New dies ruining brass???

[siconic]

Hello everyone! I am new to reloading, just bought a Lee Pro 1000 second hand, real cheap, but without the dies. Everything seems to work, it cycles, etc. I bought a brand new set of Lee Dies, the set of three 9mm Luger Carbide, part number 90509. I will be buying powder, primers and bullets tomorrow, but have tons of brass Winchester White Box once fired by me.

After cleaning the dies of factory oil and crud, I lubed the sizing die with a cue tip soaked in silicone lube, and ran it around the inside of the sizing die. After setting up everything the way its supposed to be, as per several videos on youtube, I went to do a dry run. As a note, I did NOT tumble the brass, but a lot of different sources have said its not "required" especially with a Carbide die, and I did not initially lube the cases since that is not required on carbide either. I did wash them in warm water though, with dawn. Now we have problems.

Here is what is happening. It is shaving the outside of the brass, and getting stuck, every round. Not one is going smoothly at all, every one gets stuck before its even resized all the way. The resizing die appears to be sizing the case too small. I tried adding some lube to see if it helped, no dice. As you can see, the brass is not much worse than the new stuff as far as being clean. Is it possible I got a bad sizing die? A Chinese knockoff from Amazon? Am I doing something wrong?



*Edit: Fixed spelling and added comments.

 

[siconic]

2 more pics of the Lee Die Stuff

 

[olddav]

Measure the unsized brass at the base. Compare to factory ammo.

 

[siconic]

Measure the unsized brass at the base. Compare to factory ammo.

Both (new and several old) are 0.3860

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Did you fire them in a glock?

 

[siconic]

Did you fire them in a glock?

Sorry, I should have mentioned the gun I fired them from. I did hear it should not matter with the Lee Dies, but I am shooting a Ruger Security-9.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Usually the 2 most common issues with loading a pistol is: lee dies or glock pistols. Thats why i asked. If those lee dies are carbide get all that lube back out and do not lube them at all and see if that works

 

[siconic]

Usually the 2 most common issues with loading a pistol is: lee dies or glock pistols. Thats why i asked. If those lee dies are carbide get all that lube back out and do not lube them at all and see if that works

I did try them without lube as well earlier, thinking maybe the lube was at fault. I know brass that is too clean can get stuck as well. Kinda like putting two pieces of glass together with water between them. Results were the same. So the Lee dies are finicky and could be the issue? I did start an RMA earlier today, so if I can find the problem I can keep them, lol.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Looks like its got a sharp entry edge. If it was me id put the lees in a junk drawer as a lesson learned and pick any other brand made but im sure lee will send you some better ones once they have a qc item detected. Those dies are junk ive never seen one shave a case like that. Hopefully you wont have any issues with the new set they are usually good at customer servc.

 

[243winxb]

The diameters are minimum SAAMI, should be ok.

Does the mouth of the sizing die have a bevel. This should be on the carbide ring.

No lube needed.

Try less sizing by backing the die out a little. See what happens. http://www.saami.org/specifications_and_information/index.cfm

 

[olddav]

The base of a 9mm case should be .394 (Hornady 8th edition)

 

[Flouncer]

The universal advice to new reloaders is to use a single stage press. One at a time, nice and slow, one step at a time you can see everything and you have to touch the cases with your digits and tactile senses. For the best of reasons and with the best of intentions, you got a progressive press. Despite the learned expert opinions given here, Lee dies are as good as any made for what they are designed for. A nearly straight wall pistol case is a slam dunk. Your dies are not adjusted and you did not follow the directions with the Lee dies. Until you learn how this works spending more money on more expensive but no better dies is exactly that. Better to purchase the Lee or other single stage press and start over. I have never seen a case shaved like the ones in your pics. But you have contaminated your carbide sizing die with lube ( ! ) and it will be an odyssey to get that straightened out. Stick with it and good luck.

Try this as said above: Try less sizing by backing the die out a little. See what happens

 

[alinwa]

totally off the subject but back when me-N-the wife-N-kids was racing pistols I bought a Dillon setup, Blue Press all the way.

I've never regretted it.

 

[SSL]

If the shaving is only on one side of the case you have a timing problem with the shell carrier. If it is even all the way around the case it probably is a die issue or your pistol chamber is oversized and allowing the cases to expand excessively.

Timing issues can be fixed easily by adjusting the large adjustment screw located below the carrier on the left side (as seen facing the press) of the ram assembly. This screw controls the timing of when the case enters the die so that it is perfectly aligned with the die mouth and not forced to tip to enter.

I am inclined to think this is an adjustment issue, particularly since this is a second hand press. I loaded countless .45 ACP cartridges for semi-formal competition for many years with a couple 1000s (actually wore one out and rebuilt it with upgraded parts from Lee) with few problems. I still use one today to load for my wife's. 38 Special (after upgrading to the newer carrier assembly that cures primer-flipping issues). I also use a LoadMaster for .45 ACP, .45 Colt and .44 Magnum. Nothing wrong with Lee presses or dies.

 

[siconic]

Thanks for all the advice, adn being a noob I am at your mercy, but a few points:

1. I used to be a machinist/fabricator so I have kind of looked for all the things mentioned. I can tell you, lube never actually hurt anything.
2. it is all sides of the case. I have ensured that the case has gone in as straight as possible. I am not sure timing is the issue.
3. I was thinking single stage, but I got this for $40, couldnt go wrong (IMHO).
4. I am not sure what on the die to adjust, it starts happening as soon as the cartridge hits the die. Thats what I get when I "force" the die onto the cartride. Even if I put the shell a 1/4 of the way in the die, it gets stuck.

 

[ireload2]

Got a photo of the sizer die opening? Examine your sizing die interior with a strong light and a magnifying glass.
It sounds like the carbide die insert was never polished and is missing the lead in radius.
Lube in a carbide die helps rather than hurts according to my 50 years of using carbide dies.

 

[dolek]

Lee are fine,don't listen to the Lee haters...they think they know it all. Reading that crap gets old.

 

[JSH]

"1. I used to be a machinist/fabricator "

So you will understand when I say, you get what you pay for.

I will not get into a urinating contest with folks on Lee dies. Nor which is better red,green or blue. I have had issues with all of them at some time or another. There is one I have had more issues with than others.

I buy new dies, there is no way I am running filthy brass through them. The pressures that happen when resizing are tremendous at times. Shove dirty brass through a die even carbide it can mess things up.
I have never heard brass can be to clean and cause issues, never.
Your example shown and how it chews the case all the way around is what suprised me. I am going to suspect it is a die issue for sure.
Did you try virgin brass in it?
Good luck to you. I look forward to your findings.
Jeff

 

[JohnKielly]

Couldn't be a .380 ACP die surely. Lee makes one.

 

[JaoeyP]

I've used Lee presses and dies without issue since I started reloading ten years ago. I bought a set of dies last year and the resizing die felt very rough when I ran a case through it. Filled out the warranty form from LeesL website sent it in, had back in less than a week. Issue resolved. Just send it back and let them fix it.