I have "burst a few end mills in my time, and have yet to see one "bend". Lol.

Paul

 

[DiffEQ]

It would have already been broken for the case to finish the job.
Also, not all presss are designed to "cam over." Which brand do you use?

"Semi-educated redneck", eh? We're all "rednecks" here, most are 'basket of deplorables' types, and edumacated in the school of hard knocks. Book smarts are optional.
Reloading is unforgiving and tends to weed out the ones who aren't persistent or lack common sense.

 

[pirate ammo]

It would have already been broken for the case to finish the job.
Also, not all presss are designed to "cam over." Which brand do you use?

"Semi-educated redneck", eh? We're all "rednecks" here, most are 'basket of deplorables' types, and edumacated in the school of hard knocks. Book smarts are optional.
Reloading is unforgiving and tends to weed out the ones who aren't persistent or lack common sense.

You forgot Neanderthal.

 

[H2OBUG]

So Update.
I got the new size die in and sized the remaining brass last night. This new die is not near as tight as the old unit. Sized and deprimed with no issue. I think that original die may have been on the low size of the spec.

Lee sent the new unit no charge. Thanks to them for that.