Worn out reloading dies?

[serger]

I just read the thread about brass tumbling.
It made me wonder, Has anyone worn out
a set of steel dies?

I have a set of RCBS 38 special dies I bought
in Henrietta OK in 1978 at the pawn shop.
It had grit in the sizer and scratched cases
until I took a GI 308 chamber brush to it.
The scratches went away and the brass loads
and shoots just fine.

I don't shoot as much as other folks and
Have probably ran what, 40 thousand cases
thru it? And it was used when I got it. But
the point is the dies aren't worn out.

So has anyone worn out a set of dies?

 

[mikld]

While I don't use them anymore, I have a set of steel 38 Special dies from Herter's I bought used in 1970 or so. They still make good handloads but I haven't miked any handloads to see if there is any wear in the sizing die. IMO it would take many thousands (hundreds of thousands) of "dirty" cases reloaded to wear out a die.....

 

[minconrevo]

It takes a lot of use BUT it's possible for a heavy use reloader to wear down even carbide (sizer) dies. Reloading clean brass extends die life. Reloading brass very lightly lubed with a product that will evaporate with a little time, as well as non-issue for powder contamination extends die life even further. I like lanolin, either the USP version found at the drug store or the less expensive commercial version.

Lanolin works for applications, such as straight wall pistol. I do not recommend it for full length resizing of rifle cases or other similar heavy duty uses.

 

[SMSgt]

I don't know about "wearing out" dies, but grit can scratch the dies which in turn can scratch the cases, etc. It's like having a burr on a file--every stroke one takes leaves a scratch in the item being filed.

 

[GypsmJim]

Eons ago a friend of a friend sold me a whole bunch of "once fired" 45 Colt cases. Cheep.. When I got them they were all nickle and a lot of the nickle had worn off. So much for once fired.

I used them for a couple years and then threw them away. I discovered that the nickle had damaged the dies. Every brass case I resized was totally scratched.

I sent them back to Lee and they replaced them no charge. That was early Lee and I think they had a life guarantee.

That was my only worn out die story. I never cleaned cases and my dies are seemingly OK. Today I tumble everything because retirement lets me do what I didn't have time for before.

 

[Cdog]

I have some dies that are at least 40 years old that work as good as new.

I have damaged, but never worn out a die.

 

[df06]

I have several sets of dies from the mid 70s. They work great and have loaded many 1000 rounds.

 

[Rpg]

My 270 and 357 dies in the early 1960’s.

My 45 acp dies are over 40 years old.

They all still work just fine.

 

[MyDads38]

My first set of dies were a steel set of RCBS for 38 Special, bought used about 1980. I still have them and used/checked them a few months ago. I can't imagine how many rounds they have loaded! I've never worn out a set, nor have I ever damaged a set in over 40 years. Probably won't either lol

 

[Ruger 13]

I have some dies that are over 70 years old that I’m still using in my tru line junior!

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Lee, in a pamphlet about their Lee Loader, said a cowboy that was cabin bound all winter loaded so many 30-30 rounds that he wore out the die, which they were happy to replace, but there was only the one they knew about.

Ivan

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I just read the thread about brass tumbling.
It made me wonder, Has anyone worn out
a set of steel dies?

I have a set of RCBS 38 special dies I bought
in Henrietta OK in 1978 at the pawn shop.
It had grit in the sizer and scratched cases
until I took a GI 308 chamber brush to it.
The scratches went away and the brass loads
and shoots just fine.

I don't shoot as much as other folks and
Have probably ran what, 40 thousand cases
thru it? And it was used when I got it. But
the point is the dies aren't worn out.

So has anyone worn out a set of dies?

Yes. Back in the 80's I wore out a set of steel RCBS .357 dies. Many just the sizer. It eventually wore to a too large diameter to size the cases to where they would fit all of my .357s.........I went to carbide and never looked back.

 

[robertrwalsh]

Enough water will wear down a rock in time. That being said, you would have to run a LOT of brass to noticeably wear steel dies, especially if you were reasonably diligent in cleaning and lubing cases.

 

[madsweeney]

Haven't wore out any dies - actually might have the opposite problem with my 9mmLee powder thru the expander die. Suddenly started grabbing the brass after expanding - took so much effort to push down the lever that it actually was lifting the leg of my reloading bench off the floor and bouncing powder out of the dispenser!
I took the die apart and the - button? shuttle? whatever you call the thing that does the belling had what looks like a buildup of brass on it. Almost looked like severe copper fouling in a bore. I am gonna try and polish it off if I can find any of the dozens of containers of metal polish that are around here somewhere . . . is this a common occurence?