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Dimples while resizing
Hello I'm curious. Recently I've been finding that a significant number of cases are being dimpled in the shoulder area while resizing. Especially frequently while running Federal cases through, but I see it with Winchester cases as well, maybe 1 in 20-30 or so. All of this is happening to my .243 WIN cases, I've never seen it in other calibers I have reloaded for. It is as frequently happening with brand new cases I resize before loading. I know that can happen when too much case lube is used, but I've got it down to VERY little used and still seeing dimples. Very irritating. 1. For now, I'm assuming those cases are ruined. But are they? If I was to reload one, and fire it, it would simply.. blow those dimples out against the chamber, and the case would simply reform to the chamber size... just as happens to the neck of the case during firing, right? Is this necessarily the end of the case? 2. As to the causes of the dimpling... I'm wondering if something is wrong with my resizing dies... (Redding). I've had great service from these dies in other calibers, and I have no idea why this issue with dimpled .243 cases. Any ideas/advice? Thanks! Frank |
Try taking the die apart and cleaning it. I've had the same issue and cleaning the die solved the problem. I have loaded and fired dimpled cases with no problems whatsoever.I'm no expert by any means but that is what worked for me.
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Sounds like you may have a kernel of powder flattened in the die.
As suggested, take 'em apart and clean thoroughly!:) Cat |
I had a problem simular, it was lube like you already know. I did as whitetail and cleaned the die with a soft brush and seem to have solved it. As cat said maybe a kernel, i had a piece of tumbler grit once, those lil ones I fire formed back to shape. I threw my cases away, just to be safe. Hopefully some of the guys who reload a million rounds a year can offer more insight.
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! Thanks guys :) 3 responses within 7 minutes of my post.. that's just remarkable! All pointing in the same direction.. my dies are apart and getting cleaned right now. Thanks again! Frank |
No issues with fire forming the dimples back out, it happens more times than some people realize!:)
Cat |
As long as they are not excessive, I fireform them by just what it says...I fire 'em!!!..LOL
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Could be the type of lube and no vent space? I was using some RCBS lube (very thick) and it had to be used extremely sparingly, even then it often caused dimples. Then switched to the hornady wipe on stuff (looks like lard) and very rarely there is dimpling.
Good idea about cleaning the dies. It's dimpling because there is air trapped between the case and the die and it has no place to go because the lube is sealing too good. Don't full length size if you don't have to as you will just be work hardening the case, can you get away with neck sizing only? |
dimpling while resizing
I had the same problem with my 223 Redding dies. Redding don't bother putting a hole for the air to escape like other die companies. Using The RCBS case lube and pad method I was getting too much lube on the cases and they would get dimples. Cleaning the dies helped byt soon the problem recurred.
I have solved the problem by going to the D.C.L., Dillon case Lube that is available at P& D in Edmonton. It is a lanolin/ isopropyl alcohol base lube that Environmentally safe and great to use. Just shake well , squirt about 3 squirts into a medium Zip Lock bag, add 100 223 sized cases, close bag, roll brass around in bag until evenly coated, dump into a small container and wait a few minutes for alcohol to evaporate. I squirt some lube onto a Q tip and apply to the inside of the case mouths if I find that the expander button is hard to extract. This method has completely solved the problems of dimpled shoulders and stuck cases. I can do hundreds of cases in just minutes with no toxic side effects which is great with my compromised immune system. |
I had the same thing happening with my .243 brass (federal). When I was resizing last night I tried a couple different things and it seems as though you get those dimples when there is excessive lube on the shoulder of the casing. After rolling the cases on the RCBS pad I would just wipe some lube off the shoulder before resizing - did not see any dimples after that.
I threw away the ones that are dimpled, I am testing out new loads so I would like to have as few variables as possible although I can't really see the dimpled cases affecting anything. Cleaning the die may be a good idea too. |
Thanks to all of you for your ideas and input. I've cleaned the dies and will try some of the lubes and other ideas as well. Great to hear from you all :) Frank |
I've gone to Imperial sizing wax. It is used very sparingly and the cleanup is super simple. Just wipe your finger thru the wax (that is about as thick as shoe polish) and wipe it on the case neck and body. Smear it down the body evenly and run it thru the die. When you take the case out of the die you just wipe it off with a rag. No worry about lube getting into the case or primer pocket. No getting gummy crap all over your hands.
It lasts forever too. I bought a tin 2 years ago and it's still half full. I don't reload as much as some but I do a fair amount. Haven't had a dimple since.:thinking-006: |
I have tried every case lube on the market with some levels of success at one time or another. I was reloading one day and discovered I was out of all case lube and then remembered that we had Vaseline petroleum jelly in the medicine cabinet. I dab a bit on my fingers and rub it lightly on the case before resizing it, it worked so well that I never bought any more factory made case lube. Some case lube is thicker and I have had case dimpling with a few different brands, I have never has that happen with the Vaseline product.
One small jar has lasted me years, when I wipe the cases they come out clean with the black soot around the case mouth wiping off easily. |
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If you are just loading to punch paper or shoot varmints, try just neck sizing. Needs no lube, except a tiny bit in the case mouth for the expander ball not to squeak. That squeak is very bad for making coecentric rounds.
If you must FL size try using RCBS, or any other quality, water soluable lube and cutting it in half with water before putting it on your lube pad. Apply very sparingly, it is hard to believe just how little lube it really needs. If you can see any kind of lube ripple you have way too much. Imperial sizing wax works great for forming brass and for the inside of the case mouth. If i use it for full length I spread a very small amount on a lube pad, let it soak in for 15 minutes and then roll them. Fingers apply too much and not evenly, which is bad for even sizing. Finally, even really big dimples are no problem at all. Even ones that crease the shoulder will come out fine with no effect on the round. Compared to some of the case forming I do, a lube dimple isn't even a small wrinkle. Best of luck, and definitely clean those dies every 100 rounds or so if you are using lube. |
I also switched over to the Spritzer Dillon case lube...best move I ever made as far as lubing goes.:D I got a metal meshed tray that I dump my MT brass into.....3 or 4 small spritzes...roll em back and forth...3 or 4 more spritzes...roll em around again...let em sit for 2-3 minutes. Then your all set! The alcohol evaps and just the lanolin left...everything from 243 to 300 win mag..300wsm...no probs....a little formica sometimes in the mouth of the case...no squawk!. A buddy found a home made recipe on line somewhere...he bought the lanolin and a certain type of alcohol(percentage wise).he made a couple of liters of the stuff...gave me a couple of bottles to try....SAME STUFF as DILLONs...works great!!:lol::lol:
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Excellent information :) Some of these threads should be tagged as "extremely instructive" and be given a higher priority on the search function somehow. I'd imagine a LOT of new reloaders would benefit from threads like these (before they throw away $20 worth of brass unnecessarily!) Thanks again gents! Frank |
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